John Galliano created Celine Dion’s famous backwards white tuxedo at the 1999 Academy Awards.
Dion wore the white satin Dior tuxedo with its jacket reversed, so the lapels and fastening appeared at the back. She paired the look with a tilted fedora, sunglasses, and a diamond necklace, turning a classic formal suit into one of the most discussed Oscar outfits of the late 1990s.
The design came from Dior during John Galliano’s tenure as the house’s creative director. Dion’s styling was intentionally unconventional rather than an accidental dressing mistake. Her appearance illustrated how red-carpet fashion could use menswear references while still functioning as a highly polished couture statement.
Another common confusion is linking the look to Tom Ford, whose sharply tailored Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent work also shaped 1990s fashion. The backwards Dior tuxedo was Galliano’s design.