• LIFE

What Katharine Hepburn Wore When She Wasn’t Wearing Pants

2 minute read
Katherine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story, 1938.
Caption from LIFE. A man's suit of covert cloth made by a man's tailor is her favorite off-stage outfit. The horse brooch at her neck is a good-luck pin she wears on and off the stage.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
By Eliza Berman

The article of clothing with which Katharine Hepburn is most closely associated is trousers. The actress’ fondness for pants—before they were considered ladylike—was not only a fashion statement but, to many, a symbol of stubborn independence and a declaration of modernity.

But many of Hepburn’s roles—and her legacy as a four-time Oscar-winning actress is certainly more notable than that as fashion trendsetter—required the woman LIFE called a “lanky, coltish thoroughbred” to adhere to more feminine standards.

For her 1939 Broadway turn in one of her most famous roles, socialite Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story, Hepburn hung up the pants and went all in on frilliness. LIFE described the process of designing her wardrobe:

To make the role of Tracy Lord both credible and sympathetic, it was essential; that Katharine Hepburn be made to look irresistibly seductive every minute she was on the stage. Valentina, who dresses Lynn Fontanne and Katharine Cornell, was called upon to make the clothes. Her creations, designed to give soft, feminine allure to tall, angular Miss Hepburn (whose favorite outfit in real life is a man’s suit of clothes) are shown on this and the following page.

Those creations featured silk-crepe and mousseline, flowing gowns and girdles. The extra effort, from wardrobe to performances, paid off. After a string of Hollywood flops earned her the unwanted label “box office poison,” Hepburn acquired the rights to the play, sold them to MGM, starred in the 1940 movie adaptation and revived her onscreen career.

Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizabethRonk.

Katherine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story, 1938.
Caption from LIFE. This white silk-crepe gown has full, deep pleats over the bosom and Gothic drapery which accentuates Miss Hepburn's incredibly small 24-inch waist. This fashion triumph, 28 yd. wide at hem costs $225.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Katherine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story, 1938.
Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story on Broadway, 1938.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Katherine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story, 1938.
Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story on Broadway, 1938.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Katherine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story, 1938.
Caption from LIFE. Country-luncheon dress of blue-and-white check costs $125, has pleated ruching at front, neck and sleeves to soften straight lines. Notice the high, tight girdle here to mold waist.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Katherine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story, 1938.
Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story on Broadway, 1938.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Katherine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story, 1938.
Caption from LIFE. A man's suit of covert cloth made by a man's tailor is her favorite off-stage outfit. The horse brooch at her neck is a good-luck pin she wears on and off the stage.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Katherine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story, 1938.
Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story on Broadway, 1938.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Katherine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story, 1938.
Katharine Hepburn in her favorite off-stage outfit.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Katherine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story, 1938.
Caption from LIFE. Pink and mauve mousseline are intricately draped together to form this soft, flowing $195 bridal gown. Katharine Hepburn hates all hats, carries this one.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Katherine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story, 1938.
Caption from LIFE. In this play suit Miss Hepburn feels most at home. In out-of-town tryouts, Miss Hepburn appeared in shirt and shorts. On the New York stage she wears a skirt.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Katherine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in Philadelphia Story, 1938.
Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story on Broadway, 1938.Alfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

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Write to Eliza Berman at eliza.berman@time.com