42 Moments When Tina Turner Defined Fashion
Photo: by The Cut; Photos: Getty Images
Tina Turner died on Wednesday at the age of 83 at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland. Her publicist, Bernard Doherty, confirmed her death to news outlets, while a post on her Instagram account announced, “Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music.” We also said good-bye to her her fashion: flamboyant looks including silver minidresses, leather vests, big belts, and her signature larger-than-life hair.
Here are the many moments when Turner defined fashion:
In 1963, then–husband-and-wife R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner posed for a portrait. At the time she wore demure looks, like this white dress, and m...
In 1963, then–husband-and-wife R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner posed for a portrait. At the time she wore demure looks, like this white dress, and mostly matched her husband. She would later divorce him and reveal that Ike was abusive and that she attempted suicide in 1968 during a low point in their relationship. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
In 1964. Photo: A.B. Bell/ Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Performing with Ike in 1966. Photo: David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images
With Ike in 1969.
Photo: Len Trievnor/Getty Images
Photo: Len Trievnor/Getty Images
In 1975.
Photo: David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images
Photo: David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images
That same year.
Photo: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
Photo: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
In 1976, Turner started to debut her more flamboyant style, here with a jumpsuit and knee-high boots. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives//Getty Images
An airport look in 1976. Photo: Hulton Deutsch/Corbis via Getty Images
During Turner’s years with Ike, she didn’t have the money for bespoke fashion, so she would tweak items she found while touring. “She’d go to these li...
During Turner’s years with Ike, she didn’t have the money for bespoke fashion, so she would tweak items she found while touring. “She’d go to these little French dress boutiques and she would buy something and then she’d try to screw around with it and make it into a costume,” Bob Mackie, her longtime fashion collaborator, said. One of Mackie’s flashiest outfits for Turner featured pleated lamé wings and fringe that had to be constructed from chain because he knew beaded trimming would fall apart after a few of Turner’s notoriously kinetic shows. When she dashed across the stage in 1977, the wings fanned out behind her. “I looked like I was about to take flight and soar — which was exactly how I felt about being on my own for the first time,” she wrote in her memoir That’s My Life. Photo: Harry Langdon/Getty Images
In 1977, wearing a suit.
Photo: Harry Langdon/Getty Images
Photo: Harry Langdon/Getty Images
In 1978 at her first solo concert in London since splitting up with her partner, Ike, Turner debuted a noticeably more liberated look, setting the ton...
In 1978 at her first solo concert in London since splitting up with her partner, Ike, Turner debuted a noticeably more liberated look, setting the tone for her style in later years. Photo: Gary Merrin/Getty Images
By 1984, Turner had become known for her hair. Photo: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images
Performing later that year, she continued her theme of wearing suits, here with a blouse and tie: a power look. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives//Getty Im...
Performing later that year, she continued her theme of wearing suits, here with a blouse and tie: a power look. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives//Getty Images
That same year, she posed for a portrait in her Los Angeles home.
Photo: Aaron Rapoport/Getty Images
Photo: Aaron Rapoport/Getty Images
She started wearing leather in 1984, a look that would come back again throughout the decades. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
She wore a red dress and belt in 1985, a year that stood out as a peak style moment for Turner. Photo: Steve Rapport/Getty Images
Her "Private Dancer Tour" defined her new look and helped establish Turner as a major solo artist and live performer. It is often considered...
Her "Private Dancer Tour" defined her new look and helped establish Turner as a major solo artist and live performer. It is often considered one of the best comebacks in music history. Photo: Ross Marino/Icon and Image/Getty Images
This flame look, which she worked with Bob Mackie for her tour, would come to showcase her attention-grabbing era: one that married her disco and rock...
This flame look, which she worked with Bob Mackie for her tour, would come to showcase her attention-grabbing era: one that married her disco and rock-and-roll personas onstage. When Beyoncé performed a tribute to Turner at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2005, she wore a version of the dress. Photo: Richard Young/Shutterstock
Turner wears another leather dress while on tour at the Wembley Arena in 1985. Photo: Solomon NJie/Getty Images
More leather in Brussels, Belgium, during her tour.
Photo: Gie Knaeps/Getty Images
Photo: Gie Knaeps/Getty Images
Turner and Lionel Richie in 1985.
Photo: Images Press/Getty Images
Photo: Images Press/Getty Images
Turner and Cher in 1985. Photo: Robin Platzer/Images Press/Getty Images
Red became one of Turner's defining colors throughout her fashion career, shown here in 1987. Photo: Paul Natkin/Getty Images
More red in Rio in 1988. Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images
Silver was another one of her signature colors, showing the boldness of her style throughout the ’90s. Photo: Rob Verhorst/Redferns/Getty Images
A gold dress in 1990, her fabulous era. Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images
In 1991. Photo: United Archives/ZIK Images/United Archives via Getty Images
Backstage ahead of her show at New York's Radio City Music Hall in 1993. Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images
In 1995, Turner sang the theme song for the Bond film GoldenEye and wore this billowy dress to match. Photo: Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Here in 1997, Turner showcased her famous assets: her legs. Three years prior, she had ensured them for 3.2 million. Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Imag...
Here in 1997, Turner showcased her famous assets: her legs. Three years prior, she had ensured them for 3.2 million. Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
In 2000 during a performance in Chicago. Photo: Paul Natkin/Getty Images
Turner leaned into her love of leather when she performed at the 2000 Super Bowl. Photo: JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images
In 2002 at a party in Paris for Cartier. Turner would later rewear this dress when she was honored by the Kennedy Center in 2005. Photo: Bertrand Rind...
In 2002 at a party in Paris for Cartier. Turner would later rewear this dress when she was honored by the Kennedy Center in 2005. Photo: Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images
Turner lended her voice to the Brother Bear soundtrack in 2003, gifting us with a leather miniskirt moment at the film’s New York premiere. Photo: M. ...
Turner lended her voice to the Brother Bear soundtrack in 2003, gifting us with a leather miniskirt moment at the film’s New York premiere. Photo: M. Von Holden/FilmMagic/Getty Images
In one of her favorite labels, Armani, at the house’s Milan ready-to-wear fashion show in 2007. Notably, this was also when she started to change her ...
In one of her favorite labels, Armani, at the house’s Milan ready-to-wear fashion show in 2007. Notably, this was also when she started to change her hair. Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/Getty Images
In 2008, Turner and Beyoncé performed in matching silver looks at the Grammys. Turner was fond of capri-length pants. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Get...
In 2008, Turner and Beyoncé performed in matching silver looks at the Grammys. Turner was fond of capri-length pants. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images
Kicking off her European tour in Cologne in sequins and rhinestones in 2009. And legs. Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images
In 2010 in a killer cape during Paris Couture Fashion Week at the Giorgio Armani Privé fashion show, a consistent favorite label of hers. Photo: Richa...
In 2010 in a killer cape during Paris Couture Fashion Week at the Giorgio Armani Privé fashion show, a consistent favorite label of hers. Photo: Richard Bord/WireImage/Getty Images
Wearing a spiderweb dress while presenting at the Netherlands Music Awards in 2016. Photo: KOEN VAN WEEL/AFP via Getty Images
In 2018 in delicate gloves while seated front row at one of her final Giorgio Armani Privé shows during Paris Couture Fashion Week. Photo: Swan Gallet...
In 2018 in delicate gloves while seated front row at one of her final Giorgio Armani Privé shows during Paris Couture Fashion Week. Photo: Swan Gallet/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images
In 2019 in a fabulous hat at the premiere of Tina — Das Tina Turner Musical in Hamburg. Photo: Franziska Krug/Getty Images
Arriving on Broadway for the opening night of Tina — The Tina Turner Musical in 2019. Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic/Getty Images
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