A Tribute to Madonna’s Live Aid Outfit, 13th July 1985

A Tribute to Madonna's 1985 Live Aid Outfit: Floral trousers, mint jacquard jacket, lace top, heavy jewellery | Not Dressed As Lamb

So here’s an outfit that’s been 31 years in the making. This is my tribute to Madonna’s Live Aid outfit – 

something that’s captivated my imagination for more than two thirds of my life. (Okay so it sounds dramatic, but this stuff is important when you’re a teenager!)

On this day in 1985 I had my 13th birthday party, and all my friends and I watched Live Aid on a little black and white TV in a huge tent in my garden my parents had put up for us for a sleepover. The TV was on a long extension cable and for some reason it being in black and white didn’t bother us – we were just happy to be out of the house and not inside with the parents.

THIS WAS SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO HER USUAL LOOK: SHE WAS COVERED UP FOR A START, AND IT WAS FLORAL AND LACE AND JACQUARD BUT WITH HER USUAL TON OF JEWELLERY.

I don’t know whether it was that night or on extra footage the next day, but I can remember seeing Madonna at some point and my heart stopping. This was something completely different to her usual [Like a Virgin] look: She was covered up for a start, and it was floral and lace and jacquard but with her usual ton of jewellery. I knew at that moment I wanted to look and dress exactly like that.

A Tribute to Madonna's 1985 Live Aid Outfit: Floral trousers, mint jacquard jacket, lace top, heavy jewellery | Not Dressed As Lamb

SHOP THE LOOK:

Fast forward to the 30th anniversary of Live Aid one year ago today: I was feeling nostalgic and was amazed at how much I still loved her outfit. I was desperate to recreate that look in some way but could I find trousers with that typically-80s floral print or a mint jacket? No, and no. So the anniversary went by and I thought little more of it.

However, a couple of months ago I was perusing ASOS (no surprise there) when I came across these wide leg floral trousers – in just the right print. My thoughts immediately went to that Madonna outfit that I’d held in such high regard: Would it actually be possible to give the outfit another shot? Could my 13-year-old self be looking on and thinking yessss, I AM the Material Girl?!

I NOT ONLY FOUND “THE” TROUSERS, BUT I FOUND A MINT JACQUARD JACKET TOO. TO SAY I WAS EXCITED WAS AN UNDERSTATEMENT – I’D LOVED THIS OUTFIT FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AFTER ALL

Dramatics aside, I not only found “the” trousers, but I found a mint jacquard jacket too. To say I was excited was an understatement – I’d loved this outfit for OVER 30 YEARS. So I may have missed the 30th anniversary of Live Aid, but the 31st was just going to have to do.

The rest was easy: I found a white lace top I wore on holiday last year, piled on the layered necklaces (I couldn’t find my old cross I’ve had since the 80s so went with my vintage lion pendant in tribute to Madonna’s star sign), put on hoop earrings and scrunched – yes you heard that right, scrunched – my hair. I stopped short at the white ankle socks and weird heeled ballet shoes she wore. Some things are a step too far so my Hobbs wedge sandals brought the outfit up to date instead.

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I know Madonna’s jacket was long, but I prefer this cropped length to let the lace top peek out from underneath, plus to have found any type of jacket in a mint jacquard fabric was a miracle, to be honest. You could say mine’s a mix of her waistcoat and jacket. Interesting fact: Her jacket was designed by Prince, no less.

So there you have it: A 31-year-old dream has finally come true. I was fed up of waiting for my mum to buy me the exact same outfit anyway, I’ve been nagging her since 1985 😉

DID YOU LOVE OR HATE MADONNA’S LIVE AID OUTFIT – I KNOW IT DIVIDES OPINION! PLUS IF YOU ACTUALLY WENT TO LIVE AID ITSELF (WEMBLEY OR PHILADELPHIA) DO COMMENT BELOW, OR TAKE IT TO TWITTER @NOTLAMB!

A Tribute to Madonna's 1985 Live Aid Outfit: Floral trousers, mint jacquard jacket, lace top, heavy jewellery | Not Dressed As Lamb
Madonna Live Aid
Photo credit above: Ebet Roberts / Ron Galella (Getty Images)

A Tribute to Madonna's 1985 Live Aid Outfit: Floral trousers, mint jacquard jacket, lace top, heavy jewellery | Not Dressed As Lamb
A Tribute to Madonna's 1985 Live Aid Outfit: Floral trousers, mint jacquard jacket, lace top, heavy jewellery | Not Dressed As Lamb
A Tribute to Madonna's 1985 Live Aid Outfit: Floral trousers, mint jacquard jacket, lace top, heavy jewellery | Not Dressed As Lamb
A Tribute to Madonna's 1985 Live Aid Outfit: Floral trousers, mint jacquard jacket, lace top, heavy jewellery | Not Dressed As Lamb
A Tribute to Madonna's 1985 Live Aid Outfit: Floral trousers, mint jacquard jacket, lace top, heavy jewellery | Not Dressed As Lamb
A Tribute to Madonna's 1985 Live Aid Outfit: Floral trousers, mint jacquard jacket, lace top, heavy jewellery | Not Dressed As Lamb
ASOS jacquard jacket (50% off, there are matching trousers too) | ASOS floral cropped trousers (there’s a matching floral jacket) | Dorothy Perkins top (here’s a similar white lace top) | Hobbs navy wedge sandals c/o (less than half price) | Vintage gold lion pendant c/o Sweet n Spark (love this lion’s head pendant necklace) | Miss Selfridge tiered necklace (old, I love this modern Topshop tiered necklace or here’s a fabulous crystal-embellished cross pendant) | Toenails: DIY colour using the Palette London kit

Catherine

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22 Comments

  1. 14 July 2016 / 6:02 pm

    You have nailed it Catherine. Especially the jacket and pants. But in a cool post-millennium updated kind of way:)

  2. 14 July 2016 / 2:51 pm

    Catherine you are so cute. Isn't it funny how certain moments in the past can travel with us for such a long time. Since I was a tomboy and didn't get on the fashion train until a few years ago, I never really paid attention to what people were wearing, but I do remember Madonna not wearing this kind of a look very often or at all, so it is no surprise that it stood out to you. I love that you desired to copy her modest look as a young impressionable girl instead of the looks that she became more well known for. You nailed it! And it is a great outfit. Thanks for sharing that wonderful insight into your life and the pretty outfit! – Amy
    http://stylingrannymama.com/

  3. 14 July 2016 / 2:16 pm

    Love this! I think this is a great "recreation" of that outfit, but with great updates for today.

  4. 14 July 2016 / 1:11 pm

    This is probably one of my favourites posts of yours, Catherine!! I was one of Madonna's biggest fans in the late 80s so I can totally understand your OMG moment! I LOVE this outfit, it's absolutely perfect on you and I love that you're doing a bit of a dance in a couple of photos too. Bloody brilliant 😀
    Suzy xx
    http://www.suzyturner.com

    • 14 July 2016 / 11:06 am

      Hehe I didn't do the black thing till the 90s, Nancy…!!

  5. 13 July 2016 / 9:28 pm

    Ahh this is so cool, I'm too young for live aid but have seen lots of re runs musta been so cool to watch live in the back garden
    Lauren
    livinginaboxx | bloglovin

    • 14 July 2016 / 11:05 am

      It was, Lauren!! I have to admit I wasn't exactly awe struck at anything till I saw Madonna…!

  6. 13 July 2016 / 5:47 pm

    Wow! I was at a friend's 11th birthday party on Live Aid day and remember getting goose bumps at the enormity of it all. You look brilliant. Such a lovely tribute and nice that you had the tenacity to keep on searching for it!! Lots of love, Liz xxx http://www.whatlizzyloves.com

    • 14 July 2016 / 11:04 am

      You too were at a birthday party, Liz?!! How funny to think we were doing the same sort of thing on that day all those years ago ;)) Thank you my lovely x

    • 14 July 2016 / 11:03 am

      Thank you Jodie – you're right… I can remember so many outfits from films and TV that I lovingly recreated (especially during the 80s and 90s). This one was a long time coming!! x

  7. 13 July 2016 / 4:38 pm

    Preeeeeeety sure you nailed it, Catherine! I can just picture 13 year old you being awestruck at exactly that outfit. What a great idea for a post, and what a great tribute you've done. xx

    • 14 July 2016 / 11:02 am

      Haha thanks Lisa – weird how we remember this stuff so clearly, isn't it!

    • 14 July 2016 / 11:02 am

      Aww Michelle thank you! The hairstyle's been really popular on social too 😉

  8. 13 July 2016 / 3:33 pm

    I don't love it, but that's all right!! I rly love how you recreated it tho!!!!

    • 14 July 2016 / 11:01 am

      No that's fine sweetie – apparently even Madonna says what she wearing that day was horrible…!! But I'm glad you liked my version, thank you x

  9. 13 July 2016 / 3:24 pm

    Good for you to embrace again your former-teen fashion spark! Way to style the 80's revival in a way true to yourself!

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