Cher’s racy ‘Turn Back Time’ outfit left designer Bob Mackie feeling a wave of embarrassment.
The visionary costume designer, who first collaborated with Cher in the vibrant era of 1967, has been pivotal in crafting many of the star’s unforgettable looks. Still, there is one bodysuit that remains etched in his mind, prompting a blush even decades later.
The 84-year-old revealed to Page Six that during the making of the music video for “If I Could Turn Back Time” in 1989, Cher donned a daring sheer bodysuit. In a mix of jest and sincerity, he pleaded with her, “Please, don’t tell anyone I had anything to do with this; I really don’t approve.” This wasn’t just a costume choice; it was Cher’s vision to make a bold statement, a moment that encapsulated her fearless spirit.
“This is not family viewing,” he candidly advised the iconic singer, now 78.
The bold video was filmed aboard the USS Missouri, a stage surrounded by the applause of sailors. Its provocative imagery, including Cher’s tattooed backside, ignited controversy, leaving some in disbelief while captivating others.
“Playing the bass guitar was her 12-year-old son, Elijah Blue, right there alongside her, with her practically exposed!” Mackie recounted, the irony of the situation bringing a hint of laughter to his voice.
Mackie first fitted Cher during her memorable appearance on “The Carol Burnett Show.” He was struck by her charm.
“She was so cute,” Mackie reminisced. “At that time, she resembled Audrey Hepburn’s younger sister, her hair styled in pigtails, dressed in a sunny yellow sundress.”
From that moment, he grasped the depth of her potential.
“I believed I could transform her into anyone—she could embody anything,” he reflected. His admiration for her spark was evident.
Yet, there was hesitation when Cher gravitated towards what he jokingly referred to as the “seatbelt outfit,” accompanied by a bold leather motorcycle jacket. Cher was determined to rock that look with unwavering enthusiasm.
“I told her, ‘Please don’t tell anyone I had anything to do with this because I don’t really approve. This is not family viewing.'”
“The one standout moment we often laugh about was when Cher performed ‘Turn Back Time’ on the enormous battleship. There she was, surrounded by sailors in that sheer outfit, complete with an audacious cut running up the crotch.”
Mackie felt a flush of discomfort with what he considered an overly provocative design; he kept his involvement under wraps.
“I remember shaking my head and thinking, ‘Oh no,’” he mused, reflecting on Cher’s eagerness to wear the eye-catching ensemble amidst a sea of sailors.
Even Cher experienced moments of uncertainty. “She actually slipped on her biker jacket because the outfit made her feel exposed,” Mackie explained. “But the video gained immense popularity.” Cher, with unparalleled confidence, ultimately conquered that stage, yet it was a surreal experience, surrounded by so many adoring sailors.
Mackie felt that the addition of the leather jacket only amplified the outfit’s audacity, presenting a view he deemed more provocative from the waist down.
“The suit was sheer with just a modest black crotch piece,” he recalled. “Still, even years later, the conversation continues. Cher embodies comfort in these bold ensembles; for her, they are as ordinary as casual wear, which still brings a smile to my face.”
Mackie revealed to Variety that the infamous costume finally sold for a staggering $75,000 at auction. Yet that did not quell Cher’s desire to grace the stage in it once again; she opted to rent it for an entire year on her next tour.
