Shania Twain’s daring wardrobe keeps sparking backlash

From velvet cutouts in 1998 to a silver, panther-motif gown at the 2026 ACM Awards, Shania Twain’s fashion has never stayed safely predictable. And when she took a bold leap at the 2023 CMT Music Awards—sparkling in a purple Chanel set—she pushed back at criti

Shania Twain has long treated red carpets and concert stages like places to make a point with a look—sometimes glamorous. sometimes unapologetically exposed. and often impossible to ignore. In 1998, she was already proving that daring fashion wasn’t a phase. She appeared at a VH-1 Divas event in New York City on April 14. 1998. wearing a black gown that was asymmetrical with a single strap. an uneven cutout across her waist. and smaller slits down its skirt that extended the length of her leg.

Not long after, she turned the volume up again on a performance stage. At the Grammys in Los Angeles, California, on February 24, 1999, Twain performed in a corseted minidress and finished the look with crystal-lined gloves, a satin choker, semi-sheer tights, and knee-high boots.

By the time the spotlight shifted to the awards circuit, her silhouette kept getting sharper. At the CMA Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, on November 6, 2002, she wore a form-fitting halter dress with a plunging, scooped neckline. Two years later. her style kept moving toward more edge rather than less: at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles. California. on January 13. 2003. she wore a black. long-sleeved dress made from sheer mesh. wrapped with opaque black fabric and matching straps. along with a tulle piece attached to one side of its skirt that created a short train. Twain complemented it with a crimped hairstyle and thigh-high lace-up boots.

The same year, she leaned into spectacle at the Super Bowl XXXVII halftime show. Twain performed at Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego. California. on January 26. 2003. wearing an outfit with a crystal-covered bra. black shorts over fishnet tights. a sparkling black duster jacket. and a sequined white belt wrapped around her waist and hips—plus thigh-high leather boots.

Her willingness to take risks didn’t stop once she returned to other arenas. At the 2003 CMA Awards in Nashville. Tennessee. on November 5. 2003. she performed onstage in low-rise black cargo pants and a puffer vest buttoned only halfway. The puffer vest carried a green, black, and pink swirled print that matched the design of her slouchy boots.

Then came the era of bold, stage-ready fabrics that looked almost engineered for movement. In 2012. as she kicked off her Las Vegas residency. Twain performed a residency show in Las Vegas. Nevada. on December 1. 2012. wearing a semi-sheer catsuit. The long-sleeved. high-neck piece was decorated from top to bottom with black beads in a tiger-stripe print. her black gloves were lined with long. fabric fringe. and she paired the look with heeled. belted boots.

Even in Canada’s cold, she dressed for impact. At the Grey Cup in Ottawa, Canada, on November 26, 2017, Twain hit the stage in a red catsuit with a plunging neckline and a sparkling chainmail piece worn over it, along with furry boots, a matching jacket, and red leather gloves.

Two years later, her red-carpet decisions again invited attention—and in some corners, disagreement. At the People’s Choice Awards in Santa Monica. California. on December 6. 2022. Twain walked the carpet in a custom Rodarte dress with a sheer. long-sleeved bodice. a leopard-print bralette. and a floor-length velvet skirt with a waistline dipped below her belly button. The outfit also included a leopard-print hood and shoulder piece. and it seemed to echo her “That Don’t Impress Me Much” music video ensemble.

When the Grammys arrived, her look turned into a full statement. At the Grammys in Los Angeles. California. on February 5. 2023. Twain appeared with hair as red as the carpet and a hat as big as the event. Harris Reed designed her black-and-white polka-dot look, which featured bell-bottom pants, a bustier top, and a blazer worn on top.

Back at country music’s more modern spotlight, she made another risk at the 2023 CMT Music Awards in Austin, Texas, on April 2, 2023. Twain first walked the red carpet in a butterfly-print dress, then later changed into a sparkling purple Chanel set that included a crop top and matching shorts.

That outfit didn’t land the same way with everyone. On social media, some criticized the look, specifically the cut of her shorts and the plunging neckline of her top. Twain responded directly in an Instagram post. writing: “For me fashion is a powerful tool that helps to convey my personality and express my creativity. ” and adding. “And other than getting to hang out with my friends for the night. it’s one of my favourite things about attending award shows!”.

Her stage outfits in 2023 kept moving through bold color and unconventional textures. During a 2023 concert in Charlotte. North Carolina. on June 28. 2023. Twain wore a pink. loose-fitting top over what appeared to be a yellow leotard. with matching jelly sandals with straps that wrapped around her legs. In Michigan, she performed in Brooklyn, Michigan, on July 16, 2023, wearing a see-through leotard.

Later in 2023, she leaned into glint and layering at the stage, too: she wore a black garment covered in crystals, along with crystals on her fishnet tights and knee-high boots. She completed the look with a pink-and-purple cape that flowed behind her and layers of chunky necklaces.

By 2024, Twain was still choosing outfits that looked designed to be remembered. At the People’s Choice Country Awards in Nashville on September 26, 2024, she wore sparkling denim. In collaboration with Levi’s. she helped design her denim evening gown with a halter piece. a form-fitting bodice. a mermaid skirt. a thick. pointed collar. and all-over crystal detailing. She wore the dramatic dress with denim gloves, a chunky ring, and a ’60s-inspired hairstyle.

And this year, her statement continued into a new high-gloss chapter. At the 2026 ACM Awards in Las Vegas, Twain arrived in a statement silver gown. The silver. strapless gown was designed by Falguni Shane Peacock. covered in silver and black sequins. with the black sequins arranged in the shape of a panther across its skirt. The dress was accessorized with black leather gloves and also had satin strips that flowed from her waist.

The through-line across these moments is hard to miss: whether she’s wearing sheer mesh and corsetry in the early years. crystal and fishnets on a major national stage. or denim and panther-shaped sequins in recent appearances. Twain’s wardrobe keeps pushing into attention-grabbing territory. When criticism arrived in 2023. she didn’t retreat from the risk—she named fashion as her tool for personality and creativity. and carried on.

Her looks may change with the decade, but the effect stays consistent: every time the cameras turn on, Shania Twain makes sure the outfit is part of the performance.

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