Julie Christie: The ‘Doctor Zhivago’ Star Was One of the Most Stylish Women of the ’60s — See Why in These 10 Photos
Plus, learn the surprising things she had to say about her personal style
The British Invasion didn’t just expose Americans to great new music, it also introduced many new movie stars that became cultural icons of the day. Chief among these stars was Julie Christie, the pouty British blonde who reached A-list status thanks to her roles in movies like Darling, Doctor Zhivago, Don’t Look Now and Shampoo in the ’60s and ’70s.
Christie won an Oscar for her role as a model in Darling, a 1965 movie that captured the Swinging London scene of the day. She earned three more nominations throughout her long career, for her roles in the 1971 Western McCabe & Mrs. Miller, the 2007 romance Afterglow and the 2006 drama Away From Her.
Now 84, Julie Christie hasn’t acted since 2017, but she reminds a living legend who was equally great in blockbuster historical epics like the 1965 classic Doctor Zhivago, artsy dramas like Petulia (1968) and Don’t Look Now (1973) and comedies like Shampoo (1975) and Heaven Can Wait (1978).
In a sign of her major impact on ’60s culture, Time magazine wrote, “What Julie Christie wears has more real impact on fashion than all the clothes of the ten Best-Dressed women combined,” in 1967. Here’s a look at some of her style moments that defined the era and inspired a generation of women.
1. Sassy stripes
Christie’s striped blazer and jaunty cap (plus a pair of binoculars) made for a wonderfully whimsical ’60s ensemble.
2. Bath time
Only Julie Christie could make laying in a bathtub in a shiny black dress look chic.
2. Julie Christie is marvelously mod
Christie looked the very picture of mod British fashion when posing in a little white dress, complete with a pillbox hat, boots and pigtails, in 1965.
3. ’60s beauty trends
Christie was regarded as one of the great beauties of her day, and with her bangs and mascara drawing attention to her lovely blue eyes, she helped set many a ’60s beauty trend.
The actress admitted that she felt self-conscious about the attention on her looks when she first got famous, saying, “I would cringe if I saw my picture on the cover of a magazine staring out at people who didn’t know me. And if I saw somebody reading about me it would be the most horrible experience, because I knew they’d be reading a fantasy that would be far removed from anything to do with me.”
4. A flirty minidress
Christie’s ruffled mini dress here has a sense of youthful ’60s fun, but she admitted, “I never felt that I was cool enough, or that I was dressed right.” Looking at pictures of her from the time, we beg to differ.
5. Julie Christie the femme fatale
Christie looked like a classic femme fatale with her sleek bouffant and revealing black cocktail dress.
6. Colors and curls
Christie looked groovy in a colorful patterned dress and an extravagant curly hairpiece.
7. Julie Christie goes for gold
When Christie won her Oscar in 1966, she wore a gold jumpsuit, which made her the first woman ever to accept the award while wearing pants. Even better? She made the outfit herself.
8. A boho hat
Christie encapsulated boho style in a floppy burgundy hat, a leaf-printed shirt and a silver coin necklace.
10. A cool coat
Christie’s combination of a smart double-breasted coat, high boots and big sunglasses is positively timeless.
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