Cher says she wore 1986 Oscars gown to hit back at the Academy for not taking her seriously

Actor wore a jewel-encrusted bralette and voluminous feather headpiece

(Rex Features)

Cher has revealed the story behind the showgirl-inspired ensemble she wore to the Oscars in 1986.

While breaking down 22 of her most memorable looks from 1965 to now in a new video for Vogue, the singer revealed there was a deeper meaning to the midriff-baring gown she wore to the awards ceremony.

The outfit, which was created by her long-time friend and designer, Bob Mackie, consisted of a black jewel-encrusted bralette, a matching low-rise skirt, thigh-high black boots and an embroidered shawl.

The "Believe" singer completed the risque look with a voluminous feather headpiece.

“This was one of my favourite outfits,” Cher explained in the video.

“I came to Bob with an idea. I said I want to have a mohawk, [but] that is not actually Indian. I want it to be so over-the-top that it’s next week. The beautiful shawl was cashmere. I loved the whole thing.”

Cher went on to explain that there was another reason she chose such an outre outfit, confessing it was supposed to be a rebuttal to the Academy for not taking her seriously as

“I had the idea mostly because the Academy didn’t really like me,” Cher said.

“They hated the way I dressed and I had young boyfriends so they thought I wasn’t serious. So I came out and said, ‘as you can see I got my handbook on how to dress like a serious actress'.”

The following year, Cher walked away with an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in the 1987 film, Moonstruck.

“I didn’t really have a speech because I could never imagine [winning],” Cher explained.

“First of all, it was a comedy and it’s hard to win for a comedy. Second, I just thought I’m never going to get this. Why would I?”

The actor also reflected on a number of other unforgettable outfits, including her 1974 Met Gala “naked” dress, which was also designed by Mackie.

“If you look at it, it looks like it’s stuck to me, and that’s because it is,” she explained.

“When I put it on, Bob sprayed it and it just sticks to your skin so it looks like your skin is beaded. I think people were a little taken aback.”

Cher also spoke candidly about her fashion faux pas, admitting she didn’t look like herself for one of her Vogue covers and describing another look as “unfortunate.”

The actor also discussed the ensemble she wore during her surprise performance at this year’s Met Gala, which consisted of a pair of patched denim jeans, a satin pink camisole top, a black blazer and a puffer coat.

“I just said f*** it,” she said, before describing the jeans as “not particularly attractive”.