100 Most Influential People in Fashion

Fashion Influential #63: Cher

Photo by Getty

CHER Fans:
Beyonce Knowles, Britney Spears, Tracy Chapman, Oprah Winfrey, Cindy Lauper, Meryl Streep, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez
Records sold:
275 Million
Relationships:
Warren Beatty, Sonny Bono, Gregg Allman, David Geffen, Gene Simmons, Garreth Crawford, Val Kilmer, Tom Cruise, Rob Camilleti, Richie Sambora, Eric Clapton, Mark Hudson
Net worth:
$1 billion+
Beginnings.
Of those on the frontlines of fashion exploration, Cher is a high-ranking commander: she was a hippie two years before hippies dressed like hippies. And because Americans weren’t ready for her over-the-top DIY fashion sense, she went to England where, while trying to check into the Hilton, she and Sonny Bono were thrown out because of the way they were dressed. Celebrity Vogue editor Diana Vreeland supposedly discovered Cher at a party for Jacqueline Kennedy where Cher was performing. She was 19 at the time.

“She looked at me and then she put her hand on top of my head and said, ‘My dear, you have a pointed head! You're absolutely beautiful.’ And the next day, I thought ‘What a weird old lady.’ Mrs. Vreeland was so cool. We had such a great time. She was so sweet. And the next thing I know, Richard Avedon was coming out to take my picture. Then, after that, I did like twenty pages for them and I just started working for them all the time. Mrs. Vreeland was fabulous.”

Career Highs.
Sonny and Cher were really the first to push the non-tailored look with great success. Her Cherokee, English and French descent lent for an exotic look favored by photographers in the early days, but it was her ability to act, sing, direct and produce that made her the icon she is today. She has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her shining achievement had to be the song “Believe,” which is the third best-selling worldwide single by a female recording artist, having sold over 10 million copies. While her style of dress and stage performance is flamboyant (who can forget the wig changes?), she juxtaposes it with a subdued manner on the big screen, choosing to portray more unglamorous women.
Most of the time I'd just as soon wear sweatpants, although I stud them or rip them or whatever. And ballet slippers. Ballet slippers, socks, sweatpants and a T-shirt. I like to get dressed up, but most of the time I'd just rather go around simple.
- Cher

Part Cherokee, English and French = Hottie.
Career Lows.
With the exception of a successful Greatest Hits album, 1992 wasn’t especially kind to Cher. She was hit with a case of chronic fatigue syndrome and made very few public appearances. The few she made were infomercials for her hair-care products and the sweetener Equal. The latter seemed like a perplexing mismatch of talent to brand, and many felt this hurt Cher’s image.

Legacy.
Cher re-branded and gave new meaning to the world’s concept of a diva. While she’s a one-woman empire, she’s virtually scandal-proof; a testament to either good management or a personal the fact that she’s actually a great person. The imprint she’s left on the fashion world is covered in lace, beads, sequins and is skin tight.

Check out my Oscar.
Get the Look.
Cher has gone through more phases than Anna Wintour has free Chanel coats. Keeping up with her, stylistically, would be an achievement in and of itself, but if you’re so inclined and age-appropriate, give the untailored, free-spirit look a try. We think Cher looks her best in a pair of jeans and stylish leather jacket and shades. But that’s just us.

- John