L’HISTOIRE: Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey’s 1998 Face-Off in Custom Vera Wang
Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey stepped onto the MTV VMAs stage in 1998 wearing custom gowns by Vera Wang in a moment that defined diva theatrics and camaraderie in equal measure.
L’HISTOIRE explores fashion history moments you should know, from what actors wore on a red carpet to celebrities who made cameos on the runway. Some are unsung, and some are better known. Each is part of the fabric of today’s fashion world, be it barrier breakers or culture makers.
Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey opened the MTV Video Music Awards in 1998 “accidentally” in the same custom brown Vera Wang gown. The sleeveless, plunge-neck dresses were identical, that is until Houston removed a swath of fabric to reveal a high-low version. Carey pulled her own theatric trick to display a shorter hemline and her legs (which are insured... for a cool $1 billion). A moment that could’ve sparked a diva feud instead became a moment of cheeky and comedic genius, proving that even at the height of stardom, there’s always room for a little playful shade. The “diva-off” wasn’t just a clash of fashion, but quite the masterclass in charm, wit, and how to own a room.
In a Vogue video reflecting on her life in looks, Carey shed light on how the iconic face-off moment came to be (and claims the dress is stolen). “Vera Wang made these dresses for us both to be matching—so we could be matching, but have a little bit of a different thing, right? And we were opening the show with this bit, which was supposed to be like ‘Well, here’s my thing,’ and she’s like ‘Well, look at mine,’ We [were] having a faux competition of the look.”
The moment has become a point of reference since. At the 64th Grammy Awards in 2022, Dua Lipa and Megan Thee Stallion paid homage to this “diva-off” moment. To present the award for Best New Artist, the “Sweetest Pie” collaborators stepped onto the stage in matching black floor-sweeping Versace gowns, engaging in similar banter to Houston and Carey. Donatella Versace herself then joined the pair onstage as a fashion fairy godmother of sorts. “Basta, basta, basta,” she said of their face-off. “Let’s do this, and this.” The Italian designer proceeded to unclip a part of Lipa’s dress to reveal a jumpsuit underneath, and then she turned to Megan and unveiled a shorter bodycon skirt under her original frock.
You simply can’t go wrong with a little black dress. But we also recommend opting for a chocolate brown dress (perhaps this one by Nookie) like the Houston and Carey wore, which has coincidentally been a must-have color this season. An understated platform sandal heel will pair just right. Take a cue from Houston and Carey by finishing off your look with a glossy, nude lip and a relaxed blowout or bouncy curls for that trademark '90s glow.
That night, two vocal powerhouses—Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey—joined forces to deliver a legendary pop culture and fashion moment, forever enshrined in history.
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