Remembering Aretha Franklin: A Look Back at Her Most Iconic Fashion Moments
Aretha Franklin passed away on Thursday, leaving behind a legacy that includes 18 Grammy Awards, 17 top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and six decades' worth of music. The Queen of Soul touched lives all over the world, with her talent and always memorable performances, which were amplified by her delightfully extravagant sense of style.
In terms of both her music and her fashion, Franklin has been referred to as the ultimate diva—her onstage outfits as dramatic as her four-octave voice. Up until her retirement from performing in 2017, feathers, sequins, and fringe were her signatures. The silhouettes evolved over the years, from formfitting dresses in the sixties to eccentric caftans in the nineties, but her joyful, luxurious approach to dressing remained, emphasizing Franklin's star power.
Her approach to fashion wasn't always praised, but Franklin had the perfect response. In the nineties, when a New York Post writer said that Franklin was too "bosomy" for the clothing she wore, she had a confident reply: "You are hardly in a position to determine what separates stars from divas since you are neither one nor an authority on either."
Indeed, Aretha Franklin embodied the very essence of what it means to be a "diva." From her first number-one single in 1967 up until her later appearances in 2017, her wardrobe was admirably over-the-top and commanded respect. Ahead, we remember the decorated artist with 30 of her most iconic looks.
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Michael Ochs Archives1/301965: Aretha Franklin wearing an embellished, long-sleeve gown
CIRCA 1965: Soul singer Aretha Franklin poses for a portrait in circa 1965. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Michael Ochs Archives2/301968: Aretha Franklin performing in an embellished dress
OCTOBER 15: R&B singer Aretha Franklin performs onstage on October 15, 1968. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
David Redfern3/301968: Aretha Franklin performing in London wearing a white feathered dress and matching headwrap
UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 01: HAMMERSMITH ODEON Photo of Aretha FRANKLIN, performing live onstage (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns)
NBC4/301969: Aretha Franklin performing on The Andy Williams Show in a red dress with feathered sleeves
THE ANDY WILLIAMS SHOW -- Aired 5/4/69 -- Pictured: Aretha Franklin (Photo by Fred A. Sabine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
Michael Ochs Archives5/301969: Aretha Franklin performing in a jewel-embellished dress with a bateau neckline and slit
CIRCA 1969: Soul singer Aretha Franklin performs onstage in circa 1969. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Michael Ochs Archives6/301970: Aretha Franklin appearing on This Is Tom Jones in a black cape gown with a coordinating headpiece
OCTOBER 9: Soul singer Aretha Franklin performs the song "Your Love Is Like A See-Saw" with pop singer Tom Jones on season 3 episode 3 of the TV show "This Is Tom Jones" which first aired on October 9, 1970. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Jeffrey Mayer7/301972: Aretha Franklin performing in a fuzzy pink jacket and a white two-piece set
Aretha Franklin (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)
Michael Putland8/301974: Aretha Franklin wearing an orange chiffon gown with sequins to perform in London
Aretha Franklin performs on TV show , London, 1974. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)
ABC Photo Archives9/301975: Aretha Franklin performing in a printed dress and white feather boa
Unspecified - 1975: Aretha Franklin performing live. (Photo by ABC via Getty Images)
Sahm Doherty10/301977: Aretha Franklin rehearsing for the Inauguration Eve ceremony for President Jimmy Carter in a brown sequin gown
Singer Aretha Franklin rehearsing for Inaugural Eve program for newly elected US President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale at the Kennedy Center. (Photo by Sahm Doherty/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)
ABC Photo Archives11/301983: Aretha Franklin performing at the American Music Awards in a one-shoulder dress with a sequin bodice and satin skirt
Los Angeles, CA - January 1983: Aretha Franklin at the 1983 American Music Awards, January 17, 1983. (Photo by ABC via Getty Images)
Time & Life Pictures12/301983: Aretha Franklin appearing at the American Music Awards in a black sequin dress and feather hairpiece
UNITED STATES - JANUARY 01: Aretha Franklin at the American Music Award (Photo by The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)
Images Press13/301985: Aretha Franklin performing in a dress adorned with blue feathers
UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1985: Aretha Franklin in concert circa 1985. (Photo by Jerry Wachter/IMAGES/Getty Images)
Paul Natkin14/301985: Aretha Franklin wearing a black bow-embellished dress and oversize earrings on stage
American musician Aretha Franklin performs on stage at the Hyatt Hotel during the 1985 NBA All-Star Game celebration, Chicago, Illinois, April 18, 1985. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Paul Natkin15/301986: Aretha Franklin performing in a polka dot dress with an asymmetric skirt
American musician Aretha Franklin performs on stage at the Chicago Theater, Chicago, Illinois, December 15, 1986. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Waring Abbott16/301989: Aretha Franklin wearing a red beaded dress in concert
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - MAY 27: Soul-singer Aretha Franklin performing on May 27, 1989 at a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Waring Abbott/Getty Images)
Ebet Roberts17/301989: Aretha Franklin performing in a white gown with a three-dimensional floral collar
UNITED STATES - JULY 06: RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Photo of Aretha FRANKLIN, performing live onstage (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns)
Al Pereira18/301990: Aretha Franklin performing at Radio City Music Hall in an emerald satin dress with a beaded belt and gold earrings
NEW YORK - March 3 1990: Aretha Franklin appears in concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on March 3, 1990 In New York City. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images)
Waring Abbott19/301992: Aretha Franklin wearing a ballerina-inspired dress at the Friar's Club
NEW YORK - JUNE 6: Aretha Franklin dressed as a ballerina performs at the Friar's Club for Clive Davis's Roast on June 6, 1992 in New York City. (Photo by Waring Abbott/Getty Images)
Paul Natkin20/301992: Aretha Franklin performing in a fringed white dress
American musician Aretha Franklin performs on stage at the Park West Auditorium, Chicago, Illinois, March 23, 1992. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Jim Steinfeldt21/301992: Aretha Franklin performing in a structured red gown
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 7: Aretha Franklin performs at Northrup Auditorium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 7, 1992. (Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Cynthia Johnson22/301993: Aretha Franklin performing at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in fur coat and red dress
Singer Aretha Franklin, clad in politically incorrect Russian sable fur coat, singing outside Lincoln Memorial during Clinton inauguration wk. festivities (no caps). (Photo by Cynthia Johnson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)
Lisa Lake23/301995: Aretha Franklin performing in a velvet dress and coordinating headwrap
EASTON - MAY 01: Aretha Franklin performs at The State Theatre on May 01, 1995 in Easton, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images)
KMazur24/302001: Aretha Franklin performing at VH1's Divas Live program in a white sequined romper and feathered jacket
Aretha Franklin during VH1 Presents: "Divas Live: The One and Only Aretha Franklin" at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)
Chris Graythen25/302005: Aretha Franklin taking the stage at the Essence Festival in a one-shoulder gown and shawl
NEW ORLEANS - JULY 1: Singer Aretha Franklin performs at the 2005 Essence Festival at the New Orleans Superdome on July 1, 2005 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
KMazur26/302005: Aretha Franklin wearing a gold mirrored dress at the Tony Awards
Aretha Franklin performs "Somewhere" during 59th Annual Tony Awards - Show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)
Jamie McCarthy27/302008: Aretha Franklin performing at Radio City Music Hall in a baby pink dress
Aretha Franklin performs on stage at Radio City Music Hall in New York on March 21, 2008
Kevin Winter28/302008: Aretha Franklin performsing at the MusiCares benefit concert in a black mermaid gown with a matching cape
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 08: Singer Aretha Franklin performs onstage during the 2008 MusiCares person of the year honoring Aretha Franklin held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 8, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Kelsey McNeal29/302008: Aretha Franklin performing on Dancing With the Stars in a burgundy dress
UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 18: DANCING WITH THE STARS THE RESULTS SHOW - "Episode 709A" - The "Queen of Soul" and one of the most honored female singers in Grammy Award history, legend Aretha Franklin took the "Dancing with the Stars" stage by storm, on "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show," TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 (9:00-10:02 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Photo by Kelsey McNeal/ABC via Getty Images)
Nicholas Hunt30/302017: Aretha Franklin performing at the Elton John AIDS Foundation twenty-fifth anniversary celebration in an embellished gown
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 07: Aretha Franklin performs on stage at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Commemorates Its 25th Year And Honors Founder Sir Elton John During New York Fall Gala - Show at Cathedral of St. John the Divine on November 7, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/WireImage)
