• News
    • Latest
    • TV
    • Shopping
    • Awards
    • Style
    • Music
    • Movies
    • Newsletter

    Trending

    • ShoppingNew Year, New You: Everything You Need to Stay Healthy and Organized
    • ShoppingThe Best Items to Buy for a Good Night's Sleep
    • LifestyleThe Best Fitness Subscriptions Worth the Money
    • ShoppingThe Best Cold-Weather Workout Clothes and Fitness Gear for Winter
    • ShoppingThe Best Winter Boots for Women That Are Stylish, Functional and Warm
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Watch ET
Style

Mariah Carey's Style Evolution

Amy Sussman/FilmMagic

By Emily Krauser

2:32 PM PDT, July 17, 2020

It's been 30 years since Carey burst onto the scene with her self-titled debut, and she spent the '90s and '00s dominating the charts. In honor of her storied music history and signature style (butterflies! curve-hugging dresses!), we're taking a look back at how her look has evolved over the years.

1 / 48

February 1991

mariah carey at 1991 grammys
Robin Platzer/IMAGES/Getty Images

at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards

December 1991

mariah carey at 1991 billboard awards
The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

at the 1991 Billboard Music Awards

January 1992

mariah carey at the 19th Annual American Music Awards in 1992
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

at the 19th Annual American Music Awards 

June 1995

Mariah Carey and Tommy Mottola in 1995
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

with then-husband Tommy Mottola at the Fresh Air Funds Salute to American Heroes

September 1997

Mariah Carey at 1997 VMAs
Ron Davis/Getty Images

at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City

October 1997

Mariah Carey At VH1 Fashion Awards
The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

at the VH1 Fashion Awards in New York City

October 1997

mariah carey at 1997 movie premiere
The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

at the Los Angeles premiere of Seven Years in Tibet

September 1998

mariah carey at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards
Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images

at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards

April 2000

Mariah Carey at 'VH-1 Divas 2000: A Tribute To Diana Ross'
Evan Agostini/ImageDirect

at VH-1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross

July 2001

mariah carey in london in July 2001
ames Whatling/UK Press via Getty Images

at her "Loverboy" single and Glitter album release party in London

October 2001

mariah carey at the 2001 Radio Music Awards
Jason Kirk/Getty Images

at the 2001 Radio Music Awards in Las Vegas

November 2001

mariah carey at The Fresh Air Fund's 17th Annual Fall Frolic & Auction Benefit Gala in New York City
Evan Agostini/ImageDirect

at The Fresh Air Fund's 17th Annual Fall Frolic & Auction Benefit Gala in New York City

December 2001

Mariah Carey during The Z100 Jingle Ball 2001
Kevin Mazur/WireImage

at Z100's 2001 Jingle Ball in New York City

January 2002

mariah carey at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival
J. Vespa/WireImage

at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival

December 2002

Mariah Carey at December 2002
Lawrence Lucier/FilmMagic

at the Island Def Jam Holiday and Mariah Carey Charmbracelet Release Party in New York City

September 2003

mariah carey at the Mariah Carey Charmbracelet Tour After-Party in New York City
Lawrence Lucier/FilmMagic

at the Mariah Carey Charmbracelet Tour After-Party in New York City

October 2003

mariah carey at the 2003 World Music Awards
Steve Finn/Getty Images

in Versace at the 2003 World Music Awards in Monaco

November 2004

mariah carey at 2004 Royal Birthday Ball for Sean "P. Diddy" Combs
Jim Spellman/WireImage

at the Royal Birthday Ball for Sean "P. Diddy" Combs

June 2004

mariah carey in 2004
Lawrence Lucier/FilmMagic

at the Fresh Air Fund's Salute to American Heroes in New York City

April 2005

mariah carey at her album release party in New York City in 2005
Thos Robinson/Getty Images

at her album release party in New York City

June 2005

mariah carey at 2005 MTV Movie Awards
Steve Granitz/WireImage

at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards

August 2005

mariah carey at 2005 Teen Choice Awards
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards

January 2006

mariah carey in Chanel at the 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

in Chanel at the 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards

May 2006

Mariah Carey at the screening of "Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball"
Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images

at a New York City screening of Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball

September 2007

Mariah Carey at VH1's Save The Music 10th Anniversary Gala
Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic

at VH1's Save the Music 10th Anniversary Gala in New York City

July 2008

mariah carey at trl in 2008
Theo Wargo/WireImage

visiting MTV's TRL

November 2008

mariah carey at the 2008 American Music Awards
Steve Granitz/WireImage

at the 2008 American Music Awards in Los Angeles

May 2009

mariah carey at 2009 cannes film festival
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

in Dolce & Gabbana at the Precious screening during the 62nd International Cannes Film Festival in France

January 2010

mariah carey and nick cannon at 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

with then-husband Nick Cannon at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles

April 2010

mariah carey at the 12th Annual Keepers of the Dream Awards
Jemal Countess/Getty Images

at the 12th Annual Keepers of the Dream Awards in New York City

November 2011

mariah carey in 2011
Theo Wargo/WireImage for Jenny Craig

at her Jenny Craig announcement in New York City

November 2012

Mariah Carey at TeenNick HALO Awards
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

at the TeenNick HALO Awards in Los Angeles

August 2013

mariah carey at the butler premiere
Jim Spellman/WireImage

at the New York City premiere of Lee Daniels' The Butler

July 2014

mariah carey at the Hollywood premiere of Hercules
David Livingston/Getty Images

at the Hollywood premiere of Hercules

May 2015

mariah carey at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

in Tom Ford at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas

September 2015

mariah carey at the intern premiere
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

at the New York City premiere of The Intern

January 2016

mariah carey at the Sixth Biennial UNICEF Ball
Donato Sardella/Getty Images for U.S. Fund for UNICEF

in Louis Vuitton at the Sixth Biennial UNICEF Ball Honoring David Beckham and C. L. Max Nikias in Beverly Hills, California

February 2016

Mariah Carey at the 24th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar Party
Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images

at the 24th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar Party in West Hollywood, California

May 2016

mariah carey at 27th Annual GLAAD Media Awards
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for GLAAD

at the 27th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York City

August 2017

Mariah Carey Concert Afterparty At Sugar Factory American Brasserie On Ocean Drive In Miami
Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Sugar Factory American Brasserie

with her twins, son Moroccan and daughter Monroe, at her Concert After-Party at the Sugar Factory American Brasserie in Miami Beach

September 2017

mariah carey christmas 2017
Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Sugar Factory American Brasserie

at her Mariah Carey Christmas Factory announcement during the grand opening of the Sugar Factory American Brasserie in Bellevue, Washington

November 2017

Mariah Carey at the AHF World AIDS DAY Concert and 30th Anniversary Celebration
Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for AIDS Healthcare Foundation

at the AHF World AIDS Day Concert and 30th Anniversary Celebration in Los Angeles

January 2018

Mariah Carey at the 2018 InStyle and Warner Bros. 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards Post-Party
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for InStyle

at the 2018 InStyle and Warner Bros. 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards Post-Party in Beverly Hills

September 2018

Mariah Carey at the iHeartRadio Music Festival 2018
Tara Ziemba/FilmMagic

at the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas

October 2018

mariah carey at 2018 American Music Awards
Matthew Simmons/Getty Images For dcp

in Yousef Aljasmi at the 2018 American Music Awards

October 2019

Mariah Carey at the Variety's 2019 Power Of Women: Los Angeles
Steve Granitz/WireImage

at Variety's 2019 Power of Women: Los Angeles event in Beverly Hills

December 2019

Mariah Carey at empire state building
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

in Alexandre Vauthier at a lighting ceremony at New York City's iconic Empire State Building

January 2020

Mariah Carey ata the premiere of Tyler Perry's "A Fall From Grace"
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

at the New York City premiere of Tyler Perry's A Fall From Grace

tags:

  • Mariah Carey

Browse

  • News
  • Video
  • Photos
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Awards
  • Music
  • Style
  • Giveaways
  • Newsletters

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • ET on TV
  • ETonline Staff
  • RSS
  • Submit Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Closed Captioning
  • Submit a Tip
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Opens a new window
  • Opens a new window
  • Opens a new window
  • Opens a new window
  • Opens a new window
™ & © 2022 CBS Studios Inc. and CBS Interactive Inc., Paramount companies.  All Rights Reserved.