Céline Dion Makes Her Grand Return in a Couture Wardrobe

Saturday night marked a major moment for Céline Dion, as she returned to the stage for the first time in six years to open her Céline Dion Paris 2026-2027 residency at Plénitude Arena.

Performing to a sold-out crowd of 35,000, Céline opened with On ne change pas before moving through a set that included Because You Loved Me, Dans un autre monde, Courage, It’s All Coming Back to Me Now and Dansons.

But this wasn’t only a musical comeback. Stylist Annie Horth worked with Dior, Alaïa, Schiaparelli, Tom Ford and Givenchy on a wardrobe that celebrated couture past and present, with several looks drawing directly from fashion history.

A Dior Archive Revival

Céline opened her couture wardrobe in a black Dior mousseline and organza column dress by Jonathan Anderson, featuring a pleated bustier and dramatic corolla-effect waist basque.

The reference to Christian Dior’s 1949 Poulenc taffeta gown is immediately apparent. Interestingly, this isn’t the first recent revival of the design, as Maria Grazia Chiuri also looked to Poulenc for Jennifer Lawrence’s Dior Haute Couture gown at Cannes in 2025.

While Jennifer’s version stayed closer to the romantic spirit of the original, Jonathan Anderson has taken the pleating, strapless bodice and sculpted volume at the hips in a different direction for Céline, creating something that feels right for her and, importantly, right for the stage.

Her Boucheron The Address necklace from the 2026 Histoire de Style High Jewelry collection features a 10.01-carat diamond, giving this moment an incredible finishing touch.

Sculpted Alaïa

Céline’s custom Alaïa ensemble, comprising a moulded leather bustier and velvet-knit mermaid skirt, bears a strong connection to Azzedine Alaïa’s Spring 2003 work through the sculpted leather bodice, but the result feels entirely contemporary.

I love the contrast between the rigid, almost armour-like bustier and the long black skirt. This was by far my favourite of all these looks.

Schiaparelli History Reworked

Daniel Roseberry looked to both recent and archival Schiaparelli for Céline’s custom black Haute Couture look. Its embellished, curving borders recall a design from the Spring 2025 Haute Couture collection, which itself referenced an Elsa Schiaparelli jacket from 1937.

That lineage makes this one of the most interesting pieces in the wardrobe. The exaggerated shoulders and winding embellishment are made for a theatrical moment.

Tom Ford After Dark

Céline’s Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann look took the high slit from the Fall 2025 runway and reworked it into a dark, sequinned stage gown.

This is perhaps the most straightforwardly glamorous look of the collection, but Haider’s asymmetric approach keeps it interesting. The exposed leg creates a strong silhouette, while the sequins come alive under the stage lighting. You may remember that Jurnee Smollett wore the yellow runway version back in October.

The Final Reveal

Sarah Burton’s custom Givenchy dusty-pink shredded-organza embroidered cape brought the drama to the stage. The sheer scale of the cape makes sense in this setting.

The silver embroidered cut-out Givenchy dress underneath ensured there was just as much to appreciate once the outer layer came off.

This dress immediately reminded me of Look 30 from Sarah Burton’s Alexander McQueen Fall 2023 collection. So while other designers looked back through the history of their respective houses for Céline’s wardrobe, Burton appeared to revisit a chapter from her own design history.

The Céline Dion Paris 2026-2027 engagement runs through mid-October, with an additional 10 dates scheduled for May 2027. For additional information, please visit celinedion.com.