Style Icon: Tina Turner - Page 5

My 93 year-old grandfather, who is a devout Seventh Day Adventist, rarely talked about women in front of his daughters and granddaughters. (It was a different thing for the boys.) But he couldn’t help but profess his love for Tina Turner for all of us to hear. He was a particular fan of her legs.

As a child, before I’d ever seen “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” I knew Tina Turner as the woman who made my grandfather’s eyes gleam. I knew she had to have something.

While many of us know Tina solely from her biopic, we might have failed to recognize the roads she’s paved for female entertainers. While she wasn’t the first black woman to do so, Tina wore the blonde highlights to perfection. She made it ok for black women to work the rocker look unashamedly and as you know, her story is the epitome of strength and perseverance. Check out some of Tina’s best looks over the years.

Tina told ya’ll back in 1971 that she and Ike never do nothing “nice and easy.” (Clearly.) This picture is evidence of that fact. With her long, thick wigs and elaborate costumes, Tina knew how to “werk” while she was working. Tassels became a staple for the singer as she was known to keep it moving on stage.

No disrespect, but Elizabeth Taylor has nothing on Tina’s Cleopatra. Famed makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin, who did Tina’s personal makeup for years,  transformed the singer into the legendary Queen of Egypt for his book “Face Forward.”

Hot, but still classy, Tina is giving us a lot of skin in this one piece. There’s side boob and her legs are barely covered by scraps of fabric, put she still manages not to look trashy.

You can’t mention Tina without acknowledging Ike. Although a drug addict, abuser and narcissist in his personal (and sometimes professional) life, no one can deny that the man was a musical genius who was responsible for Tina’s career. It’s quite sad that the two couldn’t live and work in peace. Had there been less abuse and ego, these two probably would have been more world renown. Knowing what we know now about their tumultuous relationship, this picture speaks volumes.

The legs are out once again in this classic performance picture.

No need to do a double take, Ike is giving you the finger. With this black power shirt on, maybe it’s not so much for you as it is for “the man.” A little more docile than her partner, Tina still looks a little peeved in this shot too.

Hmm. Even style icons, trendsetters and what have you, are subject to an off day or two. Judging by this obnoxious blonde wig, this was evidently one of those days.

This picture right here is why Tina is regarded by some as the “Queen of Rock n Roll.” The gold hair, the gold outfit, the red lip, the red bottomed pump and that fierce air guitar are all reasons why this 72 year old diva is a master of her craft.

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