Tina Turner broke boundaries as a electric singer, dancer, actress and author. But perhaps, above all else, in our minds, she was also a style icon who paved the way with her brilliant stage outfits that wowed audiences as well as the fashion crowd. Think: glittering, sequined little numbers by Azzedine Alaia, Bob Mackie and Gianni Versace. Tina Turner’s fashion sense was bold, loud, proud and monumental as the kind of wardrobe that told stories about her personality, life and work. As the icon passed away today, her personal style remains and will be forever remembered alongside her music.
“I have been very lucky that I’ve worked closely with many designers, such as Bob Mackie and Armani,” Turner told Vogue, just last month. “When the Private Dancer album was released, my look was almost like a butterfly suddenly appearing – but in a leather mini dress! I changed my whole look: hair, make-up, everything. I felt very confident that my look was part of finally starting to achieve my goal… to be the first Black rock and roll singer to fill stadiums around the world.”
If you haven’t already watched the HBO documentary Tina, it provides a view into the world of Turner’s incredible sense of style, and shows just how much the outfits played into the performances and her unique artistic vision. Bob Mackie, the celebrated designer who also worked alongside Cher was a close collaborator.
A few of Turner’s fashion feats? Gilded pleated wings, crystal-covered bodysuits, ostrich feather tails, and sexy slits, each one higher than the last. Silver and gold metallic fringe mini dresses were her forever staple. “Tina didn’t have any money at the time; she’d buy these really cheap evening gowns in jersey [material] when she was in Europe and bring them in,” Mackie told Billboard. “I’d stand in front of the mirror with her and would just start cutting. She’d say ‘a little higher here,’ and I’d cut and then we’d pull it open and tack it down.”
The naked dress? Underwear as outerwear? The consistently dramatic outfit changes at concerts? ’80s mom jeans with a tie? The lace bodysuit? Fishnets with denim jackets? Turner invented it all and then some, and today, we thank her for it.
Images via Getty
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