Cher has revisited the story behind her iconic 1974 Met Gala 'naked dress', revealing that it was made from fabric she says was 'illegal in America'. In an interview published on Thursday, 15 October, the 'Believe' singer identified the material as soufflé, a sheer textile she previously said was highly flammable.
The 80-year-old also recalled a surprising encounter with Hollywood star Marlene Dietrich during a fitting with designer Bob Mackie. According to Cher, Dietrich had personally brought the material used to create the gown that would become one of her most recognisable red-carpet looks.
Cher shared the memory while reflecting on Mackie, who died on 14 September 2026 at the age of 87. Their decades-long collaboration produced the feather-trimmed dress that she wore to her first Met Gala before it appeared on a magazine cover the following year.
Why Was Cher's Naked Dress Fabric 'Illegal in America'?
Newly shared outtake of Cher wearing her iconic “Naked Dress” by Richard Avedon, 1974. pic.twitter.com/JQPNa6cER2
— Cher Universe (@TCherUniverse) November 26, 2024
Cher identified the gown's material as soufflé, a near-invisible fabric beneath elaborate beadwork and feathered cuffs. She discussed the material in a 2024 interview, saying it was banned in the United States because it was flammable. Her latest account revisited the unusual fabric, although she did not identify a specific law or regulation.
Cher previously explained how Mackie used the fabric to achieve the illusion of bare skin. After the dress was put on, the material was misted with a spray bottle and pressed close against her body. As it dried, the fabric became difficult to distinguish from her skin, leaving the decorative sequins prominent.
The result was a floor-length, long-sleeved gown covered in shimmering embellishment, with white feathers at the sleeves and hem. Despite its revealing appearance, it was a constructed garment rather than simply an uncovered body. The design became associated with Cher's willingness to wear unconventional outfits in an era when sheer dressing drew considerably more scrutiny.
Marlene Dietrich's Unexpected Role in the Dress
Cher said she once entered Mackie's workspace for a fitting and noticed a woman throwing items from a refrigerator into the bin. She did not recognise the visitor and asked the designer to identify her. Mackie's reply, as Cher remembered it, was: 'That's Marlene Dietrich!'
45 years ago, on Nov. 20 1974, @Cher made fashion history. Wearing a sheer beaded gown with white feathers, designed by @BobMackie, Cher attended the 1974's MET Gala in New York and wowed the world with the famous "Naked dress". pic.twitter.com/gITYIFkk1k
— Cher Brasil (@SiteCherBrasil) November 20, 2019
The actress, famous for films including The Blue Angel and Morocco, had brought the material for Cher's dress, according to the singer. Dietrich's involvement was unexpected even to Cher, who only learned the visitor's identity after asking Mackie. Cher did not explain precisely how the fabric was obtained or transported to the United States.
The gown had not initially been designed for a Met Gala appearance. Cher said Mackie had made it for a fashion photography project covering styles from the 1920s to the 1970s. When she needed an outfit for the gala, the group decided to use the piece already created for the shoot.
Cher Remembers Bob Mackie After His Death
Mackie later recalled that the sheer dress shocked onlookers at the 1974 event, with some questioning whether it counted as fashion. Cher wanted to wear it, and the resulting appearance became one of their defining fashion collaborations. A photograph by Richard Avedon subsequently put the same gown on the cover of Time magazine on 17 March 1975.
The designer also created Cher's television costumes and her dramatic black feathered ensemble for the 1986 Academy Awards. Reflecting on their friendship in the new interview, she credited him with helping establish the glamorous image that became part of her career. 'Without Bob, I would certainly not be a fashion icon,' she said.
Long before the 'Naked Dress' became a Met Gala staple, Cher and Bob Mackie were already redefining effortless audacity back in the '70s. 👗💎🔥 pic.twitter.com/CXTzkDXytg
— 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 ✨🎵 (@Hoang_HQ) May 21, 2026
Cher was speaking alongside the launch of a Moncler outerwear campaign featuring Grace Jones and Jennie, photographed by Gabriel Moses. She was also asked about the current popularity of naked dressing on red carpets, more than five decades after her own appearance. Her response was brief: 'They're a little late.'
