Celine Dion’s Absolutely Fabulous Mission to Outdress the World

Music snobs have long turned up their noses at Celine Dion’s cheesy pop songs about love and faith, her earnestness and theatricality, all of it too sentimental and middlebrow and profoundly uncool.

Sure, her love ballads may not be as musically or lyrically complex as, say, Nick Cave’s. But they are unpretentious, unapologetic, and authentic—much like Dion herself, who is finally getting the cool-girl recognition she deserves at least among fashion aesthetes.

Dion has always worn couture during performances and at awards shows, but her flamboyant style has been on steroids lately in the best way, particularly at the couture shows in Paris last week (she’s also been performing there as part of her “mini-tour” of Europe).

Celine Dion is on a dramatic and bold one-woman mission to revel in style, and make the world revel in it with her.

The 49-year-old Canadian singer drew comparisons to Lady Gaga this week when she stepped out in a dramatic, head-to-toe white ensemble—perforated cape, wide-brimmed hat worn over a headscarf—from Ralph & Russo’s fall 2016 couture collection.

Vogue followed Dion around the Paris couture shows for an Instragram series with the hashtag #celinetakescouture.

She was photographed on a balcony overlooking the Place Vendôme in a shimmery white Schiaparelli dress embroidered with Swarovski chainmail, which she paired with knee-high, lace-up white boots; emerging from her car outside the Dior show in oversized gold sunglasses and a belted, mustard yellow midi-dress (one of her more understated looks); naked on a chair while changing between shows, her arms and legs strategically crossed for a look that’s more R-rated than XXX.

Part of Dion’s emergence as one of fashion’s favorite and most unlikely It Girls of the moment is owed to her stylist, Law Roach, whom she began working with last year after marveling at the looks Roach chose for young starlets like Zendaya and Ariana Grande.

“I always loved Paris Couture,” Dion said last year in a hilariously eccentric appearance alongside Kathie Lee Gifford on the Today show, when she filled in for Hoda Kotb. “What I’m realizing is that I want to play. I want to enjoy life… And I realize that there’s no age for fashion and to play with clothes.”

But the clothes don’t make the woman. Dion is stylish and cool because she has a theatrical, uplifting disposition and isn’t afraid of being mocked.

When she stepped out in a Vetements hoodie emblazoned with a photo of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic, for example, she signaled that she’s both on-trend—in-the-know about one of fashion’s hippest brands—and that doesn’t give a damn if you hated her infamous theme song for the film.

That her fashion choices lately are as outlandish and theatrical as Dion, both the artist and the woman, makes her infinitely cooler than the music snobs out there. Enjoy the best of them here.

Getty

In her all-white Ralph & Russo runway look earlier this week, complete with an oversized hat that dwarves Lady Gaga’s wide-brimmed fedoras.

Getty

Dion is Yves Saint Laurent’s disco cowgirl in a studded black jacket, pants, and megawatt sparkly boots by the designer.

Getty

Part Aubrey Hepburn and part Carrie Bradshaw in a top by Dice Kayek, trousers by Celine, Tom Ford stilettos and a bag from her own fashion line.

Getty

Dion stole the Giambattista Valli haute couture show last week in a flirty, funfetti-colored dress and burgundy thigh-high boots.

Splash

Looking somewhat like an Easter basket in an embellished coat and emerald green trousers by Gucci.

Splash

Dion steps out of her hotel in late June wearing a full-length python coat by Balmain, suede pants, and a graphic tee that looks like it came from Axl Rose’s closet.

Getty

The singer goes full-on flower power in a Roberto Cavalli trench coat, matching blazer and wide-leg pants.