'60s Music Icon's Naked Dress at Met Gala Stays Relevant 52 Years Later

Long before the 2026 Met Gala filled the red carpet with a sultry sheer ensemble, Cher mastered the art of "naked dressing" by showcasing a chic and creative approach to the provocative look.

With the annual ceremony, known as fashion's biggest night out, celebrities, Hollywood royalty, music icons, elite athletes and fashion key figures gathered for a spectacular event showcasing the year's most daring and exquisite haute couture creations.

As for the Goddess of Pop, Cher never failed to captivate the public and media with her iconic ensembles, including her daring 1974 Met Gala look, which was included among the "20 most naked dresses" to ever grace the event.

InStyle released a list of well-known Met Gala naked dresses, citing looks worn by Doja Cat, Elizabeth Hurley, Beyoncé, to legendary stars like Linda Evangelista and of course, the "I Could Turn Back Time" hitmaker.

According to the publication, the sequined Bob Mackie gown worn by Cher was the first transparent ensemble to appear on the red carpet.

The custom-made body-hugging gown embodied the theme "Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design," featuring a nude-toned silhouette that sparkled with strategically placed embellishments.

The designer also added voluminous white feathered details on the sleeves and hem, making the red carpet look more dramatic.

Although it redefined red carpet dressing, Cher's Met Gala look also sparked controversy at the time, as it was considered scandalous and highly provocative.

In a documentary, Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion, the designer revealed what pushed him to create such a visionary look.

"I said to her, ‘What do you want to wear to that, to the Metropolitan, when we go there?' " he shared, adding, "She wanted me to go with her and I said, ‘I'll go with you. But what do you want to wear? You have to wear something that we've done.' And she pauses and says, ‘I want to wear the dress with the feathers.'"

After this, Cher appeared multiple times wearing sheer gowns, which made Vogue name her "Queen of the Naked Dress."

This includes another remarkable Met Gala look in 1985, where she wore another Bob Mackie gown but this time, a high-neck, long-sleeve bodysuit with intricate gold and silver sequined detailing paired with a wrapped black skirt with a gold design.

Eleven years later, at the 1985 Met Gala, Cher channelled Blade Runner AND Lord of the Rings somehow pic.twitter.com/w9AiX9nh4v

— British LGBT Awards (@BritLGBTAwards) May 20, 2021

Continuing naked dressing, Cher stunned in the recent event in a Daniel Lee ensemble.

After 11 years since her last Met Gala appearance, her red carpet outfit was a nod to her iconic 1974 "naked dress," but this time in an all-black silhouette.

Related: '60s Icon and 'Goddess of Pop' Celebrates First Best Actress Oscar Win 38 Years Ago Today

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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 1:30 PM.