Cher has spent decades in the limelight, climbing to stardom at a young age and remaining there today. Her music has spanned several genres, and accordingly, her style has gone through a variety of transformations. From her ’60s hippie looks to a glam-rocker style in later years, Cher has a flair for surprising audiences with her style choices. Read on to see the plethora of looks that the superstar has tried on over her long and successful career.
1965 – All Things Fringe
Cher was just sixteen when she dropped out of school to become a star, and her youth shows up in her early fashion. This fringe-filled outfit is as free and flowy as Cher’s attitude was in those young years.
Sonny and Cher laugh as they twirl around in their matching outfits, consisting of loose, patterned shirts underneath casual vests and bell-bottom pants, all of which are loaded with fringe. The costumes shamelessly announce their hippie-infused style.
1966 – Paisley Power
Cher wasn’t one to shy away from loud patterns. Here, she poses with Sonny near a tree while wearing a green and pink, paisley outfit. Sonny, on the other hand, is wearing a striped outfit with brown and blue tones.
The contrasting outfits here reveal that sometimes the couple matched their clothes, and sometimes they couldn’t look more different. The point was merely to stand out. The duo was so outlandishly dressed at times that they were once denied entrance at a hotel on account of what they were wearing.
1968 – Glamorous
This photo reveals Cher’s transition to becoming a major star. Though she always wanted to be one and was confident that she would make it, in this particular moment she appears to have arrived.
Unlike the casual outfits we’ve seen her in previously, here she is wearing a shiny, lilac top with an elaborate silver necklace. To complete the look, she has a fur coat draped over one shoulder like the true starlet she was becoming.
1975 – Glitzy But Casual
By 1975, Cher had risen to stardom as both a solo singer and in a duo with Sonny. The couple further expanded their fame by creating The Sonny And Cher Show. Cher is pictured here in her costume for the show while leaned atop a block that has her first initial printed on it.
The outfit screams “the ’70s” with the flowy pants and a collared shirt tied above her midsection. A rhinestone belt matches the “C” on her shirt and adds some glitz to the casual look.
1975 – Sleek And Elegant
When it came to modeling, Cher was discovered by none other than Diana Vreeland, the editor of Vogue. Upon meeting Cher at a party, Diana recommended that she work with the famous photographer Richard Avedon.
Cher’s tall, sleek physique was perfect for the fashion industry, and she was naturally photogenic to boot. Though she loved to wear outlandish outfits while promoting herself as a singer, she also could pull off elegant gowns like this one while modeling.
1978 – Tight And Bright
In this photo, Cher is wearing a bright blue unitard, which is essentially a leotard that extends down the legs. The front has a criss-cross cutout design that hints at Cher’s growing appreciation for revealing attire.
Rhinestones embellish the outfit and tie in with the metallic boots she has on. Cher’s peaceful facial expression reflects her ease in front of the camera. Indeed, her confidence made it seem as though she was made for the limelight.
1980 – Classic Red
This outfit is the embodiment of how the confident woman of the ’80s might dress. Shoulder pads and form-fitting, long dresses complete with bright pumps were all the rage at the time.
Though Cher spent much of her career fighting to stand out, she also had a careful balance of keeping up with the styles of the times. Whether she was done up in an outlandish costume or an outfit straight out of Vogue, she was always eye-catching.
1981 – Poofy Hair And Scrunchy Clothes
This outfit strikes a chord somewhere in between the quintessential ’80s style and the avant garde looks that Cher was known for. Her scrunchy pants, top, and shoes aren’t exactly what you’d expect to find someone wearing in everyday life.
At the same time, you know which decade this photo was taken in based on the style alone. The forward-facing headband under poofy hair, long earrings, rolled pants, and off-the-shoulder top are all nods to the mainstream fashion, just with a Cher twist.
1985 – Grownup Glitter
Cher looks like something out of a futuristic sci-fi movie in this outfit on account of the unusual hair barrettes/ earrings at either side of her face. While some would shy away from unique features like that, Cher loves to dress “outside the box.”
Her top has a beautiful, elegant design done in glitter that shows off her femininity without coming across as girly or young. The dark, sheer material underneath is modest compared to some of the things Cher had dared to wear at other events.
1986 – Porcupine Hair
This outfit is an example of the untamed style that made Cher so eye-catching. No one could miss her massive, porcupine-like wig and sparkling headpiece. Her face is flanked by a pair of long, sparkly earrings to match the rest of her outfit.
Her top runs all the way up her neck, though its net-like design makes it look nothing like a turtleneck. A silky shawl helps to ground the otherwise exotic, wild ensemble.
1989 – Southern Glamour
Cher has almost a Dolly Parton-esque look here with her big hair, sparkly jacket and high-rise jeans. Her glittery white shirt is tucked into her jeans and matches her narrow belt.
Her white jacket features a design made up of glitter and goes along with her large, sparkly white earrings. At the time, she had established herself as a leading lady of Hollywood and proved her worth in the genre of rock music, putting her on par with someone like Dolly Parton.
1992 – Big Red Curls
Though Cher was on top of the world by the ’90s, the start of the decade proved to be a trying time for her career. The dip in her success was primarily characterized by her involvement in health and beauty infomercials.
Cher’s wild, bright red mane here is a far cry from the dark hair she was known for. Her momentary career detour to do infomercials seems to coincide with her change of haircolor and more modest and casual style.
1995 – Gypsy Queen
In the mid-’90s, Cher reached new heights in both her music career and her fashion. She released an album that had R&B influences, a genre she had yet to explore, and was back to her starlet presence.
Here she is performing on stage in a gypsy-like outfit. Her corset and sparkly hip scarf are key elements of the look and have a shimmery flair that is all Cher. Rather than going with straight or curly hair, she’s found a lovely in-between with crimped hair.
1998 – Light And Glowy
Cher’s creamy silver dress and matching hairpiece shimmer in the light and make her skin look iridescent. Her choker necklace is delicate enough to suit the outfit, which is subtly sheer in key areas like the sleeves.
Though she looks glowy and bright, her pinched smile gives away her grief in the face of Sonny’s passing that year. Offsetting the heaviness of his absence, she also released Believe that year, a dance-pop album that found massive international success.
2002 – Blonde Rocker
Just when the world thought Cher couldn’t get any more versatile, she shocked fans by bleaching her dark hair and curling her blonde locks into tight ringlets. The black crosses on her jeans point to her rocker style.
Her dark, ripped top has a punk feel that is offset by her sparkly vest, from which thin chains dangle. The combination of contrasting styles goes to show that Cher really could pull off just about anything.
2005 – Casual Chic
Cher makes this casual outfit seems absolutely elegant, and at the same time makes it impossible to believe that she was going on 60 years old at the time. Her long, black hair is softly curled so that her wavy locks look effortless.
Her bright, white top embellishes her tan skin and makes her thick, silver jewelry really pop. A loose cardigan rolls off one shoulder and completes the carefree yet upscale tone of the lovely outfit.
2010 – A Laced Corset With A Twist
Cher has proven over the years that her outfits will continue to push the limits and test boundaries regardless of her age. Here she is in a long-sleeved, black dress that gives way to an open corset with lace embellishment.
Her black hair is curled in such a way that she looks like a classic Hollywood movie star. Her long, sparkly earrings add a touch of glitz to the edgy yet sophisticated outfit.
2010 – Leather And Chains
Cher again showed her deep-seated love for the rocker style when she attended the Country Music Awards in 2010. She sported an all-black outfit complete with a leather jacket and a chain hanging from her pants.
Additionally, a black-studded belt cinches her corset-shaped top, and a second chain hangs from the lapel of her jacket. Cher was romantically linked to quite a few rockers in her day, including Gene Simmons of KISS and Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band.
2015 – Subtle Sequins
Cher returned to an elegant look with this lengthy, sequin-covered gown. The dark shades of black and red tone down the shimmer of the sequins so that the dress looks more sophisticated than flashy.
Her hair is as long and dark as it was in her early days, but her outfit is much more subtle than much of what she’s worn before. While Cher still goes all out for her performance looks, she seems to have calmed down a bit when it comes to dressing for social events.
2017 – Fashionable As Ever
In more recent years, Cher has proven herself to be capable of keeping up with the times and staying in the limelight at any age. She still isn’t afraid to dress a little suggestively, as is reflected in the cut-out top she’s wearing here.
Up top, she’s wearing a casual, black jacket with white designs on the sleeves and black slacks. Her sequined hat makes her look like the cool aunt we all wish we had.
