FASHION has always seen boundaries pushed; it's what fashion is all about. But it wasn't really until the 1980's, 1984 to be precise, that one woman took those boundaries, pushed them down and trampled them until they were lying in the dirt. And she didn't stop there.

That woman was born Madonna Louise Ciccone in August 1958, in Bay City, Michigan. Sadly, Madonna wasn't destined to know her mother, Madonna Louise Fortin, for long, as she died of breast cancer when Madonna was only five years old. Her father, Silvio Anthony Ciccone, later re-married their housekeeper Joan Gustafson, causing the intelligent but troubled Madonna to rebel. She would act flirtatiously and lift her skirt to the boys, hinting at the sexually free woman she would grow into.

Madonna always had showed an interest in dance, and after graduating High School she received a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan. However, at the end of 1977, she dropped out and took an enormous leap; with $35 in her pocket, she flew to New York City and began a life on her own, supporting herself through odd jobs and performing with dance troupes, which lead to her forming her first band, The Breakfast Club. However, it was in 1980 with the band Emmy that she finally was spotted, by DJ and record producer Mark Kamins, and through him met Sire Records founder Seymour Stein. And so a star was born.

Madonna's 1982 debut single 'Everybody' was a hit, as were further singles 'Holiday' and 'Borderline'. But it wasn't until her performance of her number one single 'Like a Virgin' at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards that she really started to shake things up. There she was, in full bridal dress atop a giant wedding cake. She then proceeded to tear off the veil, run her hands seductively through her hair and eventually end up writhing provocatively on the stage. This performance sparked complaints from viewers that claimed she was promoting pre-marital sex, but this simply served to shower Madonna with a new popularity, and to put her at the fore-front of sexually liberating women everywhere.

Already her style was beginning to influence women; wavy streaked hair, lace tops over capri pants and the crucifix jewellery became synonymous with the Madonna look. Her streaked hair was what women wanted, and the rubber bracelets and necklaces were very much in fashion. It was thanks to French designer Maripol Fauque that this look came to be. Maripol was raised in France, before moving to New York in 1976. Before she embarked on a career as a film producer, she made a name for herself as a fashion designer and stylist, often known for making jewellery out of synthetic materials such as PVC, and she is also credited with creating Madonna's famous 'Boy Toy' belt.

And that was just one of Madonna's many looks. Throughout the '90s she re-invented herself again, and caused yet more controversy with her vampish fetish look that can be seen in her videos for 'Human Nature' and 'Erotica', and of course she is responsible for the underwear as outerwear craze that still revives itself today. Madonna's look changes with the wind, and it's safe to say that she shocked, obliterated sexual boundaries and made pop music and fashion largely what it is today. Phew.