All You Want for Christmas: Mariah Carey’s Style Evolution

Fresh off signing with record label Columbia and about to release her debut album, young Mariah Carey was a fresh face in the industry and definitely working to find her voice — and signature style persona — in the music scene. From one diva to another, check out Beyonce’s style evolution.

Rocking some serious hardware, Mariah Carey dazzled in black mini dress with embellished straps and her signature ringlet curls while attending the 1991 Grammy Awards in New York City. With a fresh face and minimal accessories, this stripped-down version of the would-be diva was a good look.

In shimmery stockings and a sparkly mini dress, Mariah Carey’s award at the AMA’s wasn’t the only bling on deck. This full-on glam styling was definitely a sign of things to come for the billboard-climbing diva on the rise.

Another songstress who can be described as anything but a wallflower, check out Lady Gaga’s style evolution.

1993 was a busy year for Mariah Carey, who not only released her third studio album, Music Box, but also got hitched to her music producer Tommy Motola. The dress — oh, the dress! — was a Vera Wang creation fit for a princess, and, in fact, said to have been inspired by the one and only late Lady Diana. We love how over-the-top and distinctly Mariah the whole look was, from her dress and headpiece, down to the overflowing bridal bouquet.

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Shrunken sweater? Check. Belted Levi’s? Check? Candycanes? Check. Best Christmas album ever? Double check. 1994 will forever go down in history as the year fans were gifted with the greatest holiday gift ever: Mariah Carey’s Christmas Album. We are not worthy, Mariah!

See where Mariah Carey ranks on our list of the richest singers (as of 2020).

Mariah Carey may recall her chart-topping track hit with Boyz II Men as the highlight of her year in 1996, but we’re still gaga over this amazing dress she wore to the opening of the Giorgio Armani flagship store opening in New York City.

Newly-separated from Tommy Motola, Mariah Carey stepped onto the red carpet for the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards and made it very clear she wasn’t going to be shying away from the spotlight anytime soon. In a daring tummy-baring two-piece outfit, Carey ensured all eyes were definitely on her.

Collaborating with Whitney Houston and performing alongside the biggest divas of the day on VH1, there’s no doubt 1998 was a good year for Mariah Carey, who was making metallic mini-dresses her signature style.

Swapping the glamorous gowns and sequins for low-rise jeans and crop-tops, Mariah Carey took a more casual stance in her style during the reign of her Rainbow album n 1999. While we loved the casual-Carey phase, we knew it couldn’t last…

Mariah may have been the queen of 90’s glam, but Winona Ryder’s style evolution proves she had a lock on the title of queen of 90’s grunge.

A few more albums in, with some hits — and some highly-publicized misses — Mariah Carey pulled out all the stops (and sparkles) when she opened her tour for Charm Bracelet in 2003.

Attending Oprah Winfrey’s Host the Legends Ball in 2005, Mariah Carey stepped out in a strapless ballgown with a dramatic fur trim detail. Over the top? Totally. Flattering? Not quite… but did she pull it off? She’s Mariah — so of course!

Another red-carper risk taker — check out JLo’s style evolution.

This couple loved to coordinate — from red — carpet ensembles to Halloween costumes (that epic milk and cookies duo costume!) and all the off-duty outfits in-between, Mariah Carey and new hubby Nick Cannon seemed like a perfect match. The two were married at Carey’s vacation house in the Bahamas in 2008, and while Carey didn’t say “I do” in a bikini during their tropical wedding, she did opt for a surprisingly understated white dress.

With each passing year, Mariah Carey’s style and sense of drama has only grown bigger. In 2010, she performed in concert at Fox Theatre in Detroit, opening her performance in an elaborate tiered gold gown, and appearing on stage sitting on an embellished rope swing — because, why not?

From the music industry’s biggest glamour girl to everyone’s favourite “girl next door”, check out Jennifer Aniston’s style evolution.

Having given birth to twins just six months prior, a no-longer-pregnant Mariah Carey stunned in red while announcing her role as the new Jenny Craig brand ambassador. Having spent the majority of her pregnancy ducking the spotlight, Carey looked radiant as ever, and was all smiles while back in her element on the red carpet.

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As in love as ever, new parents Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon attend a photocall for their wedding vows renewal ceremony in Paris in 2012. Keeping it as glamorous as ever, Carey opts for a white satin fishtail gown with belted bow detail to mark the occasion.

On the complete opposite end of the style spectrum, check out the effortlessly-cool style evolution of Kristen Stewart.

Sustaining an arm injury in 2013 while filming a music video, Mariah Carey decided to make the best of things and jazz up her cast with this studded leather sling. Only Mariah… We should tell you, the sling-styling didn’t end here. Think: sequin sling, fuzzy faux-fur sling… the list goes on.

After her ex-hubby Nick Cannon filed for divorce in 2014 (finalized in 2016), Mariah Carey went on to date, become engaged to — and then split from – Australian billionaire James Packer. Through all the relationship ups and downs of the past few years, none of it seemed to influence Carey’s dramatic sense of style, which only seemed to amplify in wow-factor. In Vegas to premiere her DJ set at nightclub venue 1 OAK, Carey wore thigh-high stockings, a leather jacket and not much else.

Staying true to her signature style while absolutely nailing the level of glam for the evening, Mariah Carey wowed in a super-low-cut and super-high-slit Philipp Plein gown.

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Making very clear about who runs the show, Mariah Carey steals the spotlight while posing for photographs with dancer and on-again off-again boyfriend Brian Tanaka at the post-Golden Globes party in 2018. In full glam and highlighting her hourglass figure, Mariah Carey is in her prime — and all smiles, as usual — on the red carpet.

Mariah Carey may make a living playing dress-up, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t give Halloween her all. This diva for the ages is never anything but a thrill to watch, and this past Halloween was no exception. In full rockstar glam, Carey attended Heidi Klum’s famed annual Halloween bash and definitely nailed it.

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