Céline Dion’s Fashion Evolution: From ’90s Icon to Vetements’ Latest Darling

Date March 30, 2017

Much has been made about Céline Dion’s recent appearances during Couture Week in Paris. And for good reason: Canada’s most famous export (over 30) has been looking damn good lately, and we don’t mean that in the “we love and respect you,” kind of way. We mean it profoundly: Seeing her in that oversized Vetements Titanic sweatshirt last year was the culmination of so much ’90s nostalgia that it was more satisfying than this. It was also the result of some pretty badass work by Law Roach, stylist to the likes of Ariana Grande and Ruby Rose.

Roach, who rightly describes himself as an “image architect” was specifically contacted by Dion’s team after the Grammy-winning icon became smitten with Zendaya, another one of his clients.”She started to follow Zendaya’s style and one of the things she said was, ‘She’s so sophisticated.’ Like, the things she wears, I can wear at my age,” he told Pret-a-Reporter.

For years, Dion represented a kind of “elevated basic,” a term I just made up to describe a salon mom who still got a good body but aims for conventional prettiness over fashion forwardness any day. She clung to the basics: glitter, body-con and Victoria’s Secret curls. It was never bad, but it was never particularly good either.

So, how exactly does one transcend a world of Vegas-worthy body con and move into Vetements territory in the blink of an eye? Take a tour through Céline Dion’s decades-spanning fashion evolution.

1991: Dion celebrates selling over 1 million records in the U.K. at the Kensington Roof Gardens in London wearing a sheer peplum button up with puffy sleeves.

In the video for her first major English language single, “The Power of Love,” Dion sports a very trendy series of negligees while caressing her own clavicle.

Photography by Darlene Hammond/Getty Images

January 28, 1991: There’s little information about this excellent image, but it’s safe to say that Céline could have easily appeared on an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (as Naomi Campbell’s sidekick, obviously) in this epic metallic getup.

February 25, 1992: This dark day in brow history was also the day Céline won her second Grammy for “Falling Into You” at the 34th annual awards show. She wears black pants and a sequin tank with a red ribbon over her heart.

January 30, 1995: Céline trying the out the pixie cute look and succeeding at the 22nd Annual American Music Award. She dons a blue sparkly mini dress with metallic heels.

December 4, 1995: Céline performs at the Bercy concert hall in a Matrix-inspired ensemble.

1995: Céline wears a gold one-shoulder gown and rhinestone choker to the 7th Annual Billboard Music Awards.

February 26, 1997: She wears a sheer brown gown with a halter neckline at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards.

March 24, 1997: Céline wears a Chanel couture dress with silver, pewter and white stones to the 69th Annual Academy Awards.

April 10, 1998: Céline is obviously trying something very new (and very ’80s) while performing “Treat Her Like A Lady” at the 1998 Essence Awards. A lady in pants! Fresh.

December 10, 2003: Céline wears a canary yellow Roberto Cavalli cut-out gown from his Spring 2004 RTW collection to the 2003 Billboard Music Awards.

March 21, 1999: Céline wears a white Dior suit by John Galliano, which was specifically designed to be worn backwards to the 71st Annual Academy Awards. She accessorizes with a white Dior fedora and black sunglasses.

Photography by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Contributor

May 22, 2016: Céline poses with her Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards in Vegas. Wearing a beautiful one shoulder iridescent gown with a split up to her thigh by Russian designer Valentin Yudashkin.

Photography by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Dior

July 4,2016: Céline wears an all black ensemble to the 2016 Dior fashion show in Paris.

Photography by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

July 4, 2016: Céline posing at the Giambattista Valli fashion show in Paris. Wearing a Giambattista Valli gown with a pink Roger Vivier bag by her side.