Hazel Sanchez Art 3410 April 19, 2017 CHER’S EVOLUTION Over the years, the music scene has been the voice of the masses and has heavily influenced the iconic fashions that have been created each generation. Cher, the singer and actress is a fashion icon who re-invented herself many times throughout her career. One thing has remained consistent was her amazing sense of style that has influenced fashion thousands. Cher is a highly known versatile artist, she is both an American singer and actress. She was born on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California. Cher career started as part of a singing act with her husband Sonny Bono in the 1960s, hitting No. 1 with the single "I Got You Babe.” The duo later starred on their show The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. However, the show ended as the couple's marriage dissolved. Cher continued her career solo. Some of her famous songs "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves," "Half-Breed" and "Dark Lady” made it to top charts. She then pursued acting in the 1980s, starring in films like Silkwood and Mask and earning an Academy Award for her performance in Moonstruck. Cher also found more music success with rock- oriented tracks in the '80s and a global dance hit, "Believe," in the late ‘90s. Hippies & Folk Music During the sixties, Cher started out with her straight black hair and bell bottoms. At the time, the fashion industry was specifically targeting towards the youth market. In previous years, the fashion industry was mostly designing for the mature and elite members of society. It was the social and political revolution that transpired in the mid-sixties, that caused this turn in the industry. The power of the teenage and young adult market was too great to ignore. The first major fashion movement of the Sixties emerged from Great Britain, where The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and various other pop and rock bands were enjoying immense popularity. Designer Mary Quant created the iconic miniskirt in response to the youthful, fun- loving attitude that was spreading throughout the country. The capital became known as “Swinging London” and soon brightly colored streamlined fashions were all the rage in Europe and America . During the second half of the 60s, the infamous Woodstock festival and artists like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin influenced the “Hippie” movement that originated in San Francisco, Calif. The prevalence of free love, recreational drugs and psychedelic music became apparent in fashion. Clothes for men and women became loose and relaxed, with brightly colored prints and patterns influenced by other cultures. Bell- bottoms, tunic tops and tie-dye prints became very popular. The Sixties was a politically-charged decade and many folk artists emerged with their stance on war, racism and government. Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton and emerging star Joni Mitchell were important folk artists in the Sixties, and fans soon copied their fashion sense. Reflecting working class America, denim and military-style jackets along with western-inspired shirts rose in popularity. Disco & Big Hair Following the counterculture of the 60s, the 70s created a trend of relaxing music as well as dance music. People grew tired of the fighting that happened the previous decade and many of them turned to dance clubs and other places to have a good time. Out of this idea emerged the Disco movement. However, there were still the bands and artists that continued to speak of the ills of society, typically characterized by the punk music in the late 70s. Although the rebellious idea had died down shortly following Woodstock in 1969, there were still many people that disagreed with the establishment and the way the country was being run. Most people, though, were just looking for another way to vent their frustrations, which helped to give rise to the fun that disco music provided. One trend in pop music during the decade was the re-emergence of older musicians who had once been popular as a part of a group or duo into their own solo careers. Cher being one of theses artists had already experienced success during the 60s and 70s and a few of them had even became an actor during that time. She also came into a successful solo career after adapting to the new musical landscape. Cher updated her looks to keep up with fashion. Cher tested the fashion industry, with feathers, leotards, leather, metal and big hair. These were mostly designed by her friend Bob Mackie. Part of the reason these artists like Cher were successful had to do with the fact that the Baby Boom generation was coming into adulthood and had an influx of disposable income to spend on the records of artists they had grown up listening to. They brought a sense of nostalgia for the good old days of music and yet their songs and styles were updated, combining the best of both worlds. Globalization, Technology, & Rocker Look Fashion was rapidly changing in the 1980s and more diverse than ever before. Due to increased globalization of the world and pop culture trends in fashion spread faster than ever and were more widespread. Changes in technology and the expansion of cable television and networks like MTV meant that TV, Movie and Music celebrities' fashion was more accessible to fans and viewers and an increased obsession with celebrities brought fashion into the forefront of pop culture. The fashions and styles during the decade represented more distinct groups than ever before. In the past there would usually be one or two predominant styles at a time, whereas in the 1980s, several separate and distinct groups of trends were all sharing the popularity at one time. Cher went back to big hair and fishnets maybe the most iconic is her turn back time outfit. In 1980 at the wrap party for “Xanadu,” Cher has abandoned her trademark long locks of the ‘60s and ‘70s and opted for a short cut à la Joan Jett. With a studded leather jacket, oversized metal jewelry, and bright makeup she’s the epitome of rocker girl cool. Music in the 80s was all about image and with the advent and popularity of MTV, the images that accompanied artists became more important than ever. When it came to music during the decade, nothing was understated, not the sound, not the fashion, not even the charity. The 1980s reflected the beginning of a period of great income disparity and a focus on affluence was reflected in the music. There were also several new genres that popped up including, Hip Hop, New Wave and Hair Metal, all of which have influenced music today. In 1987, Cher signed with Geffen Records and revived her musical career with what music critics Johnny Danza and Dean Ferguson describe as "her most impressive string of hits to date", establishing her as a "serious rock and roller ... a crown that she'd worked long and hard to capture”. Michael Bolton, Jon Bon Jovi, Desmond Child, and Richie Sambora produced her first Geffen album, Cher, which was certified platinum by the RIAA. It features the rock ballad "I Found Someone", her first U.S. top-ten single in more than eight years. Dressing Down & Back to Disco In the 90s, Cher gave us disco music, which might have been the turning point, to establish her as one of the biggest icons. The 90s marked the end not only of a century but also a millennium. The decade leading up to the year 2000 saw a lot of change and excitement, with many important events that shaped not only the 90s but our lives since then.politically, technologically, and culturally. With the Cold War over and the Internet changing the way we work and live. Less became more in the 90s. Not everyone adopted minimalism, but many did as they sought to blend and fit with an increasingly aggressive urban society. The silhouette became neater as shoulder pads finally died and jewelry became non existent. The only concession to 80's glitz was a subtle, but new iridescent glitter shimmer on sheer and tulle fabrics that went through to skin, make up and hair spray. For many the sleek hairstyle copied from Jennifer Aniston or the funkier choppier hairstyle of Meg Ryan was the only hairstyle to sport. Cher's 22nd studio album Believe (1998) marked a musical departure for her, as it comprises dance-pop songs, many of which capture the "disco-era essence"; Cher said, "It's not that I think this is a '70s album ... but there's a thread, a consistency running through it that I love.’" Believe was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA and went on to be certified gold or platinum in 39 countries, selling 10 million copies worldwide. The album's title track reached number one in more than 23 countries and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. It became the best-selling recording of 1998 and 1999, respectively, in the UK and the U.S., and Cher's most successful single to date. "Believe" topped the UK Singles Chart for seven weeks and became the biggest-selling single of all time by a female artist in the UK, selling over 1.7 million copies in the country as of November 2013. It also topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks, selling over 1.8 million units in the U.S. as of December 1999. The song earned Cher the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. In January 1999, Cher performed "The Star- Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl XXXIII. Two months later, she sang on the television special VH1 Divas Live 2, which attracted 19.4 million viewers.