For Dolly Parton, fashion wasn’t about comfort. From sky-high hair to loud, sparkling outfits, Dolly spent her career proving that when it comes to style, more is more and bigger really is better.
In her 2023 book, “Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones,” Dolly wrote, “I had to resist a lot of ‘advice’ telling me to tone down my look or choose a different type of wardrobe. … I loved the big hair and makeup, the long nails, the high heels, the flashy clothes and — as soon as I could afford them — the rhinestones!”
And rhinestones she wore. Ensembles rhinestoned from wig to toe, full of sparkle. That’s part of what made Dolly so special; she was unapologetically herself. Her over-the-top style can assure anyone ever debating if their outfit is “too much” that they should add a feather boa and a few more jewels.
If there is one thing that first catches your eye when you look at Dolly, it’s her hair. Teased, bouncing blonde curls and wigs that added a whole foot to her 5-foot height were part of her signature, larger-than-life look.
Particularly in the 1970s, Dolly’s hair pushed the limits. On her 1974 album cover for “Love Is Like a Butterfly,” her hair towers above her. But this hair wasn’t just for album covers. Whether touring or making public appearances, Dolly kept her signature ’do and always paired it with an equally over-the-top outfit.
If Dolly taught us anything about hair, it’s to tease your hair a bit more before you leave the house and always throw in that extra roller.
Dolly’s hair wasn’t the only thing she refused to tone down — she brought the same philosophy when it came to color. Whether it was technicolor or one statement shade, Dolly embraced color with full confidence.
In one of her most emotional and sentimental songs, “Coat of Many Colors,” released in 1971, Dolly describes a coat that her mother stitched her from different-colored scraps of fabric. The song became one of the most heartfelt pieces in Dolly’s discography and told a story through not only music, but fashion.
Dolly has had multiple “Coats of Many Colors” since then, including one stitched from pieces of her stage clothes throughout the years. Dolly’s wardrobe wasn’t just about making statements — it also told a story.
But her love for color didn’t stop there. With Ann Roth as the designer, Dolly wore a fully pink look to the premiere of her movie “9 to 5.” She donned a silky pink dress layered under delicate beaded lace with a silky bow tied around the waist. Still adding pink, Dolly threw a rose-colored fur cape over her shoulder and, to top it off, she wore pink lipstick and pink eyeshadow: a true commitment to color.
If there was anything Dolly loved more than color, it was shimmer — rhinestones, sparkles and anything that glittered. Tony Chase designed one of Dolly’s most iconic looks: a fully beaded gown for her 1991 Vanity Fair cover. A white fur scarf draped around her arms, along with equally sparkly heels and earrings, completed the look and brought shimmer from stilettos to hairspray.
This dress couldn’t have just one appearance, though. Dolly rewore it to the 1989 premiere of “Steel Magnolias,” this time with a glittering matching jacket and bag. For Dolly, it was always about the details.
Dolly continued to sparkle when she met Queen Elizabeth II in 1977, wearing a rhinestone cape that spelled out “Dolly” in shimmering rhinestones. Only the best for the queen!
Even at 76 years old, Dolly wore a “disco ball suit” to the 2022 Academy of Country Music Awards. The catsuit was covered in mirrored pieces and absolutely shone. Dolly was so committed to the look that she didn’t even sit down in it!
Dolly Parton’s style wasn’t about fitting in or following trends; it was about being unapologetically herself while staying true to her country roots. Despite all the Hollywood, or Dollywood, glitz and glam, Dolly never stopped being that “little girl from East Tennessee.”
