Dolly Parton: The Queen of Rhinestones
When most people think of Dolly Parton, several iconic images immediately come to mind – her big blonde hair, her signature makeup look, and of course, her dazzling red dresses adorned with thousands of shimmering rhinestones. For over 50 years, Dolly has embodied pure showmanship through her over-the-top style and has become synonymous with glitz, glamour, and country charm. While many artists evolve their style over the decades, Dolly has stayed true to her roots, embracing her signature look that has become just as much a part of her brand and legacy as her chart-topping songs. Her flamboyant fashion sense is a perfect reflection of her big personality and has allowed Dolly to truly shine as the quintessential queen of country music.
Dolly’s love affair with red dresses began early in her career as she searched for a bold look that would help her stand out on stage. “I wanted to be obvious, I wanted people to notice me,” she has said of her style evolution. One of her first iconic red gowns was a Jean Louis hand-beaded dress she wore to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in 1967. The form-fitting red velvet number was adorned with over 3000 rhinestones and immediately caught attention. From that point on, red became Dolly’s signature color and she began incorporating more and more embellishments into her stage costumes.
In the 1970s, as her fame grew, so did the extravagance of her live show wardrobe. She commissioned famous costume designer William E. Wright to create elaborate beaded and feathered ensembles. Many of these designs featured innovative silhouettes like plunging necklines, cutouts, and peek-a-boo details that pushed the boundaries of conservatism at the time within the country genre. Dolly was unapologetically herself and used her flamboyant style to stand up for individuality and self-expression. Her costumes soon became works of art, requiring hundreds of hours to complete and using pounds of rhinestones.
One of Dolly’s most famous costumes from this era was a red gown she wore on her 1976-1977 “New Harvest…First Festival” tour that took over 3000 hours to assemble. The strapless mini dress was made of panels of red satin and chiffon layered with red and clear bugle beads, sequins, crystals, and jet rhinestones. An estimated 175,000 individual pieces were used to adorn the dress from head to toe. The intricate beading created rippling patterns across the fabric that caught the light on stage like waves. The dress weighed over 40 pounds by the time it was completed. It remains one of the most expensive and elaborate costumes ever created for a concert tour.
Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Dolly continued expanding the limits of her stage style with even bigger hair, more dramatic makeup, and ever more extravagant dresses. She collaborated frequently with designer William E. Wright as well as Michael Travis and designer Bruce Nelson. Many of her most famous looks from this era featured dramatic silhouettes like structured ballgowns, mermaid shapes, and puff-sleeved confections. Colors became bolder with the addition of hot pinks, oranges, and emeralds alongside the signature red. Rhinestones were still the star embellishment but were now joined by sequins, beads, and novelty trim.
One iconic Dolly look from the late 80s was a red ballgown she wore for a Christmas special television performance. The strapless dress had a full skirt created from panels of red satin, each covered from top to bottom in glittering red and clear rhinestones. A large red bow was placed at the empire waistline and the entire dress weighed over 50 pounds. For maximum drama, Dolly paired the show-stopping gown with elbow-length red satin gloves, also covered in rhinestones, and a dramatic updo hairstyle. The over-the-top glamour perfectly encapsulated the lavish productions Dolly had become known for.
As Dolly entered her 60s and 70s, her style evolved to slightly simpler silhouettes that still popped with her signature flair. Gone were some of the fussy details like puffed sleeves, but the dresses remained works of art through their intricate beadwork. Dolly collaborated frequently with designer Wayne Rogers during this later stage of her career. One standout look was a red chiffon gown from her 2015 “Blue Smoke World Tour.” The dress featured a one-shoulder neckline and cascading ruffles down one side. Over 10,000 individually sewn crystals in shades of red, pink, and clear created floral patterns across the full skirt and bodice. Dolly paired the ethereal gown with dramatic chandelier earrings also covered in crystals. At age 69, she proved she still embodied pure showmanship and glamour.
Throughout her six-decade career, Dolly estimates she has worn over 300 custom-made performance gowns, the vast majority being red. While the silhouettes and details changed with fashion trends, the core elements of sparkle, drama, and her signature hue remained consistent. Off stage, Dolly also favors bold colors and statement pieces that showcase her fun personality. She has said that her over-the-top style allows her to feel confident and keep her inner fire burning bright. “I’m a very insecure person,” she has admitted. “So I like big hair, big makeup, and big dresses. It’s just a security thing, really.” The dazzling costumes she wears for her concerts and television specials take her natural exuberance to new heights.
Dolly’s love of all things glamorous and her unapologetic embrace of her signature look is truly inspiring. In a career spanning over half a century, she has stayed devoted to her brand of country charm and never compromised her authentic self. Through her flamboyant fashion, she spreads a message of individuality, self-acceptance, and empowerment. Dolly Parton is undoubtedly one of the most influential style icons of all time and her legacy as the queen of rhinestones will surely live on for generations. Whether in a red gown or casual jeans and boots, Dolly shines as bright as the thousands of crystals she favors. She proves that true confidence comes from within and a little sparkle never hurt anyone.