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the greatest gift of all
January 19, 2016

A Tribute to Dolly Parton’s Working-Girl Style

By Dayna Evans

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Photo: Michael Marks/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

On the eve of the opening of her very first theme park (and her 40th birthday), country legend Dolly Parton appeared on the cover of People, talking about tin cans. “When we was kids, we would always drink out of one,” she said in the story, which published in November of 1986. “It seems to keep things colder. Even at my beautiful homes, I’m always drinking out of a tin can, which drives my secretary nuts. I’m saving coffee cans to drink out of and she’s throwing them out and it makes me so mad.”

At the time, Parton had already been a successful songwriter and performer for 20 years, but that didn’t make her put on airs. Born into a “dirt poor” family with 11 siblings and raised near the Great Smoky Mountains, she never let fame shift or alter her down-home persona. “I still like to pee off the porch every now and then,” she said in her ‘86 People cover. “There’s nothing like peeing on those snobs in Beverly Hills.”

From the start of her career to the opening of Dollywood to now, her only notable change has been her admirably extravagant and even downright experimental style. She’s an icon of having a sense of humor about self-presentation, and in hundreds of lavish looks, she’s proof that you don’t have to wait till after 5 p.m. to start dressing up.

Now the proprietor of an Instagram full of inspiring #dollyisms, Parton turns 71 years young today. To celebrate, take a peek back through her best looks of the past few decades.

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1 / 34 Photos
Young Dolly in Nashville in 1965. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
Dolly and collaborator Porter Wagoner sit with their backup band, the Wagonmasters, in 1968. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
The queen and her soft-serve wig in 1970. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
In Australia in 1970. Photo: GAB Archive
Dolly in pink in 1970. Photo: Richard E. Aaron
In New York in 1970. Photo: Art Zelin/2014 Art Zelin
The wigs get bigger and the bells get wider in 1974. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
In the U.K. in 1976. Photo: David Redfern/Redferns
In California in 1977. Photo: Chris Walter/Chris Walter
Dolly sassing a man in 1977. Photo: Ron Galella
A portrait of disco elegance in L.A. in 1977. Photo: Harry Langdon/1978 Harry Langdon
In soft rainbow colors in the U.K. in 1978. Photo: David Redfern/Redferns
Lady in chains in 1980. Photo: RB/Credit: RB / Redferns Agency: Redferns
At the New York premiere of 9 to 5 with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda in 1980. Photo: Ron Galella/©2003 All Rights Reserved
In London in 1983. Photo: Peter Still/1983 Peter Still
At the 1989 premiere of Steel Magnolias in California. Photo: Ron Galella/©2003 All Rights Reserved
Rocking that red, white, and blue in Chicago in 1990. Photo: Paul Natkin
Looking demure with an autoharp in a performance for The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in 1996. Photo: NBC/2014 NBCUniversal Media, LLC
Wings like you've never seen 'em before in Hollywood in 2003. Photo: Vince Bucci/2003 Getty Images
Lady in red onstage in Hollywood in 2003. Photo: Kevin Winter/2003 Getty Images
At the 78th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, in 2006. Photo: Vince Bucci/2006 Getty Images
Performing in a perfect pantsuit onstage at the 78th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, in 2006. Photo: Kevin Winter/2006 Getty Images
Honoring Reba McEntire in 2006. Photo: Chris Polk
Showing off her assets at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006. Photo: LESLIE E. KOSSOFF/2006 AFP
In Nashville, sporting one of her many colorful coats, in 2011. Photo: Mike Coppola/2011 Getty Images
In Knoxville in glitzy capris in 2011. Photo: Rick Diamond/2011 Getty Images
On The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in more glitzy capris in 2011. Photo: NBC/© NBCUniversal, Inc.
In California in 2011. Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/2011 Tim Mosenfelder
At the Joyful Noise premiere in Hollywood in 2012. Photo: Steve Granitz/2012 Steve Granitz
On tour in New Zealand in 2014. Photo: Sandra Mu/2014 Getty Images
On the Today show in 2014. Photo: Larry Busacca/2014 Getty Images
In fringed capris in Knoxville in 2014. Photo: Rick Diamond/2014 Getty Images
In Nashville in 2015. Photo: Rick Diamond/2015 Getty Images
At the premiere of Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors in Hollywood in 2015. Photo: JB Lacroix/2015 JB Lacroix
1 / 34

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  • dolly parton
  • best looks
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