Cher's style essentials that are still a trend

In 1996, TV journalist Jane Pauley was interviewing Cher when, at one point, hinting at her reputation as a heartbreaker, she asked her if men weren't a fundamental part of her life. The star smiled slyly and gave the show's viewers an unforgettable answer:

Like dessert, yeah. A man is absolutely not a necessity. - And then she adds - I adore dessert, I love men. I think men are the coolest. But you don’t really need them to live. My mom said to me, "you know sweetheart, one day you should settle down and marry a rich man." And I said, "Mom – I am a rich man".

A few simple words that describe a story of a strong, empowered woman, who has crossed more than 7 decades, fully living many different lives, loving, working hard, sometimes making mistakes, but always driving straight ahead.

From the start

She played the role of hippie icon in partnership with her first husband Sonny Bono, she was a gypsy globetrotter with a passion for floral blouses and pirate boots. She danced in jeans and stilettos on the dance floor of Studio 54, she switched Bob Mackie's eccentric gowns for overalls and cowboy hats, until she became an Oscar-winning actress, a scandalous rock star (remember her in 1989 in a black leather jacket and transparent bodysuit, singing on the battleship USS Missouri surrounded by sailors for the video for If I Could Turn Back Time?) and then into a true icon of music and fashion adored by millions of fans, including contemporary it-girls like Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid.

In celebration of her 75th birthday, let's look back at Cher's 5 style essentials.

Straight Hair

Cher's style riffs on her Cherokee heritage, 1974

Cher’s portrait session at her home in Los Angeles, 1968

Cher in 1972

Cher for Vogue by Richard Avedon, 1966

Cher and Sonny Bono by Martin Mills for a promotional photo for The Sonny and Cher Show

Cher’s portrait session at her home in Los Angeles, 1968

Cher’s portrait session during the The Sonny and Cher Show years, 1972

Cher in the 70s

Cher attending an event in Los Angeles, by Michael Och, 1974

Cher in 1968

Cher for Vogue by Richard Avedon, 1966

Cher by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, 2019

Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPierre, better known simply as Cher, first achieved fame in the 1960s with the song I Got You Babe and then thanks to a television show, both of which were produced together with her ex-husband Sonny Bono. As soon as the couple appeared on screen, they immediately attracted the attention of the media and became the pop side of the hippie generation: he with his thick mustache and sideburns, she with her eyes lined with mascara, the high cheekbones inherited from her Cherokee origins and the long black hair. Despite the fact that over the years the pop icon has experimented with colored wigs, flapper bobs, pixies, mullets and wild curls, those very long and ultra-straight hairs remain the beauty feature that most defines her image. It is no coincidence that this hairstyle is also shown off by two big fans of Cher as Kim Kardashian and Gilda Ambrosio. If you want to copy them forget to go to the hairdresser and be ready to make the iron straightener your best friend!

Matching two-piece set

Cher solo performance on "The Glen Campbell Show", 1973

Cher performing in 1972

Cher in purple outfit, 1975

Cher in 1970

Cher and Sonny Bono at the St Regis Hotel in New York, 1973

Cher and David Geffen, 1973

Cher and Sonny Bono took a flight to Hawaii, 1965

45th Annual Academy Awards, 1973

Cher in Bob Mackie for "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour", 1972

Sonny & Cher, 1970

16th annual Grammy Awards, 1974

46th annual Academy Awards, 1974

58th annual Academy Awards, 1986

During their marriage (which ended in 1974) Sonny and Cher shared everything: a daughter, career, leisure time and even the same clothes. With their bell-bottoms and matching jackets, they go down in history as the most matchy-matchy couple ever. Even when she no longer replicates her partner's looks, the singer opts for two matching pieces, often consisting of tops with cut-out or butterfly details and long skirts or flared denim. This choice is still an inspiration for many celebrities today. Remember the yellow Valentino dress worn by Zendaya at the last Academy Awards?

Statement top

Cher by Harry Langdon, 1977

Cher and Gregg Allman, 1977

Cher at the Sonny and Cher show, 1974

Cher in Beverly Hills, 1978

Cher’s portrait session, 1976

Cher arriving to the CBS Studios, 1973

Cher in the 80s

Cher often changed styles, but one of the elements that have always been part of her wardrobe are statement tops. The star loved to match them with leather miniskirts, jeans, midi skirts or flared pants different models: from floral blouses to simple monochrome tank tops, from butterfly bralettes to cropped t-shirts, from t-shirts made of crush to off-shoulder tops. 

Denim

Cher relaxing at home in bed, 1977

Cher and Sonny Bono at Los Angeles International Airport, 1977

Cher by Norman Seeff, 1976

Cher in the shop Red Balloon in Georgetown, 1977

Cher at El Privado Club in Los Angeles, 1977

Cher dancing at Studio 54, 1977

Cher at JFK, 1974

Cher with Gregg Allmann by Norman Seeff, 1977

Cher by Harry Langdon, 1984

Cher in 1991

Cher during a portrait session, 1987

When she's not in Bob Mackie's eye-catching and flamboyant creations, Cher loved to wear jeans and changes her favorite model according to the style and shape of the era. In the seventies they were flared, tight at the top and very wide at the bottom; in the 80s they were mom fit and often matched with a denim jacket or a perfecto; in the 90s they were grunge, a bit shapeless and full of rips; while in the new millennium they were straight and low-waisted. Away from the stage and screen, however, the star was still an eccentric diva with a glamorous attitude and embellished each pair of jeans with special details such as glitter, colored stones, star-shaped patches, floral embroidery, hearts, skulls or lace trim. 

Sparkling

Cher wearing Bob Mackie for a portrait session, 1978

Cher for Vogue by Richard Avedon with he MET dress, 1974

Cher at Billboard Magazine's Disco Convention, 1979

Cher attending the Met Gala in a Bob Mackie look, 1985

60th annual Academy Awards, 1988

Cher wearing Bob Mackie for a portrait session, 1976

Cher in 1967

55th annual Academy Awards, 1983

Cher in 1978

Cher at the Joseph Andrews L.A. premiere, 1977

Cher in Bob Mackie for "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour", 1972

Cher on stage, 2019

The FW21 collections of Gucci, Miu Miu and Dior announced the trend of sparkling items, but no one has ever worn as many as Cher. The most iconic ones were created for her by Bob Mackie: from the Dancing Flames dress to the golden sequin-covered one in which the star made her debut at the 1973 Academy Awards, from the elegant total white model of 1985 to the Naked Dress that captured the attention on the red carpet of the 1974 Met Gala and inspired Kim Kardashian's outfit in the 2015 edition of the same event.