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It is now commonplace for divas to wear fantastical high fashion onstage—think Beyoncé in bejeweled Peter Dundas and Rihanna in leather bustiers and thigh-high boots during their most recent respective tours—but since the 1960s, Diana Ross has set the standard for modern, over-the-top concert glamour. There has long been a myth, in fact, that in the early days of the Supremes, when the band was merely a humble opening act, Ross would intentionally scope out what leading groups (particularly chief rivals Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles) were wearing for their performances and replicate them to make anyone who came after look like a copycat. Which is to say, Ross is known for harnessing the power of an onstage outfit, and during her time in the Supremes and throughout her solo career, she has used that power well.
Ross is currently in the midst of a five-night run of concerts at New York City Center, and one peek at her wardrobe for this week’s shows is a reminder that, though her career has spanned decades, she hasn’t wavered from her signatures: feathers, shimmering jewel tones, monochromatic looks, bare shoulders, big bouncy hair, and Bob Mackie. Drama, too, has been a constant, particularly in Manhattan: There is perhaps no more indelible an image of Ross than one from 1983, when she braved a stormy Central Park stage to perform for hundreds of thousands of people, her sheer cape billowing in the wind and rain. Here, a look at some of her most timeless concert outfits—and a reminder that if you’re in New York, now is the time to buy tickets and see the glitz for yourself.
