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- 1984: MTV VMAs
The 1984 MTV VMAs were Madonna’s first award show performance, and this outfit, specifically, was the beginning of her contentious looks. This outfit was worn for her performance of, ‘Like a Virgin.’ ‘Like a Virgin’ was controversial in its own right. In the 1980s, it was not normalized for artists to be so blunt about their sex life, especially women. To even just use the word “virgin” was taboo and therefore grew a lot of traction for Madonna. Not only that, the religious community felt attacked and thought the artist was a terrible influence, as many teenagers were flocking to her music. Madonna wasn’t afraid or ashamed to talk about her sexual desires and feelings. The song itself is about being with someone who makes you forget about the people who came before. Madonna specifically uses raunchy language in a hyperbolic sense.
Like her music, Madonna wasn’t afraid to show her sexuality in her outfits. The corset white top, paired with a sheer skirt, is complemented by lacy gloves, captivating jewelry, white heels, and, of course, the iconic “Boy Toy” belt. She plays with irony by combining the “virgin white” with raunchy and revealing clothing, as well as the “Boy Toy” belt that clearly shows that she isn’t a pure virgin girl. She’s showing society that there is no real worth tied to “purity” and that being with the right person will make sex feel completely new.
- 1989, ‘Like A Prayer’ Music Video
Madonna’s outfit in the ‘Like A Prayer’ music video was one of the most infamous looks of music video history. Sporting just a black slip dress with a cross pendant necklace, Madonna was once again intertwining religious symbols and sex, causing major uproar.
The music video itself was seen as offensively sacrilegious. Images of a burning cross, Madonna getting intimate with a saint, getting intimate in a church, and overall comparing sexual pleasure to the holy act of praying. Madonna’s outfit is in itself scandalous, being rather revealing, which contradicts the idea that one should be modest and cover up when in a church. She is making heavy sexual remarks while still wearing a cross on her chest. Once again, defying the Christian ideology on purity and the sin of lust.
Not only did this music video, song, and outfit get a lot of attention from the general public, but the Vatican itself was enraged. Pope John Paul II even promoted the general boycott of Madonna. The public disdain of this music video prompted the end of the multi-million dollar contract between Madonna and Pepsi. Madonna refused to change or apologize for her art, and Pepsi did not want to ruin their family-friendly brand. And so their contract was abolished.
Though she lost millions of dollars, Madonna did not lose herself or her popularity. Her style was unapologetically herself, and she wasn’t going to change for anyone or anything. She fought against censorship. Though many people hated her and even called her a heretic, many more people found strength and confidence in the way she carried herself.
- 1990s, The Cone Bra
The iconic Madonna cone bra first appeared in 1990, during her “Blonde Ambition” tour. It was created by Jean Paul Gaultier and would become one of Madonna’s most recognizable looks. She would then pop out with another cone bra in 1991 at the Cannes Film Festival and continue wearing it on stage, forever changing female stage attire.
The cone, also known as the bullet bra, has been around since the 1940s. It's no secret that women’s bodies are a fashion trend themselves. During the 1920s, smaller breasts were the trend, aligning with the boyish look that most women were trying to replicate, along with a boxier silhouette. But by the 1940s, the bombshell women in Hollywood were making the trends, including Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield.
The style went from gamine to “erotic femininity.” Women wanted to show off their curvy bodies and find ways to increase their sex appeal. It was a sort of self-fetishization to be desired by men. It’s important to note that the 1940s were also the decade of World War II, so supporting men and boosting “team morale” included being more sexually desirable. But like all trends, the bullet bra also fell, and by the 1970s, more lingerie options were created for women, different shapes and styles that were much more comfortable. The no-bra movement also happened and became a bit more normalized.
Fast forward to 1990, and Madonna reintroduces the cone bra. Instead of it now embodying making oneself sexually desirable for men, it was a feminist statement on self-love. Critics would call its comeback the “feminist movement coming full circle.” Madonna was a supporter of eroticism being empowering for women. Instead of sexualizing yourself for a man’s eyes and being seen as some sort of scandalous vixen, it was empowering to be so in tune with yourself and your sexual desires. You don’t need to cower at what society may view you as. If you like sex, you like sex! Be your sexy self!
Even in today’s fashion, the cone bra comes back. Recently, celebrities such as Cardi B, Kylie Jenner, and Addison Rae have been photographed wearing a cone bra. All of these are referenced to Madonna and her fight for shameless self-love.
- 1998, VH1 awards
In 1998, Madonna showed up at the VH1 Awards wearing a traditional blue sari. At this award show, she was honoured with the Gianni Versace Tribute Award, as well as a trophy for Most Fashionable Artist. But this look garnered a decent amount of buzz.
This outfit defined a new fashion era for Madonna. No longer very “scandalous” or purposefully sex positive. One can interpret it as more of a spiritual vibe. But, especially during today’s time, her wearing the sari, a traditional Indian garb, begs to look at the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation.
Cultural appropriation is seen as a power dynamic, “where a dominant culture takes from a minority or marginalised culture without permission, understanding, or respect for the original cultural context.” Many critics of the outfit expressed publicly that Madonna was simply using the traditional Indian wear as entertainment. Rather than appreciating the cultural wear, she was using it to garner attention for herself. Some people felt as though their culture was being mocked rather than being respected and appreciated.
Now, other supporters of Madonna defended her by saying she was simply bringing attention to the traditional wear. She was bringing it to the main stage, especially to accept her Gianni Versace Tribute Award, as a way to show appreciation for the culture and the beautiful outfit. It was a way to be inclusive.
- 2016, MET Gala
Madonna continues to stay in the spotlight and is still creating a large name for herself. The impact that she has made on pop and fashion culture has not been lost, especially as she continues to make fashion statements.
This picture shows sixty-seven-year-old Madonna at the MET Gala wearing quite the typical-Madonna fashion, a scandalous all-black see-through outfit. Her breasts and butt are not only displayed but specifically shown off in this Givenchy bondage look to honor the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” theme.
Critics were quick to call out that Madonna was past her prime and too old to be wearing something so risque. Once again, Madonna’s choice to proudly show off her sexuality was shamed and looked down upon. Quickly, the artist took to Instagram to say that her outfit was in fact a “political statement.” She wrote, “The fact that people actually believe a woman is not allowed to express her sexuality and be adventurous past a certain age is proof that we still live in an age-ist and sexist society….” Anyone is allowed to express themselves in any way they want to. Creative expression, including someone’s sexuality, isn’t limited to their age or the state of their body. Madonna continues showing that women shouldn’t shy away from self-expression due to society’s negative outlook on women’s bodies.
Madonna has not only made a name for herself as the “Queen of Pop,” but also as a fashion icon. She has never been afraid to call out society, religion, purity culture, and how women’s bodies and sexuality are viewed. She believes that to make a change, statements must be made -- and not just verbal. The world needs to see that it can’t just censor voices and that not everyone needs to fit an expected mold.
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