How Celine Dion Became Couture's Unexpected Fashion Darling

 Less than a month ago, the only Celine that mattered in fashion was the brand led by the painfully chic, understated Phoebe Philo. But there's been a strange and unexpected U-turn in recent weeks – enter Celine Dion who has become summer's most talked-about style icon. Her recent tour saw her in Demna Gvasalia's Balenciaga; back in May she attended fashion's big party, the Met Gala; and, most recently, she was seen enthusiastically applauding at the recent couture shows in Paris. The Dionaissance is real.

As a consummate showgirl, Dion has always loved fashion. In fact for the past five years, she's nearly exclusively worn couture for her own performances – from Schiaparelli to Versace. But her status as an avant-garde style maverick is entirely new.

This is how she did it.

She's wearing buzzy labels

While Dion has shown a commitment to couture before, her interest in left-field labels has earned her serious style kudos. We're talking about her love of Balenciaga, Vetements, Givenchy, Balmain and Off-White. For a commercial celebrity known for power ballad, this was an unexpected twist.

Related article: Tracking Celine Dion's Stylish Comeback 

She's hired a relevant stylist

Dion hired Law Roach a year ago, who introduced her to the avant-garde designers she's worn of late. She contacted the self-described"image architect" after seeing his work with Zendaya, who he also styles. "Fashion is supposed to be polarising," Roach said. "Everybody's not supposed to like everything you do. If that does happen, it's boring for me."

Fashion loves irony and nostalgia

Drake recently called Dion an "icon" and said he wanted to get a tattoo of her. There's nothing hipsters and indeed the fashion world love more than irony – just look at the popularity of Vetements' Bieber merch hoodies and their sell-out DHL T-shirts. Last year, Dion endorsed the brand and showed her sense of humour by wearing one of its oversized Titanic hoodies. Her recent London show dates were attended not only by middle-aged men and women, but also by twenty-somethings who enjoy the nostalgia and irony in listening to such mainstream music.

Related article: Celine Dion Is The Front Row Cheerleader Fashion Never Knew It Needed

She's the smiling enthusiastic opposite of the fashion industry

The fashion world has a reputation for being a little po-faced – restraint, minimalism and seriousness are all key if you want to be part of the industry's echelons. Dion is the polar opposite. Her reaction to Giambattista Valli's show finale is case in point. Positioned next to the coolly solemn Anna Wintour, the singer jumped up and down whooping and threw herself round the designer as he took his post-show bow.  Refreshingly, she couldn't care less about looking 'cool' or fitting in, which is perhaps what makes her 'cool'. This is the woman who created a fragrance that smelt of wet dog because, inexplicably, it's her favourite smell. Dion is unapologetically herself – enthusiastic, eccentric and fun.

 She is obsessed with fashion 

A recent interview uncovered the depth of Dion's interest and dedication to fashion. She keeps a master file divided into mini files of pages torn from magazines, circles looks from collections' special issues, turns down pages, and gets annoyed when a look or accessory is not produced and the sample is un-buyable. Dion has an encyclopedic knowledge of fashion.

She doesn't do casual

Imagine Dion in tracksuit bottoms and a baggy T-shirt. You can't because it would never happen. Like Lady Gaga and Rihanna, her wardrobe choices are bold, big and dramatic. They don't dress like mortals; they're pop stars and dress accordingly.

Related article: 29 Times Rihanna Was An Absoute Goddess At The Red Carpet

She refuses to 'dress for her age'

Dion is 49, which in fashion terms is over-the-hill, regardless of how many token mature women luxury labels cast in their campaigns. It would be patronising to congratulate Dion for wearing thigh-high Balenciaga boots and leather Dior dress because of her age. It's not mad to think that anyone over the age of 30 is buying luxury items – after all, they're the people with the salaries to afford them. Nonetheless, it's glorious to see a 49-year-old refuse to conform to the ageist expectations of her.

She's a survivor

Dion's long-standing manager and husband of 21 years died of cancer in January 2016, following three years of having a feeding tube in his stomach. She abandoned her work in 2014 to care for him full-time, while tending to her three children. When he died, she showed them the animated film Up to help make sense of their loss – explaining that their house would stay on earth while there father went "up" with his loving home metaphorically protecting him. Dion has not had an easy ride, which helps us emphathise and relate to her despite her iconic status. We're all rooting for her.

From: Harper's BAZAAR UK