Madonna: Look Book
The original style chameleon: nobody does reinvention like Madonna. She's been a blonde, brunette, redhead, curly, straight and cropped. And whatever her look, she's never short of a few copycats.
PA Photos1984
Born to a strict Catholic family in Michigan, it was clear at an early age Madonna Louise Ciccone was destined for more than the quiet life. Keen to pursue a career in dance, she left college and moved to New York City in ’78 – arriving with just $35 in her purse. Ballet just didn’t feed the fame-hungry-fire in her belly, and soon Madonna set her sights firmly on the world of pop. In her first of many iconic looks, here she is in ’84 ready to unleash her self-titled debut album upon the unsuspecting music world, complete with über-perm, bushy brows and beauty spot.
PA Photos1985
By the mid 80s, Madonna had several No 1s under her Boy-Toy belt, and everybody and their sister wanted to recreate her style. Dark lengths, bleached-blonde highlights tied up with ribbons, bushy brows, red lips and that beauty mark became the look for fashion-forward material girls everywhere.
PA Photos1987
Who’s That Girl!? The first of Madge’s major re-inventions. A mere two years later, and a blonde bombshell look in full Monroe swing was in! We all remember the platinum blonde curls, dark eye make-up, even darker eyebrows and pale, powdered skin of the Papa Don’t Preach era.
PA Photos1990
Showing Blonde Ambition and Jean Paul Gaultier appreciation at the start of a new decade, with that infamous top-knot pony that many a '90s teen tried to emulate. Pointy bra optional, of course.
PA PhotosEarly 1991
By this point, Madonna was becoming a bit of a ‘flashing’ fan, and following the infamous Like A Prayer (1989) video hubbub, a No 1 greatest hits compilation (The Immaculate Collection), and a MTV video ban (sado-masochism, anyone?), Madonna was certainly no stranger to controversy. In a style-turn that saw her step out with raven-black locks and ruby red lips, her new look was certainly glamorous, but didn’t last long.
PA PhotosMid 1991
Looking all demurely gothic at the Cannes Film Festival that year, with Shakespeare sister-style slicked down hair, pale skin and blood-red lips.
PA PhotosLate 1991
Looking very young and pretty here, with a cute curly bob and beret. Although this butter-wouldn’t-melt Madge wasn’t to last, and with the following year came Erotica, Sex and a whip-cracking dominatrix Madonna...
PA Photos1993
Enter the Erotica era – with the release of quite possibly, the rudest song ever written! By now Madonna was on her Girlie Show tour and Causing A Commotion wherever she performed, namely in Puerto Rico, where on stage, she was seen to rub the country’s national flag, ahem, between her legs. Anyway! Her platinum pixie crop and penchant for edgy, über false lashes during this period is one of our favourite Madonna looks of all time.
PA Photos1995
Another album, another look. This time Madonna opted for a more demure approach to suit her new collection of vocal stylings. Something To Remember, her 7th studio album, was mostly ballads, so it was out with the leather and in with the romantic make-up and feminine locks.
Rex FeaturesLate 1995
For the premiere of Evita, her most critically-acclaimed performance to date, Madonna came over all Eva Peron for her moment in the spotlight. With a sculpted up-do, lashings of liner and Hollywood red lips, there’s no denying the Queen Of Pop looks right at home on the red carpet.
PA Photos1996
Now a mother to Lourdes Maria, her daughter with fitness trainer/lover Carlos Leon, Madonna had ‘toned down’ to this, a look more befitting of a new mum. Her side-parted, relaxed curls and soft make-up really take the years off. We approve!
PA Photos1997
Looking gorgeous during a much-needed rest from her hectic, work-fuelled lifestyle – motherhood clearly suits Madonna. She had by now split with Carlos, but if we know anything about Madonna, it’s that she doesn’t need a man!
PA Photos1998
Back in the studio and back at the top of her game, the Frozen era saw a radical style-swap for Madonna, who took to wearing flowing black dresses and henna-painted hands. Her hair went darker and her skin, paler than ever – perhaps not her best look too date (and, dare we say it, a little aging).
PA PhotosLate 1998
Hurrah - by the time Ray Of Light was topping the charts, Madge had come over all hippie chic in a look we still love today. Her wavy honey-hued locks and peachy make-up took years off!
PA Photos1999
Woah – another dramatic U-turn in the look department for Madge – they don’t call her the style chameleon for nothing, you know. The chestnut bob is pretty enough, but not striking enough for an icon like Madonna, but we DO love a catwalk-inspired makeup make-over!
PA PhotosEarly 2000
Looking both pretty and stylish with fuchsia lips, glossy curls and block highlights (remember those days?). Madonna was now stepping out with the then Brit ‘It’ director, Guy Richie and rumours of a wedding were rife. Could Guy be the one to tame her?
PA PhotosLate 2000
Ride ‘em cowgirl! The Music era brought about another iconic Madge look (think cowboy boots and plenty of embellishment) and we all copied her two-tone hair!
PA Photos2001
Leaving the limelight to her hubby at the London premiere of Guy’s Mean Machine, Madonna’s blonde choppy bob and muted make-up give the singer a softer finish.
PA Photos2003
Talk about knowing how to swap your style to suit your audience! Now a children’s writer, the Queen Of Pop comes over all English rose at the launch of her first book, English Roses. A more mumsy Madonna than we’ve ever seen. Hard to believe, in fact, that later that month, Madonna was on the cover of every newspaper on the planet in a lip-lock with the, then, world’s most famous virgin, Britney Spears! Hands up who doesn’t remember that kiss at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards.
PA Photos2004
Looking naturally pretty at the Channel 4 Music Hall Of Fame Final, with a full mane of glossy hair (you’d think after all that colouring she’d have at least one split end) and peachy-toned makeup.
PA PhotosEarly 2005
Another winning look for Madonna – poker-straight locks can often be aging but, on Madge, they take years off, and those enviably toned arms only made us more jealous.
PA PhotosLate 2005
A new look? Madonna must have another album out! With Confessions On A Dance Floor, Madge went disco on us! We may have shunned the leotards, but we lapped up with sparkly shadow, hot pink lip-gloss and these much-celebrated Farrah Fawcett flicks.
PA Photos2006
This red carpet appearance rocked the 2006 Brit Awards. Could this be our favourite Madonna look of all time? It was also around this time that Madonna welcomed a new addition to her ever-expanding family, as Malawi orphan David Banda joined Lourdes and Rocco in the Ciccone-Ritchie household.
PA PhotosEarly 2007
Coming over all old-school Hollywood glam at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party with Monroe-esque curls and a killer lashes/liner combo.
PA PhotosLate 2007
So on-trend, it hurt. Madonna lost the lengths and stepped out with this stunning curly bob at her 50th birthday party, and we just loved it!
PA PhotosMid 2008
During one of her last public appearances with now ex-husband Guy Richie at the Cannes Film Festival. Rumours of an impending split were rife but Madonna, ever the professional, never let the smile slip from her face.
PA PhotosLate 2008
Coming over all Hard Candy, Madonna saw the need for a reinvention quick-sharpish and came over all ‘urban’, collaborating with unstoppable hit machines Justin Timberlake and Timberland on the album. We like it – hard to believe she’s 50 eh girls?
PA PhotosEarly 2009
Attending the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar Party without Guy, an undoubtedly, ahem, ‘fuller’ faced Madonna was now said to be dating a Brazilian model, Jesus Luz – almost 30 years her junior. Go, Madge!
PA Photos2009
Still making headlines and showing no signs of slowing down! The jurys still out on Madonna’s 2009 Met Ball look, but there’s no denying she provided an interesting water-cooler moment regardless.
PA Photos2009
At the VMA Awards Madonna rocks a bouffant hairstyle and two simple flicks of eyeliner.
PA Photos2009
Madonna rocks a flicking blonde style and an understated make-up look.
PA Photos2010
Madge goes glam with long loose waves and a full red glossy pout. Looking fabulous.
PA Photos2011
At the Vanity Fair Oscar bash, Madonna rocks a sleek and chic straight blonde ‘do and heavy eyeliner. We love her glossy pout and glowing complexion.
PA Photos2011
At the Met Gala she looks ultra-glam and gorgeous with an old-Hollywood hairstyle and a popping red pout. Stunning.
Rex Features2012
At the premiere of WE (which Madonna directed), the queen of pop looks a million dollars. Recreate an old-school 20s Hollywood bob like Madge by tucking locks under to create a faux-bob and adding glamorous soft curls to the front of your locks.
Rex Features2012
Working signature full-bodied golden curls, Madonna looks picture-perfect on the red carpet. She looks better every day, doesn't she?
