L’HISTOIRE: Madonna’s Jean Paul Gaultier Look at the 1985 AMAs Was a Fashion Revolution

L'HISTOIRE explores fashion history moments you should know, from what actors wore on a red carpet to celebrities who made cameos on the runway. Some are unsung, and some are better known. Each is part of the fabric of today’s fashion world, be it barrier breakers or culture makers.

Before pop stars had glam squads or social media rollouts, Madonna knew exactly how to make a statement, and her 1985 American Music Awards outfit is proof. Fresh off the rise of her Like a Virgin era, the Queen of Pop showed up in an ensemble that would come to define not only her personal style but an entire generation’s attitude toward fashion, fame, and femininity.

At the ceremony, Madonna wore a Jean Paul Gaultier corset top with a slight cone-shaped bra, a signature silhouette that would later become a cornerstone of her collaboration with the designer. Layered over a black sheath suspender bustier dress, the look married punk edge with risqué glamour. She later threw on a fringed leather jacket—also from Gaultier's collection—further cementing her role as a fashion It girl who was years ahead of her time. 

The accessories told a story of their own. She draped herself in a smartly layered mix of rosary beads and religious iconography, from crucifixes to Stars of David, medleying them with intention. Fishnet gloves and bold, stacked bracelets added grit, while her platinum-blonde hair—pulled into a high, straight side ponytail—was as playful as it was defiant.

Madonna's look at the AMAs echoed the influence of downtown New York's DIY punk scene and forecasted fashion's turn toward lingerie-as-clothes. With its mix of streetwear, spirituality, and total subversion, the outfit wasn’t just about fashion—it was about rewriting the rules. Nearly 40 years later, her 1985 AMAs moment remains a masterclass in pop provocation.