Great Outfits in Fashion History: Olivia Newton-John in a Hot Pink Sparkly Catsuit

There are perfectly good celebrity style moments, and then there are the looks that really stick with you, the ones you try desperately to recreate at home. In ‘Great Outfits in Fashion History,’ Fashionista editors are revisiting their all-time favorite lewks. 

The forever fashionable Olivia Newton-John got her start in the 1970s as a singer, and she quickly skyrocketed to superstardom after her role as Sandy, the hopeless romantic-turned-greaser heartthrob, in “Grease”. The British-Australian performer carried the quintessential glamour of the decade into the ’80s when she donned a sparkling hot-pink catsuit during the 1980 taping of her ABC Television special, “Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights.” (H/t to @Mabellonghettl for resurfacing this look recently on Twitter.) She was, and always has been, the moment. 

This crystal-encrusted fringe look was designed by none other than Bob Mackie, the man behind some of the most iconic ensembles worn by stars like Cher, Diana Ross, Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball. Even among her special’s legendary costars, Elton John and Gene Kelly, Newton-John lived up to her status as the star of the show while performing in this shimmering outfit, which caught the light in all the best ways, thanks to the angled designs of the crystals across the bodice.

Newton-John matched her makeup to the vibrancy of her outfit, with bold magenta eyeshadow and a wash of pink blush. Her hair continued the 1980 energy with a bouncy blowout reminiscent of the decade-defining Farrah Fawcett style that highlighted her hair’s layers and beautifully swayed with every move.

See our picks for channeling Newton-John’s show-stopping, sparkling pink look, below.

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