Madonna's style has changed several times in the years she has been in the public eye. Getty Images
Madonna's style has changed several times in the years she has been in the public eye. Getty Images
Madonna's style has changed several times in the years she has been in the public eye. Getty Images
Madonna's style has changed several times in the years she has been in the public eye. Getty Images

Fashion

Chart Madonna's style journey in 53 photos, from the 1980s to 2023

She doesn't just sing about Vogue, she sets the fashion standard, too

Emma Day
Farah Andrews

March 18, 2023

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As she famously sang in 1989, Madonna is all about expressing oneself, and the music star's sartorial choices reflect just that.

The singer, actress and occasional director is known to switch up everything from music genres to hairstyles as swiftly as she changes her outfits.

Scroll through the gallery below to see Madonna's style through the years

Madonna, in patterned trousers and a duck-egg coat, performs at the Live Aid concert on July 13, 1985 in Philadelphia, US. Getty Images
Madonna, in patterned trousers and a duck-egg coat, performs at the Live Aid concert on July 13, 1985 in Philadelphia, US. Getty Images
Madonna, in a leather jacket, films her 'Papa Don't Preach' music video in New York in 1986. Getty Images
Madonna, in a leather jacket, films her 'Papa Don't Preach' music video in New York in 1986. Getty Images
Madonna, in a checked, patterned dress, and Sean Penn in New York in August 1986. Getty Images
Madonna, in a checked, patterned dress, and Sean Penn in New York in August 1986. Getty Images
Madonna, in a vinyl raincoat, and Warren Beatty in New York in June 1990. Getty Images
Madonna, in a vinyl raincoat, and Warren Beatty in New York in June 1990. Getty Images
Madonna, in a navy knit coat, at the Gotham Awards on September 9, 1995 in New York. Getty Images
Madonna, in a navy knit coat, at the Gotham Awards on September 9, 1995 in New York. Getty Images
Madonna, in sleek suiting, at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City on September 5, 1997. Getty Images
Madonna, in sleek suiting, at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City on September 5, 1997. Getty Images
Madonna, in a velvet and vinyl coat, arrives at the Miramax pre-Oscar party in California, US, on March 22, 1998. Getty Images
Madonna, in a velvet and vinyl coat, arrives at the Miramax pre-Oscar party in California, US, on March 22, 1998. Getty Images
Madonna, in a black silk and tulle gown, and her brother arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 23, 1998 in West Hollywood, California. Getty Images
Madonna, in a black silk and tulle gown, and her brother arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 23, 1998 in West Hollywood, California. Getty Images
Madonna, in a red kimono, at the American Music Awards on January 11, 1999. Getty Images
Madonna, in a red kimono, at the American Music Awards on January 11, 1999. Getty Images
Madonna, in a gold embroidered tunic and trousers, arrives at the Vanity Fair Party in West Hollywood, California, on March 21, 1999. Getty Images
Madonna, in a gold embroidered tunic and trousers, arrives at the Vanity Fair Party in West Hollywood, California, on March 21, 1999. Getty Images
Madonna, wearing a lacy purple dress, in New York City in May 1999. Getty Images
Madonna, wearing a lacy purple dress, in New York City in May 1999. Getty Images
Madonna, in a leather wrap dress, at the GQ awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on October 21, 1999. Getty Images
Madonna, in a leather wrap dress, at the GQ awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on October 21, 1999. Getty Images
Madonna, in a T-shirt promoting the film 'Snatch', and Guy Ritchie at the launch of her 'Music' album in Los Angeles, California, on September 19, 2000. Getty Images
Madonna, in a T-shirt promoting the film 'Snatch', and Guy Ritchie at the launch of her 'Music' album in Los Angeles, California, on September 19, 2000. Getty Images
Madonna, in a cream suit, and Guy Ritchie at the premiere of 'Snatch' in Los Angeles, California, on January 18, 2001. Getty Images
Madonna, in a cream suit, and Guy Ritchie at the premiere of 'Snatch' in Los Angeles, California, on January 18, 2001. Getty Images
Madonna, in a cream coat, and Guy Ritchie arrive for the premiere of 'Mean Machine' on December 18, 2001 in London. Getty Images
Madonna, in a cream coat, and Guy Ritchie arrive for the premiere of 'Mean Machine' on December 18, 2001 in London. Getty Images
Madonna, in a white double-breasted jacket, and Guy Ritchie arrive at the opening of the Mario Testino photography exhibition on January 29, 2002 at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Getty Images
Madonna, in a white double-breasted jacket, and Guy Ritchie arrive at the opening of the Mario Testino photography exhibition on January 29, 2002 at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Getty Images
Madonna, in a black evening coat, and her Guy Ritchie arrive for the world of 'Die Another Day' at the Royal Albert Hall on November 18, 2002 in London. Getty Images
Madonna, in a black evening coat, and her Guy Ritchie arrive for the world of 'Die Another Day' at the Royal Albert Hall on November 18, 2002 in London. Getty Images
Madonna, in a silky trench coat, arrives at the launch party for a Stella McCartney store on May 15, 2003 in London. Getty Images
Madonna, in a silky trench coat, arrives at the launch party for a Stella McCartney store on May 15, 2003 in London. Getty Images
Madonna, in a khaki coat, arrives at the French NRJ Music Awards ceremony on January 24, 2004 in Cannes, France. Getty Images
Madonna, in a khaki coat, arrives at the French NRJ Music Awards ceremony on January 24, 2004 in Cannes, France. Getty Images
Madonna, in Sonia Rykiel, performs during the NRJ Music Awards ceremony on January 24, 2004 in Cannes, France. Getty Images
Madonna, in Sonia Rykiel, performs during the NRJ Music Awards ceremony on January 24, 2004 in Cannes, France. Getty Images
Madonna, in a skirt suit, arrives at the final of 'UK Music Hall Of Fame' at the Hackney Empire on November 11, 2004 in London. Getty Images
Madonna, in a skirt suit, arrives at the final of 'UK Music Hall Of Fame' at the Hackney Empire on November 11, 2004 in London. Getty Images
Madonna, in a LBD, and Guy Ritchie arrive at the premiere of 'Sin City' at the Empire Leicester Square on May 23, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in a LBD, and Guy Ritchie arrive at the premiere of 'Sin City' at the Empire Leicester Square on May 23, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in a white suit, performs on stage at 'Live 8' in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in a white suit, performs on stage at 'Live 8' in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images
Guy Richie and Madonna, in a black coat and over-knee boots, arrive at the premiere for 'Revolver' at the Odeon Leicester Square on September 20, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images
Guy Richie and Madonna, in a black coat and over-knee boots, arrive at the premiere for 'Revolver' at the Odeon Leicester Square on September 20, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in velvet trousers and a blazer, and daughter Lourdes arrive at the premiere of 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' at the Odeon Leicester Square on November 6, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in velvet trousers and a blazer, and daughter Lourdes arrive at the premiere of 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' at the Odeon Leicester Square on November 6, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in an embellished midi, and Guy Ritchie arrive at the premiere of documentary 'I'm Going to Tell You a Secret' on November 29, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in an embellished midi, and Guy Ritchie arrive at the premiere of documentary 'I'm Going to Tell You a Secret' on November 29, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in a leotard and sequins, at a press conference on December 7, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images
Madonna, in a leotard and sequins, at a press conference on December 7, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images
Madonna, in a black midi dress, at the 58th Berlinale Film Festival at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on February 13, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images
Madonna, in a black midi dress, at the 58th Berlinale Film Festival at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on February 13, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images
Madonna, in Chanel, and Guy Ritchie arrive at the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2008 in Cannes, France. Getty Images
Madonna, in Chanel, and Guy Ritchie arrive at the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2008 in Cannes, France. Getty Images
Madonna, in Stella McCartney, arrives at amfAR's Cinema Against Aids benefit on May 22, 2008 in Mougins, France. Getty Images
Madonna, in Stella McCartney, arrives at amfAR's Cinema Against Aids benefit on May 22, 2008 in Mougins, France. Getty Images
Madonna, in a tracksuit, leaves a hotel on August 1, 2010 in Paris, France. Getty Images
Madonna, in a tracksuit, leaves a hotel on August 1, 2010 in Paris, France. Getty Images
Madonna, in Stella McCartney, arrives at the Met Gala on May 2, 2011. EPA
Madonna, in Stella McCartney, arrives at the Met Gala on May 2, 2011. EPA
Madonna, in Vionnet, at the 68th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2011 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images
Madonna, in Vionnet, at the 68th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2011 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images
Madonna, in L'Wren Scott, at the 68th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2011 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images
Madonna, in L'Wren Scott, at the 68th Venice Film Festival on September 1, 2011 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images
Madonna, in Jean Paul Gaultier, attends the 'W.E.' premiere at the Odeon Kensington on January 11, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in Jean Paul Gaultier, attends the 'W.E.' premiere at the Odeon Kensington on January 11, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in DSquared2, on January 11, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in DSquared2, on January 11, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in Reem Acra, at the 69th Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, on January 15, 2012. EPA
Madonna, in Reem Acra, at the 69th Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, on January 15, 2012. EPA
Madonna, in a waistcoat and trousers, at a press conference before the Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 2, 2012. EPA
Madonna, in a waistcoat and trousers, at a press conference before the Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 2, 2012. EPA
Madonna, in Givenchy, at the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2013. EPA
Madonna, in Givenchy, at the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2013. EPA
Madonna, in a black knit, speaks on stage at the Chime For Change concert at Twickenham Stadium on June 1, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in a black knit, speaks on stage at the Chime For Change concert at Twickenham Stadium on June 1, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images
Madonna, in leggings and a leather jacket, at the opening of gym club Hard Candy Fitness in Berlin, Germany, on October 17, 2013. EPA
Madonna, in leggings and a leather jacket, at the opening of gym club Hard Candy Fitness in Berlin, Germany, on October 17, 2013. EPA
Madonna, in Ralph Lauren, arrives for the 56th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on January 26, 2014. EPA
Madonna, in Ralph Lauren, arrives for the 56th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on January 26, 2014. EPA
Madonna, in Givenchy, arrives for the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2015. EPA
Madonna, in Givenchy, arrives for the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2015. EPA
Katy Perry and Madonna, in Moschino, arrive at the Met Gala in New York on May 4, 2015. EPA
Katy Perry and Madonna, in Moschino, arrive at the Met Gala in New York on May 4, 2015. EPA
Madonna, in a classic LBD, poses during a promotional event in Tokyo, Japan, on February 15, 2016. EPA
Madonna, in a classic LBD, poses during a promotional event in Tokyo, Japan, on February 15, 2016. EPA
Madonna, ion Moschino, and Jeremy Scott arrive at the Met Gala in New York on May 1, 2017. EPA
Madonna, ion Moschino, and Jeremy Scott arrive at the Met Gala in New York on May 1, 2017. EPA
Madonna, in Jean Paul Gaultier, and Jean Paul Gaultier arrive at the Met Gala in New York on May 7, 2018. EPA
Madonna, in Jean Paul Gaultier, and Jean Paul Gaultier arrive at the Met Gala in New York on May 7, 2018. EPA
Madonna, in traditional Berber dress, at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York, on August 20, 2018. EPA
Madonna, in traditional Berber dress, at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York, on August 20, 2018. EPA
Madonna, in a black cape and eye patch, performs at the 64th annual Eurovision Song Contest on May 18, 2019. Getty Images
Madonna, in a black cape and eye patch, performs at the 64th annual Eurovision Song Contest on May 18, 2019. Getty Images
Madonna wears a black bodysuit with tights and a hat at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, 2021. Getty Images
Madonna wears a black bodysuit with tights and a hat at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, 2021. Getty Images
Madonna, in black Burberry, attends a celebration of the Lola bag, hosted by Burberry in Los Angeles on April 20, 2022. Getty Images
Madonna, in black Burberry, attends a celebration of the Lola bag, hosted by Burberry in Los Angeles on April 20, 2022. Getty Images
Madonna, in a black corset with sports trousers, appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on August 10, 2022. Getty Images
Madonna, in a black corset with sports trousers, appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on August 10, 2022. Getty Images
Madonna, in Mugler Haute Couture, attends the Grammy Awards on February 5, 2023. Getty Images
Madonna, in Mugler Haute Couture, attends the Grammy Awards on February 5, 2023. Getty Images

The undisputed queen of reinvention has, naturally, shaken up her look time and again since releasing her first single in 1982, dropping the decade's puffball skirts and punk fishnets for '90s midi, '00s streetwear and statement evening gowns throughout the past decade.

In recent months, much has been said about Madonna's appearance, by fans, critics and the singer herself.

She attended the Grammy Awards in February wearing Mugler Haute Couture. People commented on the singer's face, to which she replied: "Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam [Smith] and Kim [Petras], many people chose to only talk about close-up photos of me taken with a long lens camera by a press photographer that would distort anyone’s face!"

Here, we take a look back to see how the Vogue star's style has evolved in the past four decades.

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'Morbius'

Director: Daniel Espinosa 

Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona

Rating: 2/5

Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Samaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters

The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.

 Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.

A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.

The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.

The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.

Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.

Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment

But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

The specs

Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm

Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh130,000

On sale: now

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

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Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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