Diana

ROSS
FASHION, SOCIETY AND CULTURE
 BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY Diana Ross

Singer and actress Diana Ross was part of the
1960s pop/soul trio the Supremes before embark-
ing on a successful solo career, also starring in
such films as ‘Lady Sings the Blues’ and ‘The Wiz.’
Ross was born on March 26, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan.
Developing a reputation as an accomplished perform-
er, Ross began singing in the group the Primettes with
friends Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Barbara Mar-
tin as a teenager. Martin eventually dropped out, but the
remaining members of the group went on to become
the internationally successful 1960s R&B and pop trio the
Supremes (later named Diana Ross and the Supremes).
Ross left for a solo career in 1969, later reaching No. 1
with hits like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Love
Hangover.” She starred in the films Mahogany and Lady
Sings the Blues as well, earning an Oscar nomination
for the latter. Despite personal and professional ups and
downs, Ross has withstood the test of time as a per-
former with a career that spans more than four decades.
BIOGRAPHY

In the 1990s, Ross made several appear-

ances on the small screen. She starred in
the 1994 television movie Out of Dark-
ness, playing a woman with schizo-
phrenia. Ross then took on lighter fare
with Double Platinum (1999), starring as
a famous singer who had abandoned
her child to pursue her career. Well-
known pop performer Brandy played
her daughter. Some of the songs from
the project were featured on Ross’s
1999 album, Every Day Is a New Day.
Despite her personal and professional
ups and downs, Ross has withstood the
test of time as a performer with a ca-
reer that spans more than four decades.
She has won several major awards, in-
cluding a Golden Globe, a Tony and sev-
eral American Music Awards. Ross was
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame in 1988 as part of the Supremes.
In 2012 Ross received a Grammy Award
for Lifetime Achievement; it would be-
come her first Grammy ever, despite
having been nominated twelve times.
Four years later, Ross received the Pres-
idential Medal of Freedom from Ba-
rack Obama, the nation’s highest ci-
vilian honor. In 2017, she added to her
collection with Lifetime Achievement
honors at the American Music Awards.
 FASHION INSPIRED
BY DIANA ROSS
In the ‘70s, Ross embraced everything that glittered and shim-
mered. From sparkling bell-bottom pants to showstopping
sequin dresses, she dominated the stage with her eye-catch-
ing, glittery looks. She was a regular at Studio 54 and owned
more than one feather boa. In the ‘80s, she dominated red
carpets with showstopping fur coats and immaculate dress-
es. In the ‘90s, she stepped out in iconic designer crea-
tions and even Gothic looking sheer dresses. And her perfor-
mance costumes were as magical as her designer wardrobe.

When you think about the word “diva,” names like CR stars
Beyoncé or Rihanna immediately come to mind. But back in
prime Motown era there was one diva who ruled them all: Di-
ana Ross, the most successful female artist of all time. As the
founding lead singer of the Supremes (who still occasional-
ly performs today), she is equally renowned for her legendary,
maximalist style. Imagine Beyonce forty years from now and
you’ve got something like what Diana Ross represents today

Diana Ross has always been a symbol of womanly ele-

gance. When speaking about The Supremes’ iconic look,
she said to Rolling Stone, “Our image was really a reflec-
tion of beauty and glamour.” She favors a super feminine
approach to beauty and fashion that’s trendy and classic.
the
ultimate
style icon
 Airport glamour
Most people rock up to the airport in tracksuit bottoms and hoodies, but
Diana Ross proved she’s the ultimate style queen by gliding through Heath-
row in a pair of oversized sunglasses and a hippy-chic outfit back in 1973.
 Ahead of the curve

It’s hard to believe this photo was taken in 1976, because this jumpsuit,
kaftan and heels combo is thoroughly on point for now.
CHIC FASHION
Diana looking chic in an all-white
outfit in 1968. We’ve now decided we
need a silk scarf.
For a 1983 concert in New York’s Central Park,
SHEER BODYSUIT
the songstress slipped into a glittery, fig-
ure-hugging bodysuit — another go-to for
Ross — in a peachy orange shade. She strut-
ted the stage in a pair of matching peep-toe
sandals, leaving her hair loose.
 Now nearing her 75th birthday, Ross
is showing women everywhere that
age is all about attitude. Her sig-
nature style hasn’t missed a beat,
and she continues to keep her fans
on their toes with her always sur-
prising and memorable looks.

SOUL SENSATION
Who could forget her rousing en-
trance at the 2017 American Music
Awards as she stepped onstage to
perform a medley of hits — includ-
ing the power anthem “I’m Coming
Out” — in a black gown and larger-
than-life purple tulle shawl? Earli-
er that evening, she walked the red
carpet in yet another head-turning
look: a Vivienne Westwood strap-
less dress worn with an avant-gar-
de black tulle headpiece and veil.
 A Fairytale Vision
The jewel-toned stage lights illumi-
nated the diva wrapped in head-to-
toe tulle.
 EXAGGERATED SLEEVES
Exaggerated sleeves will dominate our wardrobes
this fall and we can’t wait. Obviously, Diana was way
ahead of the curve on that one.
 POWER SHOULDERS

Ross has always had her finger on the pulse when it comes to fashion,
so when the disco style of the ‘70s turned into the “glamour-on-ster-
oids” aesthetic of the ‘80s, she was all too happy to join in on the
new fads. And that included power shoulders with dripping sequins.
SIQUINED TULLE Proving you can never have enough tulle,
sequins or lamé in one outfit, Diana Ross
breaks all the style rules in the best way
possible.
 FEARLESS 70’S
Ross has always been known for her fearless
style, and the 1970s were her fashion reign.
Here she is in a metallic poncho and matching
bell-bottom pants.
GUCCI VIBES Stage outfits obviously have to be eye-catching,
but Ross has always had showstopping looks.
Here she is on stage in a 1973 show in Amster-
dam, and she’s wearing a black sequined dress
with a bold sailor collar and massive carnation.
 FEATHERED FASHION
The Met Gala is seen as the most fashion-
able night of the year, and stars show up to the
red carpet wearing creative works of arts mas-
querading as dresses. In 1981, Ross dominated
the red carpet with this feathered evening gown.
AMERICAN LOOK In 1993, Ross performed at Bill Clinton’s in-
auguration in Washington, D.C. The art-
ist came dressed in theme, wearing a blue
evening dress, a red puffer jacket, and red
gloves. Her choker added the pop of white
to finish off the American look of her outfit.
Ross cast a golden glow over the Super Bowl XXX crowd
in 1996 as she headlined the halftime show perched
DAZZLING ROSS
atop a pedestal, dressed in purple belted jumpsuit de-
tailed with a sequined bodice (one of four epic cos-
tume changes during her 12-minute performance).
She layered it with a flashy gold robe featuring an ex-
aggerated train while rocking her trademark big hair.
FLAMENCO INSPIRATION Into the 2000s, she stepped up her style even more,
experimenting with volume and color. One stand-
out look was the flamenco dancer-inspired red
gown she wore in 2005 for a performance at the
Live at Sunset Music Festival in Zurich. With its
delicate beading and cascade of oversized ruf-
fles, the design was quite the showstopper.
Solange Knowles hit the red car-
pet at the annual CFDA Awards
looking almost identical to ‘70s
disco diva Diana Ross. Knowles
was dressed for the evening in a
metallic body-skimming gown
by Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein
Collection, which she paired with
teased tresses and a major pink lip.
Exaggerated sleeves will domi-
nate our wardrobes this fall and
we can’t wait. Obviously, Di-
ana was way ahead of the curve
on that one. Among the various
statement sleeves that are on a
rise in fashion, the bishop sleeves
have become a favourite among
the style mavens. From red car-
pet to movie promotions, they are
seen sporting these exaggerat-
ed, dramatic balloon like sleeves
everywhere.And the recently held
Golden Globes saw an uninhibit-
ed celebration of this trend as ce-
lebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow
and Zoey Deutch rocked the style.
Back home, actors Kareena Kapoor
Khan, Deepika Padukone, Malai-
ka Arora and Huma Qureshi seem
to be in love with these sleeves.
Who can forget Diana ross’s famous
central park performance where she
sang to an adoring crowd of 450,000
fans even as rain poured down over
their heads? Jennifer Lopez and Be-
yonce found inspiration from that
ground breaking moment in enter-
tainment and style, both incorpo-
rating long sleeve sparkling jump-
suits into their onstage repertoire.
Florals and off the shoulder chic are
all the rage this season. We’d wear
this as is. Off the shoulder dresses are
came back in style for spring sum-
mer 2020 and fall winter 2020 2021.
Tracee Ellis Ross Channels Her Mom Diana Ross
in Red Sequin Gown at the 2017 amfAR Gala
The Golden Globe winning star looked exactly like
her iconic mom in a fiery red Jenny Packham gown
Beyonce at Met Gala 2014 appeared in her ul-
tra-glamorous getup, consisting of a Givenchy dress
and birdcage veil, was easily one of the evening’s
best couture displays. Riccardo Tisci drew inspiration
from the disco era—namely “Diana Ross’ 1970s glam.”
Among the many trends that emerged during the quarantine,
Kaftans are the comfiest and have become a favourite among
Bollywood fashionistas. Kaftan or caftan has become the new
summer essential for our style mavens during the quarantine.