Sheer gowns ruled the steps of the Metropolitan Museum this May, yet one guest had been perfecting the look for over half a century.

Cher, who returned to the Met Gala at 79 after an 11-year break, practically invented the red carpet naked dress.

This year’s crop of see-through gowns owes her more than a little gratitude. Her secret weapon had a name, and it was Bob Mackie.

A Partnership Made of Sequins

Cher and Bob Mackie, fashion designer, began working together on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour in the early ’70s. Their creative partnership lasted for decades, turning every stage and red carpet into a runway. Mackie adored beads and feathers as much as she did.

The Feathered Gown That Started It All

In 1974, Cher arrived at the Met Gala with Mackie in a sheer gown scattered with silver beading. White feathers fluttered at the sleeves and hem, and the night’s Hollywood glamour theme suddenly felt very daring.

When Mackie asked what she wanted to wear, Cher simply chose “the dress with the feathers.” He later recalled the moment in the documentary Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion.

At the time, the look was considered shockingly provocative. Cher kept going anyway, slipping into sheer creation after sheer creation and earning the nickname Queen of the Naked Dress.

Two Oscar Nights, Two Legendary Looks

At the 1986 Academy Awards, she wore a towering black Mackie headdress with a beaded, midriff-baring ensemble.

Two years later, she accepted her Best Actress Oscar for Moonstruck in a sheer black Mackie gown.

A Music Video Too Hot for Daytime

In 1989, Cher filmed If I Could Turn Back Time aboard a battleship in a sheer black Mackie bodysuit. MTV reportedly aired it only late at night, which made it even more legendary.

Her 2026 Met Gala Return Came Full Circle

This May, Cher revisited her own legend in custom Burberry by Daniel Lee. A semi-sheer black silk-tulle dress met a leather corset and a cropped jacket glittering with black crystals.

Her Heirs Are Everywhere

Rihanna’s crystal-covered Adam Selman gown at the 2014 CFDA Awards carries Cher’s daring DNA. So does Beyoncé’s sheer Givenchy look at the 2015 Met Gala.

Fifty-two years later, those feathers still flutter through every sheer gown on the red carpet. Cher, it seems, really could turn back time. Long may she shimmer.