Olivia Dean Is Gen Z’s Adele in a Richard Quinn Ballgown

As a 23-year-old, I can confidently say Olivia Dean is my generation’s Adele. The rising British pop star shares Adele’s smooth-as-silk, neo-soul sound and her love of nostalgic fashion, too. On November 19, Dean stole the show at the 2025 ARIA Awards in a fresh-off-the-runway, Adele-coded ballgown.

If you needed more proof Dean is a fashion girl, she “flew 24hrs for this dress”— her words, not mine. Mere days after her Saturday Night Live performance, she popped up in Sydney, Australia, to serenade the audience with her Grammy-nominated hit, “Man I Need.” Beforehand, however, her custom-made red carpet look got a proper close-up.

Dean’s stylist, Simone Beyene, teamed up with Richard Quinn to reimagine Look 9 from the 56-piece Spring 2026 collection. Even so, its foundation featured many of the same elements, beginning with a drop-waist bodice. Hundreds of black beads mimicked florals, which complemented the oversize rosette atop her strapless neckline. Zoom in to appreciate the velvet bow underneath its ivory petals.

Dean’s crisp taffeta skirt flared out below her hips, just like the original Spring 2026 design. The voluminous, petticoated piece tapped into the bubble-hem trend with a high-low silhouette.

From there, the “Dive” singer took creative liberties: first, her strapless bust was missing criss-cross halter-neck velvet. On the catwalk, the model accessorized with opera-length gloves, also in black velvet. Dean opted for gold hoop earrings, a single $9,400 Cartier bangle, and pointy Jimmy Choo pumps instead.

Once it was time to take center stage, Dean traded her Adele-ish ballgown for something more dance-friendly. Rachel Gilbert’s Posie Mini made the cut—presumably for its flat metallic sequins, which stretched from the spaghetti-slim straps to the fringed thigh-length hem. She chose the gold colorway, though the Australian brand also offers it in white and blue. That way, the $1,695 mini matched her yellow gold Cartier jewels.