British-born Australian actress, singer, and songwriter Olivia Newton-John has “passed away peacefully” at the age of 73, after a long-fought battle with breast cancer. Known for her iconic roles as Sandy in Grease and Kira in Xanadu, the Grammy-winning entertainer is also known for her hit songs, such as “Physical.”
During her rise to fame, Newton-John sported feathered tresses and dressed in the mod-meets-bohemian chic style popular in the late ’60s to early ’70s. From Canadian tuxedos, miniskirts, and statement belts, to fringe, glitz, and glam, the star was varied in her sartorial choices, but always remained theatrical. Later, Newton-John even helmed her very own fashion line, Koala Blue.
The doe-eyed beauty became a household name and hailed as a style icon after her legendary transformation in 1978’s Grease. Newton-John portrayed Sandy, the innocent poodle-skirt-wearing hopeless romantic who falls for bad boy Danny Zuko, played by John Travolta. After a dramatic makeover, Sandy adds some edge to her look to win back her man. A landmark moment in cinematic fashion, Newton-John appears in an off-the shoulder black top, leather jacket, red heels, a cigarette in her mouth, and black spandex pants so tight, the actress reportedly had to be sewn into them. Tell me about it, stud.
Travolta took to Instagram to pay homage to his late, longtime costar and friend. “My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better,” he wrote. “Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”
Here, GRAZIA USA looks back on Olivia Newton-John’s very best style moments through the years.
1968
Seen in a shearling-lined jacket, and a choppy shag, Newton-John sported a psychedelic pair of quintessentially-’60s circular sunglasses.
1970
The star stepped out in a cropped fur jacket and matching hat worn with a red sweater over a black and white polka-dot collared button-down, paired with matching red bell-bottoms in black heeled boots.
1970
With her blown-out sandy blonde hair, Newton-John sported a white collared button-down with a denim vest and matching bell-bottom jeans, paired with black buckled boots in 1970.
1971
Newton-John appeared as the quintessential mod-girl in 1971, wearing knee-high brown boots, a khaki-colored miniskirt topped with a brown leather belt with a loud gold apple buckle, a brown silky button-down blouse and a key pendant necklace.
1971
Jumping for joy, Newton-John rocked a suede matching set, comprised of a lace-up long-sleeved top, two-toned pants, and black leather knee-high high-heeled boots.
1978
Portraying Sandy in Grease, Newton-John danced alongside Travolta’s Danny Zuko in a lemon yellow A-line dress for the famous school dance scene performing the “Hand Jive.”
1978
Who could ever forget Sandy’s dramatic sartorial transformation, walking throughout the carnival at the end of Grease? One of the most iconic fashion moments in film, Newton-John reportedly had to be sewn into her skin-tight high-waisted black pants.
1978
Channeling the more demure side of Sandy for the Grease press junket, Newton-John attended the event in a polka-dotted petal pink A-line dress, belted with a silky ribbon and a pinned flower and matching shawl.
1978
Now channeling Sandy’s more risqué side, Newton-John attended the premiere of Grease alongside Travolta in a bubblegum pink second-skin belted catsuit and coordinating neck scarf. She also sported Sandy’s curly permed hair.
1978
Still channeling the edgier Sandy, Newton-John attended a Grease press event in purple spandex leggings, a hot pink blouse with a popped collar under a red bomber jacket with her hair still in tight, permed curls.
1979
Performing in Xanadu, Newton-John danced around in a super-fringed cowgirl get-up, complete with thigh-high heeled cowboy boots and a cowboy hat perched upon her blonde feathered hair.
1980
Kicking off the 1980s with a particularly glam look, Newton-John performed at the ABC Entertainment Center in Los Angeles wearing a fuchsia metallic fringed catsuit, with her golden locked blown out, donning matching fuchsia eyeshadow.
1980
Dancing the night away at a Xanadu wrap party, Newton-John donned an embellished cream-colored mini sweater dress with stockings and purple eyeshadow.
1981
On her “Physical” tour, Newton-John took to the stage in a billowing poet’s blouse, with a statement belt over a metallic fringed skirt above a pair of jeans. The singer topped off her look with a bandana tied around her forehead, further highlighting her choppy bob.
1991
Attending a benefit gala in 1991, Newton-John wore black slacks, and a black lace top under a memorable statement jacket with heavily beaded lapels and cascading fringe.
