Cher's style essentials that are still a trend From the sparkling, eccentric gowns created for the diva by Bob Mackie to her iconic long black hair

In 1996, TV journalist Jane Pauley was interviewing Cher when, at one point, hinting at her reputation as a heartbreaker, she asked her if men weren't a fundamental part of her life. The star smiled slyly and gave the show's viewers an unforgettable answer:

Like dessert, yeah. A man is absolutely not a necessity. - And then she adds - I adore dessert, I love men. I think men are the coolest. But you don’t really need them to live. My mom said to me, "you know sweetheart, one day you should settle down and marry a rich man." And I said, "Mom – I am a rich man".

A few simple words that describe a story of a strong, empowered woman, who has crossed more than 7 decades, fully living many different lives, loving, working hard, sometimes making mistakes, but always driving straight ahead.

From the start

She played the role of hippie icon in partnership with her first husband Sonny Bono, she was a gypsy globetrotter with a passion for floral blouses and pirate boots. She danced in jeans and stilettos on the dance floor of Studio 54, she switched Bob Mackie's eccentric gowns for overalls and cowboy hats, until she became an Oscar-winning actress, a scandalous rock star (remember her in 1989 in a black leather jacket and transparent bodysuit, singing on the battleship USS Missouri surrounded by sailors for the video for If I Could Turn Back Time?) and then into a true icon of music and fashion adored by millions of fans, including contemporary it-girls like Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid.

In celebration of her 75th birthday, let's look back at Cher's 5 style essentials.

Straight Hair

The FW21 collections of Gucci, Miu Miu and Dior announced the trend of sparkling items, but no one has ever worn as many as Cher. The most iconic ones were created for her by Bob Mackie: from the Dancing Flames dress to the golden sequin-covered one in which the star made her debut at the 1973 Academy Awards, from the elegant total white model of 1985 to the Naked Dress that captured the attention on the red carpet of the 1974 Met Gala and inspired Kim Kardashian's outfit in the 2015 edition of the same event.