Tina Turner’s Unforgettable Style

When Tina strutted down Alaïa’s runway in Paris in 1988, donning a black flowy yet waspy-waisted number, I understood the late performer’s enticing charm. On and off stage, Turner embodied confident sensuality, candid energy, and strength. Those qualities undoubtedly allowed her to shape her career and develop her innate talent—and, of course, drew in an immense fandom who loved her. Turner paved her path in life with grace and grit, and it is with gratitude and awe that we remember her life as the Queen of Rock and the girl from Tennessee who followed her dream.

Possessing the unlikely combination of happy-go-lucky allure and fierce ambition, Turner had a remarkable capability to rely on her own sense of self. Born Anna Mae Bullock in Brownsville, Tennessee in 1939, Turner had a rough go of it growing up—without the nurturing presence of her parents, she had to forge her own way. Upon graduating high school, Turner worked as a nurse’s aide in a local hospital. In these early adult years, she started to frequent nightclubs where she fatefully met band member Ike Turner. Turning her ambitions to music, Ike would become her boss and musical trainer, and, eventually, they would develop a romantic relationship. Initially a beam of light, their relationship would later mark a dark period in Tina’s life for the domestic violence Ike inflicted on her. After sixteen years of marriage, in Tina left Ike in 1978 and then struggled to recreate her career as a single mother without much to her name.

Her circumstances warranted thick skin and perseverance to continue her passion for performing. Turner didn’t give up. Her comeback in the 1980s is considered one of the biggest in music history—and she came back in style. The ‘80s for Turner marked a full dedication to her rock’n’roll personality, with signature teased hair and red lips that outlined her radiant smile. Those beauty moves spoke to her sunny audacity, which was also reflected in her wardrobe. On stage, Turner continued to opt for mini lengths and sequins, as she did earlier in her career, whereas offstage the performer preferred a minimal elegance with a neutral color palette. She favored designers Giorgio Armani and Azzedine Alaïa, who she considered close friends. Bob Mackie, the famous American costume designer, also dressed the performer frequently over the span of her career. After she left Ike, Mackie symbolically designed a Phoenix costume for Turner, alluding to her rebirth as a solo artist.

Turner effortlessly wore sequins in all colors of the rainbow, but her sensual confidence shined just as much in a simple white t-shirt and jeans. She loved a good denim jacket, and often mixed such casual pieces with itsy bitsy glittery frocks, setting the precedent for our contemporary pop stars. It’s no wonder that fashion gods, designers Alaïa and Armani, were taken with her. She gave energy to their clothes, even a sober suit or LBD.

Following Turner’s footsteps seems no easy task, but embodying her sartorial flair just might be within reach. In memory of the great icon, shop the Tina-inspired selection below.