Every generation has its pop star fashion icon. Onstage chameleons like Rihanna and Lady Gaga may reign supreme at the moment, but their ability to generate headlines and shape trends owes much to the legacy of music legends like Barbra Streisand. The star, who turns 75 today, was among the original red carpet risk-takers, defying convention during the ’60s and ’70s with audacious, ahead-of-the-curve style. Switching seamlessly between styles, from Biba to mod to disco queen, Streisand was always au courant—and her willingness to be playful with fashion resulted in many an iconic moment.
A fan of print, color, and over-the-top statement accessories, Streisand went for clothes with oomph to match her outspoken nature. Whether she was stepping out in a hot pink striped suit with matching turban, as she did to a fundraiser in 1967, or sitting front row at a Chanel show in 1966 in head-to-toe leopard print, she kept things unapologetically bold. Of course, not everyone got it: The transparent Arnold Scaasi pantsuit she wore to pick up her 1969 Oscar for Funny Girl remains one of the event’s most controversial looks—but her choices have stood the test of time.
Streisand has reportedly hung on to her vintage treasures, storing them in an underground “mall” beneath her Malibu house, complete with distinctive storefronts for each type of item. (She even once let Lady Gaga and writer producer Ryan Murphy take a firsthand peek at the goods.) Here, the next-best thing to a private tour: a look back at the superstar’s most iconic fashion moments.
