By Megan Riedlinger
10:00pm PDT, Sep 30, 2022
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Cher has never been afraid to push the envelope when it comes to fashion. Always an original, the raven-haired beauty has simultaneously raised eyebrows and inspired envy with her unique ensembles for decades. Wonderwall.com is taking a look at her show-stopping style through the years. First up? While posing for a fashion shoot in 1978, the singer-actress rocked a barely-there sparkly golden outfit by Bob Mackie that showed off her amazing figure. Pairing the metallic frock with silver strappy sandals, it was evident even back then that Cher was willing to take risks when it came to fashion.
Keep reading to reminisce…
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This is classic Cher back in 1973 at an appearance on "The Glen Campbell Show" with Sonny Bono. The star wore a bright, multicolored frock that showed off her bare midriff and ended in the popular bellbottom style of the day.
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It's an ensemble that would really raise eyebrows and draw criticism today, but Cher wore a Native American-inspired look during a photo session in Los Angeles in 1977. (The "Half-Breed" singer has claimed she has Cherokee ancestors.)
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Rocking an outfit that exemplified the era, Cher donned an off-the-shoulder black shirt with cropped baggy leather pants in 1982. The singer completed the look with a gold belt and awesomely '80s feathered hair.
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The '80s were a tough time for everyone in the fashion department… even stylish superstars like Cher. The icon donned this bizarre combo of a tied-up, bedazzled black tank top with a pair of leather pants featuring, well, a whole lot of geometric cut-outs for seemingly no reason in 1984. To cap things off, she rocked striped socks and one — yep, one! — fingerless glove.
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Cher really wanted to make a statement at the 1986 Academy Awards, so she turned to the flamboyant and eccentric designer Bob Mackie. This two-piece black creation — which she topped with an epic headpiece — featured sharp points that showcased Cher's amazing abs.
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Returning to the Academy Awards in 1988, Cher won the Oscar for best actress for her performance as the young widow in "Moonstruck." Cher donned a black sequined Bob Mackie gown for the occasion and showed off both the barely-there gown and her new Oscar statuette after the ceremony.
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Walk like an Egyptian! Never afraid to don an extravagant costume for an occasion, Cher rocked a Cleopatra-style frock to endorse her new fragrance in 1988. It bared her belly and also included a massive, elaborate headpiece.
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One of Cher's most iconic looks? Her getup in the music video for her 1989 song "If I Could Turn Back Time." Shot on the battleship USS Missouri in Long Beach, California, Cher famously sported thigh-highs and what was essentially lingerie underneath a leather jacket fit for a rock queen. Add some big hair and heels and you've got one of the most famous outfits in music video history. And fortunately for all of us, Cher replicated the look numerous times throughout her career…
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At the Academy Awards in 1998, Cher opted for a headpiece and beaded gown once again. But this time in a flesh-toned color. The dress showed plenty of skin, a Cher signature, but earned the star a place on quite a few worst dressed lists that year.
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Cher welcomed the aughts with some sparkly pants! At the Vanity Fair Oscar party in 2000, the legendary star sported these shimmering rainbow trousers, adding multicolored makeup to match. Brightening things up even further? Those glittery blue and green shoes and a bright purple sequined top. Why she chose to top things off with an otherwise plain and simple denim jacket? The world may never know…
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Sparkly pants became Cher's signature in 2000. The star also sported some blinged-out bottoms at the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards in Los Angeles in September that year. This time they were glimmering gold and she paired them with a tan patterned blouse, a gold leather jacket and some skinny red shades.
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Rounding out the trifecta of stand-out pants? Cher's Primetime Emmys look in 2000! The star once again donned a loud and fancy pair of trousers for the occasion, though this time they were an indigo shade with bedazzled purple jewels, and kept everything ivory on top. She also switched back to platinum locks, rocking them long and straight while sporting purple and pink makeup shades.
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Ditching her signature dark locks, a blonde Cher hit the red carpet for an America Online party in Hollywood in 2002. Even though her hair wasn't in its usual style, her ensemble was classic Cher: a glimmering gold jacket, gold pants and a tiny top.
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Cher switched it up with a Wild West-inspired outfit at the VH1 Divas concert in 2002. Rocking a whole lot of turquoise, the then-platinum-blonde singer's jeans even featured faux chaps.
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Getting back to her costume roots, Cher performed in this glitzy fur-trimmed number during a "Farewell" tour stop in Germany in 2004. The snow queen look featured Cher's signature sequins and jewels and was dreamed up by her longtime fave designer, Bob Mackie.
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Cher showed Lady Gaga that she was the real queen of rocking unique ensembles at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. The same year Gaga showed up in a meat dress, Cher chose to dust off her famous 1989 "If I Could Turn Back Time" look. At 64, Cher looked just as amazing in the outfit as she did at 43. And it wouldn't even be the last time she tried on the ol' look…
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Major gladiator inspiration! Getting back to her gold and leather roots, Cher rocked a gold headpiece, a pleated black skirt over leather pants and a shirt complete with sheer sleeves for a 2013 appearance in New York. With the bold, loud look, Cher showed that she had no intention of ever slowing down her over-the-top fashion.
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Age is nothing but a number! Cher stepped out in short shorts, fishnet tights and a bedazzled leather jacket for an appearance on the "Late Show With David Letterman" in 2013. It's safe to say there are plenty of 20-somethings who would love to have this then-60-something star's amazing legs.
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For Cher's 2014 "Dressed to Kill" tour, it seemed only fitting that she embrace her love of headdresses. Performing in an elaborate costume complete with a massive rainbow feathered headpiece designed by Hugh Durant, the singer evoked some major nostalgia for her costumed past.
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She's still a fashion darling in her 70s! Cher attended the 2015 Met Gala on the arm of none other than Marc Jacobs. Not only did the designer dress her in this geometrical sequined long-sleeved gown, but he cast her in campaigns for his fall-winter line later that year.
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As the recipient of the Billboard Icon Award at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards, Cher performed her classic hit "If I Could Turn Back Time." Not only did she sound the same — she looked the same too! She took the stage at 71 sporting the iconic sheer and sparkly bodysuit she wore in the track's music video, which was shot nearly 30 years earlier! It was, of course, topped off with a timeless leather jacket.
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Cher's career was still thriving in 2018 when she starred in "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again." While attending the musical movie's London premiere, Cher donned this long black jacket by Ann Demeulemeester over a sheer top and black high-waisted trousers — which was certainly a more demure look than we're used to seeing on the edgy star.
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Cher closed the Balmain runway show during Paris Fashion Week in September 2022 wearing a skintight marbled black bodysuit with architectural shoulders over matching leggings and black platform boots, showing that at 76, she still had the body of a teenager!
