She became a style icon in khakis and open necked shirts at a time when actresses of her ilk only made public appearances in waist-cinching silk gowns, fur stoles and wouldn't dream of stepping outside without a girdle on. Now her celebrated masculine style has earned its own exhibition and accompanying style book.

"Katharine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage and Screen" which opens in New York this week will display a vast collection of the legendary four time Oscar-winning actresses’ costumes and personal wardrobe which come from Hepburn's own collection, stored at her home during her lifetime.

The iconic actress Katharine Hepburn in her trademark masculine style.

While fans will recognise threads from Hepburn's most famous films The African Queen, On Golden Pond and the Philadelphia Story, there are a number of un-Hepburnesque dresses also on show. A white satin lace wedding dress from The Lake, a glamourous black silk gown from Adam's Rib are notable showstoppers in a 40 piece exhibit which show an unusual feminine side to the star. Yet this exhibit would be incomplete without her trademark trousers, her favourite slacks and jodhpurs are displayed on upturned mannequin legs.

Some of the dresses on display include a wedding dress from Hepburn wore in The Lake (1934), State of the Union (1948) and Adam's Rib (1949). Photography by Richard Drew/AP

Fans will be surprised to learn of Katharine's enviable 20-inch waist and of the revelation in the book Katharine Hepburn: Rebel Chic, released in conjunction with the exhibit that the actress stolled the RKO lot naked when executives tried to hide her beloved trousers in a bid to stop Hepburn wearing masculine garments. "Her response was to threaten to walk around the lot naked. Though she only stripped down as far as her silk underwear before stepping out of her dressing room, she made her point — and she got her trousers back," fashion writer Nancy MacDonell notes.

A Murial King design from Katharine's star studded film Stage Door (1937) and right: a pair of Hepburn's beloved slacks. Photography by Richard Drew/AP

Clips from Katharine's film career, posters and images of Hepburn in costume will complement the exhibit which runs until January. The book will be released later this month.