Cher’s iconic If I Could Turn Back Time catsuit smashes original $80K estimate at glitzy auction
Cher’s status as one of the world’s most legendary performers of stage and screen shined through once again when one of her iconic costumes sold for more than two-times than originally estimated at auction.
With over 200 lots up for grabs on Thursday during the Julien’s Auctions Bold Luxury: The Limelight Edit, based in Beverly Hills, bidding turned into a fierce battle at times.
One of the highlights of the glitzy event turned out to be the Cher, stage-worn If I Could Turn Back Time costume, designed by Bob Mackie, that sparked controversy back in the day.
The revealing ensemble, which was first featured in the music video for her hit 1989 song, features a black, figure-hugging bodysuit, also dubbed a catsuit, with mesh cutouts, that was often paired with a black leather jacket and knee-high boots.
Originally estimated to sell for between $60,000 and $80,000, a ‘heated bidding war’ erupted during the exhilarating live and online auction, ultimately resulting in the Cher ensemble selling for a whopping $162,500.
The Limelight Edit — a curated collection of iconic pieces — also featured items once worn by such stars as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Victoria Beckham, Amy Winehouse, and Britney Spears, along with high-fashion from the likes of Hermès, Chanel, Giambattista Valli and more.
After debuting in the If I Could Turn Back Time music video, which was shot on board of the battleship USS Missouri, where it showed her straddling a cannon and her tattooed buttocks, the revealing number set off a wave of controversy.
In fact, some military personnel condemned the video, directed by the late Marty Callner, while other family groups protested against its broadcast, because they deemed it offensive for the Navy.
In the wake of those protests many television networks refused to show it due to the singer’s revealing outfit, including MTV in July 1989.
Eventually the massive music television network amended the move by allowing the video to be shown only after 9 pm, but by then Cher was already reaping the rewards of the controversy as a must see.
The pop rock, or soft rock, song was written specifically for Cher by Diane Warren, who produced it in collaboration with Guy Roche.
Featuring instrumentation from guitars, piano and drums, it received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who applauded its overall production and Cher’s vocal performance.
Some critics and fans even considered it to be a highlight of her Heart Of Stone (1989) studio album, which was the nineteenth at that point in her career.
Commercially, Heart of Stone turned out to be a milestone for her when it reached number 10 in the United States, which was a first for her as a solo artist.
