Tutus, fishnets and that Material Girl music video look: Madonna's style file is bursting with legendary wardrobe moments
Whatever your personal taste, there's no denying the fact that singer, songwriter, actor and all-round superstar Madonna is also total bona-fide fashion icon.
Delivering look after look for decades, she's dominated the sartorial scene since the '80s and has been at the forefront of many of the most memorable pop culture moments of the last 50+ years.
From tutus to tailoring, fringing to fishnets – via, of course, some pretty major cone bras, that Material Girl music video and many Met Gala masterclasses – we take a look back at some of the Queen of Pop's most iconic wardrobe moments…
Rex FeaturesIn this early picture of the singer putting on an impromptu performance in her home town of Michigan, it's evident that her iconic signature style is yet to develop…
Getty ImagesBy 1979, however, Madonna’s look has taken a turn for the tough. In this studio shot she’s a wannabe star, studying dance in New York City, and wearing the ripped-up top and chunky boots of the day.
Getty ImagesThen the 80s came and changed everything. By 1984, when this picture was taken, Madonna had already nailed the eclectic, colourful, thrown-together urban look that would make her an icon for a new generation of youngsters. Note the graffiti T, hair bow, trainers and stacked-up bangles – just a few of her style staples.
Madonna / YouTubeWho could forget Madonna's iconic pink gown, worn in her 1984 Material Girl music video? In fact, it's so iconic that it recently went up for auction and is estimated to fetch more than £150,000.
Getty ImagesAt the first annual MTV Music Video Awards later that same year, those fingerless lace gloves quickly became the accessory du jour.
Mondadori PortfolioEven playing a role Madonna's inimitable style shone, as proven here on the set of the film Desperately Seeking Susan in New York in 1985.
Rex FeaturesAll white on the night for her first film premiere, With Madonna, in 1985, the lady in question ensuring she was the centre of attention in this all-white ensemble – with a corset detail that would soon become another style signature of hers...
Rex FeaturesShe’s tutu fabulous! Looking every inch the young starlet with the world at her feet, Madonna donned this polka-dot look for 1987’s Who’s That Girl.
Rex FeaturesSpanish influences begin to creep in circa 1987, the year Madonna releases La Isla Bonita, the fifth single from True Blue. Here is she is performing at Wembley in full-on señorita mode.
Rex FeaturesBut Madonna’s early style isn’t always about flamboyance and risk-taking. In this intimate portrait, which was shot in 1988, the singer even manages to make the most generic staples – a Breton T and a pair of blue jeans – her own.
Rex FeaturesIn 1989, a newly-brunette Madonna tones down the fashion statements to make a few more serious ones – about religion, sex and racism – in her Like A Prayer video. Still considered one of the most controversial of all time, the singer wore a simple black slip dress and a crucifix as she danced in front of a series of burning crosses.
Rex FeaturesIt wasn't long before she was back to blonde, and the fluoro shades were back out in force. Is it wrong that we kind of love these jeans?
Rex FeaturesFor the release of Express Yourself in October 1989, Madonna began to experiment with androgyny – a clever way to incorporate commentary on sex and gender into her headline-making fashion choices.
Rex FeaturesJean Paul Gaultier’s fashion collaboration with Madonna for the stage costumes featured in her Blonde Ambition Tour is now the stuff of legend. Conical boobs forever! This action shot was taken during a performance in Tokyo in 1990.
© Touchstone Pictures. All Rights reservedEver the iconic party-dressing muse, Madonna shone starring as Breathless Mahoney in the 1990 Dick Tracy film.
Rex FeaturesWhether on stage or popping out for dinner, Madonna likes to make a big impression. Such is the case in July 1990, when the singer was snapped on the street in London looking super polished – but nonetheless bold – in a brightly printed flapper dress and matching head scarf, with a miniature Chanel bag in tow.
Rex FeaturesOver-the-knee boots and a sequinned leotard? Of course! Well, it is another premiere – this time, for Truth Or Dare, in New York.
Rex FeaturesThe Cannes Film Festival is the showcase for the most incredible dresses in the world. So, of course, when Madonna headed over to the Riviera in 1991 to promote In Bed With Madonna, she ripped up the rule book – to the paparazzi’s delight – and instead went all-out in Jean Paul Gaultier lingerie and a pink kimono robe.
Rex FeaturesShe did, however, balance out her risqué fashion move during the same trip by opting for this somewhat more conservative tutu, blazer and long socks combo.
PA PhotosOut and about in 1992; we’d know that leather jacket and shaggy blonde crop anywhere.
PA PhotosWhat difference three years makes! On the promo trail for her new movie, Evita, in 1995, Madonna stuck to the style brief and ditched the distressed denims and fingerless gloves to usher in a new era of grown-up chic.
Rex FeaturesCue this hitherto uncharacteristically demure green textured midi dress, which the star wore to Evita’s London premiere.
DisneyA far more polished, regal look for Madonna as she took on the part of First Lady of Argentina, Eva Perón, in Evita in 1996.
PA PhotosBut it wasn’t long before our style chameleon had the proverbial itchy feet again and, in 1998, she entered her Drowned World phase, which is characterised by dark, dramatic silhouettes and very long, very natural hair.
PA PhotosJapanese influences took centre stage in 1999 – just in time for Madonna to open the Grammys in this fuchsia kimono (with matching boots and eye shadow).
Rex FeaturesBy now, the image overhauls came at a rate of knots. Who can forget the rodeo inspirations of 2000’s Music?
© 2002 UNITED ARTISTS CORPORATION & DANJAQ, LLC. All Rights ReservedIf Madonna is performing the soundtrack for your James Bond film, you'd be a fool not to give her some screen time, too. For the 2002 release of 'Die Another Day' she memorably had a cameo as Verity, a fencing instructor to double agent Miranda Frost.
PA PhotosIn 2003 Madonna went all English Rose on us. Of course, the launch of her new children’s book, The English Roses, might also have had something to do with it...
PA PhotosCome the NRJ Awards in 2004, we were wondering where the lingerie-wearing red carpet temptress of yore had gone as her Madgesty rocked up in this trench.
PA PhotosAt the premiere of I'm Going To Tell You a Secret, the documentary on her last world tour in October 2005, Madonna teamed a luxe bomber jacket with a 20s-style headband to create a style hit. It was a flame that would be fanned...
Rex FeaturesIt ultimately turned into the mega-watt leotard-, fishnets- and shades-wearing Madonna of Hung Up. Here she is at the MTV Music Awards in Lisbon.
PA PhotosMadonna’s 2006 Confessions tour saw her turn yet again to Jean Paul Gaultier for his input in her on-stage costumes – among them, this equestrian-themed opening number.
Rex FeaturesMadonna somehow found time in her hectic 2007 schedule to design a clothing collection for H&M. Naturally, she wore it to the launch party (which was held at The Langham Hotel in London), opting to showcase this classic white jersey dress.
PA PhotosHow times change! Madonna returned to the Cannes Film Festival in 2008 to promote her new documentary film, I Am Because We Are – and puts that Gaultier look in the shade in this ultra-polished gem of a dress by Chanel.
Rex FeaturesInstead of bucking the catwalk trends, as in her younger days, by November 2008, Madonna firmly championined them. She drew criticism aplenty for wearing this fluffy green Gucci dress to launch the Tattoo Heart Collection in aid of UNICEF, but we reckon she pulls it off.
PA PhotosDitto this elegant black gown at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscars party – it’s Dior, dahling.
PA PhotosHaving hidden away working on her directional debut, W.E., for months, Madonna was ready to cut loose on the red carpet at the film's September 2009 premiere. This butterfly-embellished, powder blue gown was by Parisian house Vionnet.
Rex FeaturesWith her new album MDNA hitting headlines, Madonna was still at the top of her game in 2012, performing new single Give Me All Your Luvin’ wearing an Haute Couture Egyptian queen-esque costume by Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy at the Superbowl with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.
Rex FeaturesFast forward four months, and Madonna was on leather-pants-wearing, bra-flashing form to perform her highly-anticipated Hyde Park gig just ahead of the London 2012 Olympics.
George PimentelIn 2017 she attended the Met Gala celebrating 'Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between' wearing this pretty major camouflage Moschino gown.
Kevin MazurMaking a convincing case for the fishnet comeback, Madonna arrived at her MDNA SKIN collection launch in New York wearing a super chic Ralph Lauren leather dress.
Kevin Mazur/MG18Attending the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Met Gala in 2018, Madonna - with the help of Jean Paul Gaultier - tapped into many of the Catholic tropes that shaped her upbringing, including a black veil and layers of rosary beads.
Kevin MazurMadonna performed onstage during Pride Island - New York's annual Pride celebration - wearing a black playsuit decorated in several bright belts all making up the colours of the Pride flag.
NBCMaking an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2022, she went for a more casual look via blue track pants and a simple black tee with ‘New York’ written across the front. Of course, this being Madonna, the look was accessorised with a cinched black corset and fingerless lace gloves.
Stefanie KeenanAt the launch party of Burberry x Riccardo Tisci's “Lola” bag, Madonna wore the classic combo of a smart, calf-length black coat, with the bag of the moment and dark sunglasses. In true icon style, she put her own spin on the look, adding bright blue nails, platform boots and later revealed a fitted bodysuit and fishnet stockings underneath.
Kevin MazurIn February 2023, Madonna made a brief appearance at the GRAMMYs in another iconic look. Her outfit – a vintage look from the Mugler 1997 Couture collection – paired a shirt and tie with a corset blazer. And a riding crop, of course.
Madonna / InstagramIn June 2023, during rehearsals for her world tour, Madonna debuted the jacket of all jackets. Take a closer look at the cuffs and you'll see they're decorated with the names of some of her biggest hits. It's every Madonna fan's dream look, for sure.
