An expansive list ranging from Cher and Bob Mackie to Lil’ Kim and Marc Jacobs
What comes to mind when you think of Cher? For some, it’s the chorus of “Believe”; for many others, it’s sequins. The legendary pop icon conjures images of deliciously outrageous fashion—shiny fringe, embellished sets, feathered headdresses.
You might remember her sheer catsuit from the 1974 Met Gala or the leotard with long, red, sparkling fringe and a coordinating hood from her Farewell Tour in the early 2000s. And it’s no coincidence you’ll often spot Bob Mackie, who also worked with stars like Tina Turner and Diana Ross, at her side in pictures that captured these major fashion moments over the last five decades. The designer was instrumental in helping to craft her image, a rather sparkly one, crucial to her status as a diva.A pop diva benefits greatly from the vision of a strong designer at her side, someone to mold and shape her image, her aura, even. In many cases, it’s a fabulously symbiotic relationship, with the musician often serving as muse, as well. It’s such an important role that many designers became pop icons themselves—even divas, you could argue—in the process. Just think of the case of Jean Paul Gaultier and Madonna. Her cone bra was so much more than just a costume. The polarizing garment designed by Gaultier helped to define her persona, setting a provocative tone that did not shy away from societal boundaries—in fact, it stormed right through them. And it boosted his profile significantly as a designer. The same can be said of so many fashion and costume designers who helped pop icons cultivate their look.Ahead, a list of iconic creative partnerships between divas and their designers. As to who’s the bigger diva… we’ll let you decide.Cher and Bob MackieProbably the most well-known of the bunch, Cher and Bob Mackie worked together on costumes and ensembles for numerous appearances over many decades. The pair met in 1967 and began their work in crafting an image for the pop icon, one complete with glittering fringe, heavy sequins, daring cutouts, and cleverly instituted sheer fabrics.Grace Jones and Azzedine Alaïa Grace Jones and designer Azzedine Alaïa developed a friendship in the early 1980s, one that would last for decades and result in many fashion collaborations. Case in point: the hooded purple ribbon dress she wore in 1987.Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier have nurtured one of the most exciting cross-industry partnerships. Their symbiosis has led to a number of iconic costumes, none more so than the famous cone bras of her 1990 Blonde Ambition tour. The provocative garment became synonymous with the star’s image.Lana Del Rey and Alessandro MicheleThe friendship and collaboration between pop star Lana Del Rey and designer Alessandro Michele blossomed while he was creative director of Gucci and has continued into his tenure at Valentino. Del Rey attends many of Michele’s fashion shows and often accompanies him to the Met Gala in ensembles that prove her moody Americana style jives with his eclectic whimsy.Foxy Brown and John GallianoAround the millennium, Foxy Brown and John Galliano were quite outspoken about their reverence for one another. He noted her as a source of inspiration for his Spring 2000 couture collection for Christian Dior and had her perform at the opening of New York’s Dior boutique.Jennifer Lopez and Donatella VersaceIf you hear these two names in tandem with one another, your mind likely goes to the iconic, plunging blue and green Versace dress J.Lo wore to the Grammys in 2000. But their friendship and collaboration extends beyond that one instance into many red carpet and performance ensembles, including Lopez’s rewearing of that same dress at the brand’s Spring 2020 show.Rosé and Anthony VaccarelloBlackpink’s Rosé is both a muse and brand ambassador for Saint Laurent’s creative director Anthony Vaccarello. The K-pop star often sits front row at the brand’s fashion shows and appears in their campaigns, but their relationship goes beyond the average ambassadorship. The two are very close and often trade opinions.Liza Minnelli and HalstonLegendary fashion designer Halston and actress, singer, and dancer Liza Minnelli shared a deep friendship in the 1970s and 1980s. They both supported each other creatively and collaborated across their respective fields. Halston designed many ensembles for Minnelli, helping her to define her high-octane, theatrical look.Marc Jacobs and Lil’ KimThe relationship between fashion designer Marc Jacobs dates back to 2004 when they met at Jacobs’s fashion show because he famously listened to her albums while working. Since then, he’s dressed her for many red carpets and editorials including the 2005 Met Gala—even famously outfitting her for the court appearances of her trial in 2005.
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