During the 1930s, at the height of the Great Depression, Bonnie Parker emerged as an enduring symbol of rebellion and allure in America. Her image, complete with a beret, T-bar heels, slim-fitting knits, and a dash of what could only be described as “bad-girl glamour”, captured the public’s imagination.
Bonnie and her partner Clyde Barrow weren’t just two ordinary criminals; they were outlaws whose violent escapades and daring robberies turned them into cultural icons. The public, simultaneously horrified and fascinated, couldn’t get enough of the duo’s exploits.
When the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde hit theatres, starring Faye Dunaway as Bonnie Parker and Warren Beatty as Clyde, it reignited public fascination with the outlaws.
The film’s designer, Theadora Van Runkle, used Parker’s original style to revolutionize fashion in the 1960s. The midi skirt became a staple, and the film’s interpretation of Bonnie’s wardrobe cemented her place in the annals of criminal history and fashion lore.
Yet, underneath her famous look and the public attention, Bonnie Parker was a complicated person. Her life took a notorious turn with Clyde Barrow, making her one of the most famous outlaws of her era.
The Rise of a Depression-Era Outlaw
Born on October 1, 1910, in Rowena, Texas, Bonnie Elizabeth Parker was the second of three children in a family hit hard by tragedy and poverty.
When she was just four years old, her father, Charles Robert Parker, died, forcing her mother, Emma, to move the family to Cement City, a suburb of Dallas.
Emma worked as a seamstress, and the family struggled to get by. Despite these hardships, Bonnie was known for her intelligence and creative talents. She thrived on attention and dreamed of becoming an actress, often performing on stage in school productions.
Her dreams suddenly turned when she met Roy Thornton in high school. In 1926, just days before her 16th birthday, Bonnie married Thornton, a union that quickly became troubled.
Thornton was frequently absent, involved in petty crimes, and eventually imprisoned. By January 1929, the couple had separated, though they never divorced. Bonnie still wore her wedding ring when she passed away, symbolizing a chapter in her life that was broken but lasting.
After the end of her brief marriage, Bonnie returned to live with her mother in Dallas. Working as a waitress, she was known for her charm and beauty. Ted Hinton, a regular customer of Bonnie’s, would later join the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and ironically be part of the posse that killed her.
Yet, Bonnie’s life would soon take an unexpected turn when she met Clyde Barrow, a man who would become both her partner in crime and in love.
The Violent World of Clyde Barrow
Clyde Chestnut Barrow was born on March 24, 1909, into a poor farming family in Ellis County, Texas. The Barrows were part of a mass migration from rural areas to cities during the Great Depression, settling in the slums of West Dallas.
The family struggled so much that they spent their early days in Dallas living under a wagon until they could afford a tent.
Clyde’s early run-ins with the law began in 1926 when he was just 17 years old. After being caught for not returning a rental car, he was arrested again soon after for stealing turkeys with his brother Buck Barrow.
Although he worked several legitimate jobs, Clyde quickly found himself drawn to a life of crime. When he met Bonnie in January 1930 through a mutual friend, he was already deep into robbing stores, cracking safes, and stealing cars.
The relationship between Bonnie and Clyde began like a whirlwind. They were smitten with each other from the start. However, their time together was cut short when Clyde was arrested in March 1930 for auto theft.
Already fiercely loyal, Bonnie smuggled a gun to Clyde, helping him escape jail. However, he was soon recaptured and sent to Huntsville State Prison, where the cruelty of the Texas prison system left an unforgettable mark on him.
While incarcerated at Eastham Prison Farm, Clyde was sexually assaulted by another inmate. In a desperate bid to survive, Clyde retaliated by killing his abuser, his first murder. Afterwards, another inmate, already serving a life sentence, took the blame for the crime.
The brutality Clyde experienced in prison would forever alter his outlook on life. He emerged a changed man, consumed by a desire for revenge against the Texas prison system. As one of his fellow inmates observed, Clyde Barrow had transformed “from a schoolboy to a rattlesnake.”
In the act of self-mutilation, Clyde had two of his toes amputated while in prison to avoid hard labour. Ironically, his mother successfully petitioned for his release just days after this drastic measure.
Clyde walked out of prison in February 1932, a hardened criminal with a deep-seated hatred for the authorities and a limp that would stay with him for the rest of his life.
A Crime Spree
Once released, Clyde reunited with Bonnie, and together, they ventured on a crime spree that fascinated the American public.
The duo, along with their gang, committed a series of armed robberies across the Central United States. Contrary to popular belief, Bonnie and Clyde did not focus on large banks but targeted small stores and rural funeral homes. However, they were not opposed to violence. Throughout their criminal career, they were responsible for the deaths of at least nine police officers and four civilians.
For Bonnie, her romance and loyalty to Clyde overshadowed the violence that came with their lifestyle. She became his unwavering companion, aware that their days were numbered and that a violent end was inevitable.
By 1934, Bonnie and Clyde’s reign of terror was closing. Law enforcement agencies across the country were coordinating efforts to capture the pair, and their notoriety made it increasingly difficult to stay hidden.
On May 23, 1934, a posse of lawmen, including Ted Hinton, ambushed the couple in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. Bonnie and Clyde were shot dead in a hail of bullets, their bodies riddled with gunfire.
The Fashion of Bonnie Parker:
When Bonnie Parker, of the infamous Bonnie and Clyde duo, slipped on a beret one morning in 1933, she had no clue of the fashion ripple effect it would cause. Tragically, a year later, she wouldn’t have much time to think about any future at all. But thanks in part to the 1967 film chronicling her gang’s wild 1930s escapades, Bonnie, as portrayed by Faye Dunaway, has become a fixture in American folklore – a symbol of rebellion, grit, and defiance.
She’s also earned a spot among fashion icons. That beret, the knitwear, and her scarf are still sparking endless inspiration for today’s looks. Here are five reasons why – 50 years after the film and 83 years after Parker’s death – her style remains timeless.
The Berret
I wouldn’t be surprised if Maria Grazia Chiuri had Bonnie and Clyde running on repeat in the Christian Dior atelier ahead of the autumn/winter show. Berets made an appearance in every single look. The hat, which is just as likely to conjure up images of garlic strings, Breton tops, and Parisian bicycles, is officially the must-have headgear of the season. Need further proof? Just take a look at Alexa Chung gracing the June cover of Vogue, rocking one herself.
The Pencil Skirt
Sure, the pencil skirt might seem like it’s giving the rest of fashion the cold shoulder right now, but with Raf Simons on its revival team, it’s only a matter of time before it stages a comeback. Bonnie’s tweed skirt might give off “playing-secretary” vibes when taken out of context, but there’s a way to update it.
Look no further than Simons’ Calvin Klein collection—a tribute to America’s outsiders. The bold, block-colored knitted pencil skirts feel like Bonnie 2.0 (with a nod to Beyoncé’s version too). Time to rethink your stance on this classic silhouette.
The Scarf
Surprisingly, modern-day influencers and Bonnie Parker share a common passion: both love being photographed, and both have an undeniable affinity for the silk scarf. In Bonnie and Clyde, Dunaway sports hers in a cowgirl style, while Parker herself once wore one cinched around her waist. Today, any interpretation will do—just make sure the label says ‘Hermès’ for that timeless, luxury touch.
The Sweater
Regular readers are already well-versed in the cardigan revival, but knitwear enthusiasts are shifting their focus to what could be called the “fusty sweater.” Bonnie Parker’s is a prime example—short-sleeved, textured, and in a shade of mustard yellow that feels perfectly vintage, even when brand new.
This au courant color has been embraced by the likes of Gucci, Prada, and Miu Miu. Of course, the ultimate find would be scoring one for 50p at a car boot sale.
The Hair
While the buzzcut has been the definition of cool, its time might be running out. Those rocking the look may want to give the clippers a rest—the blond bob is poised to be the next big hairstyle. Edie Campbell nailed the edgy, grungy version on the cover of Vogue, while Khloé Kardashian, Emma Roberts, and Sarah Jessica Parker have all gone for the chop recently. Dunaway’s version as Bonnie was sleek and chic, reminiscent of the wig Julia Roberts wore at the beginning of Pretty Woman. It’s a style that could easily appeal to alpha blondes like Donatella Versace or Lady Gaga.
