From Grammy-winning hits to Oscar-winning performances, and even comedy shows, Cher has spent decades reframing what it means to be a pop icon– and she has done it all in sequins. Throughout her career, Cher has dominated TV screens around the world, undoubtedly leaving her mark on pop culture and fashion alike. From Lady Gaga's stylistic inspiration to Kim Kardashian's “number one style icon”, there is no better way to truly understand Cher’s entire legacy as a pioneer of the pop-star look than by examining her daring yet iconic fashion choices throughout history. 

As a California native and daughter of an aspiring actress, Cher had a somewhat unconventional and far less fabulous childhood than most would expect. Abandoned by her father and placed in an orphanage until age 11, Cher grew up amid instability and poverty– experiences that fueled her hunger for the spotlight. In interviews, she even described herself as a “daydreamer” always “thinking about what (she) would be when she grew up,” which marked this palpable ambition. 

So when did this determination begin to pay off? After leaving school at the young age of 16 and moving to Los Angeles, she met her soon-to-be husband, Sonny Bono, with whom she formed a musical duo. Kickstarting her career, the two released their first hit, “I Got You Babe,” in 1965. However, this fame was not a linear journey for Cher, as evidenced by her diverse fashion choices.

In the 1960s, during her relationship with Sonny Bono, Cher helped pioneer a style that would come to define the hippie era. This pivotal moment in time marks the start of Cher’s rebellious stylistic journey. At a time when American viewers were accustomed to seeing muted, conservatively dressed women with gentle, petite, and light features, Cher was quite the opposite. With long black hair, intense makeup, a lengthy figure, and an eclectic collection of colors and jewelry, Cher's unique look broke norms, propelling her career alongside. It wasn’t until Cher released several hit singles, however, that her solo career took off. Perhaps this was the start of the fearless self-expression that would ultimately cement her status as a daring and controversial fashion icon.

This leads into her most fabulous stylistic period: the 1970s-early 80s, known as the Glamorous Bob Mackie  Era. This distinctive moment in her fashion career began when she met the icon himself, Bob Mackie on the set of The Carol Burnett Show, where he worked as the wardrobe designer. It was here, that Mackie created elaborate, costume-like ensembles for Carol’s skits– a flamboyant aesthetic that would later echo through many of Cher’s most iconic looks.

Cher was encapsulated by Mackie’s uniquely dazzling designs. As Mackie later recalled, during their first encounter, she gazed at one of his beaded gowns and declared, “One day, when we have enough money, I want you to make me one.” Without missing a beat, he replied, “When you’re ready, I’m ready.”. It was this moment that sparked the beginning of what would later be known as one of the most renowned designer partnerships of the last century, one that not only redefined glamour but also proved how creative symbiosis could translate into immense success across industries. Cher and Mackie’s collaboartion pioneered a model in which the muse herself became the driving force behind a designer’s legacy, a formula later echoed in iconic duos like Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier.

This origin story perfectly captures Cher’s fearless embrace of fashion as an extension of self-expression. While Mackie’s career was kick-started making costumes for comedic skits, transforming costume into couture, cultivating a personal style unlike anything else of her era. This boldness catapulted her beyond the realm of her musical peers, establishing her as a pioneer of glamour. From her provocative sheer jumpsuit at the 1974 Met Gala, or her daring two-piece yellow set at the 1973 Oscars, she laid the foundation for the expressive, boundary-pushing pop fashion that defines the industry today. Not to mention her fabulous and dramatic outfit reveals on her own program, The Cher Show, where she was actually the first woman to show her belly button on live television. 

While these outfits were nothing short of controversial– and often polarizing– Cher’s style was consistently rooted in one thing: fun. The ethos of her fashion choices reflected a mindset to not take anything she wears too seriously because, at the end of the day, it was her body that the clothes were on. These risky and unique outfits created by this powerful duo were very much in line with second-wave feminism's outlook on sexual freedom. Through her fearless experimentation and refusal to conform, Cher became the blueprint for pop fashion, setting the stage for future icons like Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé to use style as a form of storytelling and self-reinvention in their careers. 

Cher not only changed fashion within the music industry, but on the red carpets too. Instead of adhering to the typical formal dress code of these events, she turned these moments into a show or performance of sorts. One notable example is her unforgettable outfit at the 1986 Oscars, which she wore to essentially piss off the academy, as they did not take her seriously as an actress. Even half a century later, Cher continues to influence red carpets and runways– proof that timelessness comes from fearlessness.