And, the Runner Up historical fashion icons are…

… Madame Pompadour! (“Little Fish”)  Advisor and mistress to the King of France (and MANY others who kept her well fed), she was known for extremes and excesses – at her patron’s expense of course.  She was known for 36″ high hair complete with miniature scaled ships (look for the great book “The Lady with the Ship on her Head”)

“The Fish” was in fashion power alongside Marie Antoinette in the Georgian period.

(Left:  Pompadour’s REAL gown of 1756; Right:  portrait in 1759)

Below: An aging Fish is still amazing…