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 she害羞草研究所檚 been the queen of Quebecois music for decades, the 害羞草研究所淢y Heart Will Go On害羞草研究所� 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 Vogue害羞草研究所檚 popular Instagram 害羞草研究所減hoto booth.害羞草研究所�
She also yanked off her high heel and pretended to use it as a phone. Everything she did pulsated with vibrancy 害羞草研究所� and a touch of silliness 害羞草研究所� at an event where attendees often take themselves too seriously.
Not long afterwards, some voices in the fashion industry started proclaiming 2017 as 害羞草研究所渢he year of Celine Dion,害羞草研究所� as the Met photos went viral and sent gossip pages into a tizzy.
The Met Gala also proved the 49-year-old performer wasn害羞草研究所檛 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 害羞草研究所� 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.
害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 really wanted to pour her heart and soul 害羞草研究所� into something she害羞草研究所檚 passionate about 害羞草研究所� and that is fashion,害羞草研究所� Eastwood says.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 part of her re-emergence as an independent woman.害羞草研究所�
Searching for inspiration in the world of haute couture 害羞草研究所� the glamorous looks that grace runways 害羞草研究所� isn害羞草研究所檛 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 wasn害羞草研究所檛 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 害羞草研究所淭itanic,害羞草研究所� coupled with distressed jeans and Gucci sandals.
害羞草研究所淚t was hailed by many as her official debut in the world of fashion or certainly current fashion,害羞草研究所� Eastwood says.
The concept was imagined by Law Roach, the 害羞草研究所渋mage architect害羞草研究所� who has played a key role in helping Dion enter the fashion world. As the story goes, Dion first noticed Roach害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淚 had it for a while but I didn害羞草研究所檛 show it to her because I thought she would think it was corny,害羞草研究所� Roach says, adding Dion was instantly attracted to the kitsch and insisted on wearing it immediately.
害羞草研究所淎s the days went on I started to introduce her to new brands 害羞草研究所� and one day I mustered up the courage and showed it to her.害羞草研究所�
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 害羞草研究所淐eline Dion害羞草研究所� branded collection she began selling this summer.
Afiya Francisco, a Toronto-based style expert, compliments Roach for enhancing Dion害羞草研究所檚 fashion sense.
害羞草研究所淚t showed that she was adventurous,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淚f you don害羞草研究所檛 have the attitude sometimes that can really fall flat.害羞草研究所�
The singer has described her foray into haute couture as a source of joy after the death of her husband. She害羞草研究所檚 also credited Roach with inspiring her creativity.
害羞草研究所淭o me, that was the ultimate payoff, to have such a small part in the healing,害羞草研究所� says Roach.
害羞草研究所淪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.害羞草研究所�
Roach says Dion害羞草研究所檚 vast knowledge of the industry often astounds him.
害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 also a bit of a fashion historian,害羞草研究所� he says.
害羞草研究所淭he things she can reference and pull up. She害羞草研究所檚 like, 害羞草研究所楪ive me a minute, I know I have it.害羞草研究所� And she害羞草研究所檒l go through like books of tear sheets (from old magazines)害羞草研究所�. She knows what she wants and what she likes, but she害羞草研究所檚 also very open to learning new things.害羞草研究所�
Dion害羞草研究所檚 move into the fashion industry could also give her pop music career a boost. It害羞草研究所檚 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, she害羞草研究所檚 confident Dion is simply tapping into another outlet for her own happiness.
害羞草研究所淚 can guarantee you that she couldn害羞草研究所檛 care less personally about making an impact on social media,害羞草研究所� she says.
害羞草研究所淚t doesn害羞草研究所檛 feel like she害羞草研究所檚 trying too hard害羞草研究所�. It may have a different audience paying attention to what she害羞草研究所檚 doing now, (but) that害羞草研究所檚 the power fashion and style has.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淔ashion, nowadays, absolutely has the ability to define a career 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 really important and part of the package,害羞草研究所� she says.
害羞草研究所淚f a new album were to drop, she has everybody害羞草研究所檚 attention already.害羞草研究所�
David Friend, The Canadian Press
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