Marisa Berenson: The Timeless Muse of Fashion and Film

This week's Style Icon is American Actress and model Marisa Berenson. In the world of fashion and film, few names embody elegance, heritage, and effortless style quite like her. Born into a lineage of artistry and innovation, she has long been a muse for designers, photographers, and filmmakers alike. Her beauty was magnetic, her poise unforgettable—and her style, still, is one to be studied and admired.

Born in New York in 1947, Marisa was destined to live a life shaped by creativity. Her maternal grandmother was none other than Elsa Schiaparelli, the legendary couturier known for her surrealist collaborations with Salvador Dalí and her rivalries with Coco Chanel. From a young age, Marisa was surrounded by visionaries, and that influence poured into her own presence and fashion choices.

By the 1960s, Marisa was everywhere. Dubbed “the girl of the Seventies” by Yves Saint Laurent, she graced the covers of Vogue, worked with photographers like Richard Avedon and Irving Penn, and became a face of elegance and modernity. But what set her apart wasn’t just her looks—it was her ability to wear clothing in a way that made it feel alive, personal, and full of story.

Marisa’s transition into film was seamless. Her most notable role came in Barry Lyndon (1975), directed by Stanley Kubrick, where her quiet strength and regal presence captivated audiences. She also starred in Cabaret (1972) alongside Liza Minnelli, a role that earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

Berenson once told Vogue: "Diana Vreeland (legendary editor-in-chief of Vogue US) launched my career. She was a close family friend and when I was 16 she decided: 'We have to photograph Marisa.' My first photo shoot was with Bert Stern, followed by pictures for Glamour and by then I was working with magazines all over the world, but none more than Vogue. Diana Vreeland took me under her wing in a way, she protected me a lot. She was impressive, intelligent and had an eagle eye which made her a fearsome leader to the other editors. But she was always lovely to me, and thanks to her I never saw the darker side of modeling; I saw only the best, starting with Vogue, which for me is like a family album."

"Beauty is like elegance; very personal and relating more to an intangible aura than physical traits. But it's also a lifestyle. I eat mostly fruits, vegetables and fish, not much meat and I avoid refined sugar and gluten which suits me well but takes a certain amount of discipline." ―Vogue

Her style was the perfect mix of bohemian glamour and aristocratic refinement: embroidered kaftans, oversized sunglasses, silk turbans, bold jewelry, and always an innate grace that transcended trends. She didn’t wear clothes for attention—she wore them as an extension of her essence.

Marisa Berenson is not just a style icon of the past—she’s a timeless reference for those who appreciate fashion with depth and meaning. Here are a few takeaways from her legacy that still inspire modern wardrobes:

• Invest in statement pieces: A velvet caftan, a sculptural cuff, a silk blouse with character—Marisa knew the power of a single dramatic piece worn with confidence.

• Let your heritage shine through: Personal style becomes iconic when it’s deeply personal. Marisa’s elegance was part inherited, part cultivated.

• Dress for your own gaze: She embodied a kind of self-assured dressing that didn’t chase trends but rather built a world of its own.

As someone working with clients around the world to help them express their identity through style, I find Marisa Berenson’s story endlessly inspiring. Her life is a reminder that true style is about storytelling—about heritage, curiosity, and courage. Whether you’re shopping for investment pieces or building a capsule wardrobe, let icons like Marisa guide you—not to copy, but to remember that fashion is at its best when it feels like you.