Style File: On Madonna’s 60th birthday, here's a look at her influence on fashion over the decades

She burst on the cultural scene in the early ’80s with her debut single, Everybody, and since then, there’s been no looking back for Madonna. The Queen of Pop, who turns 60 today, has been continually pushing boundaries whether with her professional choices, bold sartorial sense or even her personal life. Over the last four decades, Madge has become a pop icon proving both her singing and acting prowess. As she turns a year older, style experts tell us about the profound impact she has had on the world of fashion.

Accessory Queen

What makes Madonna unique is that her fashion sense has been her own. “In the ’80s, she brought mesh knit tank tops to the forefront and made the fabric a rage. Her signature look was with her bra showing through,” says designer Maheka Mirpuri. Madonna also made lace, especially the coloured variety, popular. “She created her own looks with corsets, fingerless gloves, and coloured hair. She was also an ace at accessorising. Madge wore multiple necklaces and bracelets, some with crosses and other religious iconography. Her earrings were long and dangling and she loved to add a touch of bling to her look,” notes Maheka. She shocked people when she showed up for the MTV Video Music Awards (1984) dressed as the sexy “virgin” bride in a white wedding dress styled with a “boy toy” belt, lace gloves and layered neckpieces.

Making Innerwear Cool

Madge’s sartorial choices in the ’80s and the ’90s were rather provocative. She brought the corset into the limelight. Designer Swapnil Shinde says she single-handedly made inner wear worn as outerwear cool back in those days. “In the ’90s, Madonna opted for leather and kink. Bondage gears, straps and buckle became trendy again. The power play, dominatrix style fashion complemented the kind of songs and videos she released during that time,” he says. During her Blonde Ambition tour, Madge sported her now famous pink cone bra by designer Jean-Paul Gaultier. The eccentric bra redefined fashion iconography. It was a bold feminist stand which resonated with the eras need of a powerful feminist icon, feels the designer. She also had a goth phase, adding punk elements to her dressing that created a dark mysterious vibe about her persona.

Bold And Fearless

Madonna has been delivering fashion hit after hit for 40 years now. Her cone bra, even today, over 20 years later, has been modified in different ways and seen in the forms of bralettes and corsets, says Eshaa Amiin, celebrity stylist. “Her entire look defined her art of singing, the only one who comes close is Michael Jackson. She’s so bold and fearless. Even at 60 age is just a number for her. Madge hasn’t changed her personality, she hasn’t mellowed down with age at all. Today if she’s making an appearance everyone will look forward to it,” she adds. She had a close relationship with many fashion talents. Madonna and Jean-Paul were a dream together. In fact, her work with a lot of other designers like Donatella Versace and D & G are notable too. Her innate ability to mix leather and lace, metal with pearl, ensured that she always looked cool and well turned out.