Cher’s status as one of the world’s most legendary performers of stage and screen shined through once again when one of her iconic costumes sold for more than two-times than originally estimated at auction.

With over 200 lots up for grabs on Thursday during the Julien’s Auctions Bold Luxury: The Limelight Edit, based in Beverly Hills, bidding turned into a fierce battle at times.

One of the highlights of the glitzy event turned out to be the Cher, stage-worn If I Could Turn Back Time costume, designed by Bob Mackie, that sparked controversy back in the day.

The revealing ensemble, which was first featured in the music video for her hit 1989 song, features a black, figure-hugging bodysuit, also dubbed a catsuit, with mesh cutouts, that was often paired with a black leather jacket and knee-high boots.

Originally estimated to sell for between $60,000 and $80,000, a ‘heated bidding war’ erupted during the exhilarating live and online auction, ultimately resulting in the Cher ensemble selling for a whopping $162,500.

The Limelight Edit — a curated collection of iconic pieces — also featured items once worn by such stars as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Victoria Beckham, Amy Winehouse, and Britney Spears, along with high-fashion from the likes of Hermès, Chanel, Giambattista Valli and more.

Cher’s iconic, stage-worn If I Could Turn Back Time costume just sold for a whopping $162,500, which was more than two-times than estimated at Juliens Auctions

After debuting in the If I Could Turn Back Time music video, which was sH๏τ on board of the battleship USS Missouri, where it showed her straddling a cannon and her tattooed ʙuттocks, the revealing number set off a wave of controversy.

In fact, some military personnel condemned the video, directed by the late Marty Callner, while other family groups protested against its broadcast, because they deemed it offensive for the Navy.

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In the wake of those protests many television networks refused to show it due to the singer’s revealing outfit, including MTV in July 1989.

Eventually the mᴀssive music television network amended the move by allowing the video to be shown only after 9 pm, but by then Cher was already reaping the rewards of the controversy as a must see. 

The pop rock, or soft rock, song was written specifically for Cher by Diane Warren, who produced it in collaboration with Guy Roche.

Featuring instrumentation from guitars, piano and drums, it received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who applauded its overall production and Cher’s vocal performance.

Some critics and fans even considered it to be a highlight of her Heart Of Stone (1989) studio album, which was the nineteenth at that point in her career.

Commercially, Heart of Stone turned out to be a milestone for her when it reached number 10 in the United States, which was a first for her as a solo artist.

The revealing ensemble was first featured in the music video for her hit 1989 song If I Could Turn Back Time, which was written for Cher by Diane Warren

The ensemble features a black, figure-hugging bodysuit, also dubbed a catsuit, with mesh cutouts, that was often paired with a black leather jacket and knee-high boots

In the wake of protests over the revealing number, many television networks refused to show the If I Could Turn Back Time music video, including MTV, in July 1989; she is seen in 2010

Cher had the last say on all the controversy when If I Could Turn Back Time became a big hit around the world; she even reprised the eye-catching outfit for her concert in 2014

The album would also top the charts in Australia and rise as high as number seven in the UK.

If I Could Turn Back Time, as a song, peaked at number three on the Billboard H๏τ 100 and became Cher’s first number-one hit in Australia, while reaching the top 10 in countries such as in Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Over the years the Grammy and Oscar winner has made a habit of performing in the Bob Mackie design that included her 2002 Farewell Tour, the 2010 MTV Music Video Awards and her 2014 tour.

First gaining fame in 1965 as part of the Sonny & Cher husband-wife duo, Cher (born Cheryl Sarkisian), now 78, has gone on to have a mᴀssive career as a singer, performer, and actress for more than six decades.