Celine Dion’s fashion evolution: From Dior diva at Olympics to channelling Madonna’s style in the ’90s

Celine Dion has made an extraordinary impact in music over the past four decades.

From her powerful vocals and creating best-selling albums in both English and French, to inspiring generations of artists and featuring on the soundtracks of some of pop culture’s most iconic movies, including Beauty and the Beast (1991), Deadpool 2 (2018) and of course, Titanic (1997), she has cemented herself as a global household name.

The Canadian singer has also made an impact in the fashion space: she has always had a penchant for gracing the stage and events in stylish ensembles, as well as revealing in her 2024 Netflix documentary—I Am: Celine Dion—her extensive collection of clothes, shoes and accessories.

To celebrate her triumphant return to live performing after a four-year hiatus, closing out the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony by singing from the Eiffel Tower and in a stunning Dior ensemble to boot, we look at her style transformation over the years.

1990: Cool and curly

Celine Dion in 1990 (Photo: Instagram / @celinedion)

When Dion released her first English-language album, Unison, in 1990, she was sporting bold curls, high-waisted denim jeans and black bedazzled tops. The look was reminiscent of Madonna’s style when she emerged on the music scene in the 1980s and reflected the dance-meets-soft-rock spirit of the album that took inspiration from the decade.

1992: Elegant soft-glam

Celine Dion in 1992 (Photo: Instagram / @celinedion)

Dion embraced a soft, elegant style that was popular during the early ’90s and leant into cosy yet chic fabrics in shades of pale neutrals for the release of her eponymous 11th album. The result was a glamorous look that exuded a touch of romance—highlighting the nature of her music.

1997: ’90s minimalism meets ’60s chic

Celine Dion in 1997 (Photo: Instagram / @celinedion)

The ’90s was a time for minimalist dressing—thanks to brands such as Calvin Klein and Jil Sander—as well as ’60s nostalgia—as seen at Versace and Valentino. Dion nailed both styles with the release of her 1997 album, Falling Into You, where she wore silk skirt suits and sleek and slinky dresses and nodded to the supermodel era with an editorial shoot merging her love of clothes with music.

2003: Bringing suits on stage

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Dion began her first residency at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2003, and it ran until 2007. She not only put the concept of long-term residency on the map, inspiring the likes of Britney Spears and Lady Gaga to follow suit in later years, but it was also the most successful residency of that time, drawing three million attendees over 717 shows and grossing more than US$565 million.

On opening night, she made a bold statement with a short haircut and ultra high-waisted tuxedo trousers and suspenders over a white button-up shirt for a more androgynous performance look à la Marlene Dietrich.

2012: Studio sleek

Celine Dion with Ne-Yo in 2012 (Photo: Instagram / @celinedion)

Dion shared a photo from 2012 on Instagram with fellow artist Ne-Yo, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at their collaboration on the song Incredible. Even while working, the singer showed her timeless sense of style, wearing a practical boiler suit with the sleeves and hems cuffed for some definition, and of course, a pair of heels.

2017: Working with Law Roach

Celine Dion in 2017 (Photo: Instagram / @celinedion)

Celine Dion in 2018 (Photo: Instagram / @celinedion)

Dion took a step in the streetwear direction when she started working regularly with celebrity stylist Law Roach—who today is best known for his close collaboration with Zendaya. Roach’s collab with Dion started in 2017 when she wore a vintage Titanic sweatshirt with a pair of jeans, which went viral, and then turned into pattern-forward and streetwear-inspired ensembles that included luxury brands such as Jimmy Choo, Balmain and Off-White.

2019: Full camp at the Met Gala

Celine Dion at the 2019 Met Gala (Photo: Instagram / @celinedion)

The theme of the 2019 Met Gala wasCamp: Notes on Fashion, which threw many attendees for a loop, however, Dion nailed it with her fabulously bedazzled champagne Oscar de la Renta bodysuit—adorned with 3,000 beaded strands of fringe—and a golden peacock feather headdress by milliner Noel Stewart. The look harked back to Old Hollywood-meets-Las Vegas showgirl glamour, and the artist embraced her role perfectly.

2020: Mugler magic

Celine Dion in 2020 (Photo: Instagram / @celinedion)

Archival Mugler can be hard to come by, as pieces shared with celebrities have to be approved by their team. Fashion maven Dion, who has great relationships with many a luxury house, sported a futuristic golden bodysuit from its Haute Couture Fall 1995 collection in a photoshoot she shared in 2020, and emphasised the beauty of its craftsmanship by only accessorising with sleek, straight hair and her toned figure. The piece has also been worn by the likes of Beyoncé in her 2009 music video for Sweet Dreams and model Irina Shayk for a Glamour magazine cover in 2019.

2024: Glittering in Dior on the Eiffel Tower

Celine Dion in 2024 (Photo: Instagram / @celinedion)

Dion had to take a break from performing live due to having developed a rare condition called stiff-person syndrome, which she bravely shared in her recent Netflix documentary I Am: Celine Dion. That made her recent performance at the end of the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony all the more impactful—and the fact she sang from the Eiffel Tower in a stunning Dior look was the cherry on top. The gown was made of white silk and embroidered with over 500 metres of silver-beaded fringes, which took over a thousand hours of work.

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