Many celebrities walked the 2017 Met Gala carpet earlier this year in outlandish styles, but only Celine Dion used the moment to propel her transformation into a fashion maven.
While sheB次元官网网址檚 been the queen of Quebecois music for decades, the B次元官网网址淢y Heart Will Go OnB次元官网网址� powerhouse strutted onto the New York fashion scene in May with surprising confidence and swagger. Dressed in an Atelier Versace gown, she mugged with hip hop trio Migos and slinked like a lioness across the floor for VogueB次元官网网址檚 popular Instagram B次元官网网址減hoto booth.B次元官网网址�
She also yanked off her high heel and pretended to use it as a phone. Everything she did pulsated with vibrancy B次元官网网址� and a touch of silliness B次元官网网址� at an event where attendees often take themselves too seriously.
Not long afterwards, some voices in the fashion industry started proclaiming 2017 as B次元官网网址渢he year of Celine Dion,B次元官网网址� as the Met photos went viral and sent gossip pages into a tizzy.
The Met Gala also proved the 49-year-old performer wasnB次元官网网址檛 defeated by the events of 2016, an emotionally draining year that saw her lose both husband and manager Rene Angelil as well as her brother Daniel to cancer B次元官网网址� within the course of a week.
The deaths left a void in her life but also convinced Dion to forge ahead, suggests Alison Eastwood, editor-in-chief at Hello Canada.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 really wanted to pour her heart and soul B次元官网网址� into something sheB次元官网网址檚 passionate about B次元官网网址� and that is fashion,B次元官网网址� Eastwood says.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 part of her re-emergence as an independent woman.B次元官网网址�
Searching for inspiration in the world of haute couture B次元官网网址� the glamorous looks that grace runways B次元官网网址� isnB次元官网网址檛 entirely foreign to Dion. In recent years, she slipped into designer threads as part of her flashy Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace.
But getting credit as a fashion influencer was mostly new territory for the singer in 2017.
Years ago, Dion was better known for her clothing missteps, like the backwards pantsuit she wore to the Oscars in 1999 which divided critics. Other clothing choices were less inspired and sometimes called safe and undistinguished.
It wasnB次元官网网址檛 until the performer strolled onto the streets of Paris in the summer of 2016 that heads really started to turn. Her outfit that made a statement: a Vetements hoodie bearing images from the 1997 blockbuster B次元官网网址淭itanic,B次元官网网址� coupled with distressed jeans and Gucci sandals.
B次元官网网址淚t was hailed by many as her official debut in the world of fashion or certainly current fashion,B次元官网网址� Eastwood says.
The concept was imagined by Law Roach, the B次元官网网址渋mage architectB次元官网网址� who has played a key role in helping Dion enter the fashion world. As the story goes, Dion first noticed RoachB次元官网网址檚 styling on young actress Zendaya Coleman, who was stealing attention on awards show red carpets.
Roach ran into Dion at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards and they hit it off instantly. Within a couple of days, the pair was collaborating on big ideas, like putting her into the now famous hoodie.
B次元官网网址淚 had it for a while but I didnB次元官网网址檛 show it to her because I thought she would think it was corny,B次元官网网址� Roach says, adding Dion was instantly attracted to the kitsch and insisted on wearing it immediately.
B次元官网网址淎s the days went on I started to introduce her to new brands B次元官网网址� and one day I mustered up the courage and showed it to her.B次元官网网址�
By 2017, the partnership between Roach and Dion had really clicked. Paparazzi and fashion magazines documented her every move as she began stepping out at Parisian hotels draped in show-stopping designs.
Dion ignited chatter by wearing a white Ralph & Russo cape and matching pantsuit topped with a wide-brimmed hat, and she also won praises for coupling a Dice Kayek blouse detailed with a giant black bow with high-waisted pants and Tom Ford heels.
Many of the looks were coupled with handbags from the B次元官网网址淐eline DionB次元官网网址� branded collection she began selling this summer.
Afiya Francisco, a Toronto-based style expert, compliments Roach for enhancing DionB次元官网网址檚 fashion sense.
B次元官网网址淚t showed that she was adventurous,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚f you donB次元官网网址檛 have the attitude sometimes that can really fall flat.B次元官网网址�
The singer has described her foray into haute couture as a source of joy after the death of her husband. SheB次元官网网址檚 also credited Roach with inspiring her creativity.
B次元官网网址淭o me, that was the ultimate payoff, to have such a small part in the healing,B次元官网网址� says Roach.
B次元官网网址淪he was with Rene for so long and loved him so much that she will never ever not mourn (him). But the fact she credited (our work) in Paris that summer as part of the healing process was so overwhelming to me.B次元官网网址�
Roach says DionB次元官网网址檚 vast knowledge of the industry often astounds him.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 also a bit of a fashion historian,B次元官网网址� he says.
B次元官网网址淭he things she can reference and pull up. SheB次元官网网址檚 like, B次元官网网址楪ive me a minute, I know I have it.B次元官网网址� And sheB次元官网网址檒l go through like books of tear sheets (from old magazines)B次元官网网址�. She knows what she wants and what she likes, but sheB次元官网网址檚 also very open to learning new things.B次元官网网址�
DionB次元官网网址檚 move into the fashion industry could also give her pop music career a boost. ItB次元官网网址檚 been rumoured she could release new English-language material in 2018.
Eastwood rebuffs suggestions that Dion has simply been trying to stoke buzz for a new album and her fashion lines. She says after interviewing the singer a number of times, sheB次元官网网址檚 confident Dion is simply tapping into another outlet for her own happiness.
B次元官网网址淚 can guarantee you that she couldnB次元官网网址檛 care less personally about making an impact on social media,B次元官网网址� she says.
B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 feel like sheB次元官网网址檚 trying too hardB次元官网网址�. It may have a different audience paying attention to what sheB次元官网网址檚 doing now, (but) thatB次元官网网址檚 the power fashion and style has.B次元官网网址�
Eastwood also predicts that Dion is only getting started with her grand aspirations and could surprise the world by stepping onto a catwalk during Milan Fashion Week in February.
Whatever is next for Dion, Francisco expects her style choices will continue to work in her favour in the coming months.
B次元官网网址淔ashion, nowadays, absolutely has the ability to define a career B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 really important and part of the package,B次元官网网址� she says.
B次元官网网址淚f a new album were to drop, she has everybodyB次元官网网址檚 attention already.B次元官网网址�
David Friend, The Canadian Press
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