There’s a reason Greek-American opera singer Maria Callas was known as “La Divinia,” or the divine one. In addition to the late soprano’s recognizable bel canto singing style, her distinctive, dark features became a pivotal part of her image. While the Manhattan-born songstress was often the subject of outsized attention from the press (like her alleged temperamental behavior and affair with shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis), she became one of the most recognizable international artists of the ’50s and ’60s and is still one of classical music’s best selling voices.
Both on and off the stage, Callas’ personal style epitomized glamour in every sense of the word with dramatic furs, dreamy ball gowns, and nearly everything in between. Fittingly, Callas’ life (specifcally her latter years) will be the subject of Chilean auteur Pablo Larraín’s upcoming biopic, Maria, starring Angelina Jolie. Photos of the American actress, who is also known for her equally chic style, as the opera singer have already hit the press—and the resemblance is rather uncanny. So, as we wait for Maria to grace our screens, take a look back at Maria Callas’ signature style, below.
![Maria Callas (1923 - 1977) at London Airport in 1958.](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a2e80683-7c90-4fa0-a207-76d7e96bcc1a-getty-3359184.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Personifying ’50s travel style in a elegant suit set and hat during a trip to London.
![American opera singer Maria 'Callas' Kalogheropoulos liyng on a air mattress on Venice Lido beach, w...](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/d1b7d25c-8922-4d7f-9096-3f4c13f621a8-getty-113917049.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Here, relaxing seaside in Venice while wearing a floral one-piece and dramatic earrings.
![American-born Greek soprano Maria Callas (1923 - 1977) sitting in the back of a car outside the Savo...](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/dda628bd-974f-4990-95cc-315a20a070c1-getty-1575937631.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Who knew riding in the passenger seat could look this chic?
![Maria Callas as Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly. Composer: Giacomo Puccini.](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/d497d2d0-840f-4681-afe1-6036945df262-getty-517399224.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Taking the audience’s breath away as Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini.
![Maria Callas at the National Opera of Paris, 1958.](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/c267b90d-0ca1-4f7d-af29-8616d09409fa-getty-967764670.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Looking regal in a velvet gown and cape before taking the stage at the National Opera of Paris.
![The US singer of Greek origin and naturalized Italian Maria Callas poses in a long evening dress. 19...](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/c8dfdc39-72f0-4214-9743-54afe865d56b-getty-141563818.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Here, wearing a collared evening coat and ballet flats in 1958.
![Maria Meneghini Callas, wearing a million dollars worth of jewels from Winston's, portrays Princess ...](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/290378d0-0a69-44b3-8267-1dd2b2fe74b1-getty-97262825.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Portraying Princess Hatsheput of Egypt, in millions worth of jewels for good measure, in the ’50s.
![Greek-American opera singer Maria Callas (1923 - 1977), in costume, holds a fan while waiting in the...](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/282f2ad5-2d49-47e4-8bd8-7de1be996935-getty-3200665.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Looking as elegant as ever in a tulle and lace gown before hitting the stage in London.
![Portrait de Maria Callas à Paris dans les années 60, France. Circa 1960.](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/e1c61baf-6de6-4be0-9ebd-73764f108196-getty-953415324.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Giving Audrey Hepburn a run for her money with an a-line dress, dazzling jewels, and a fur stole.
![Maria Callas in Spain](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/00e34c0e-c1a6-4f3f-a10b-bc5f1c343473-getty-541029787.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
On the Spanish streets, in a fur-trimmed trench, in the late ’50s.
![Maria Callas in Paris, 1958.](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/01c9ae40-baa0-4e43-9bbf-7ec4407f75da-getty-1412878322.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Callas’ ’50s jet set fashion was never short on fur, hats, and certainly, glamour.
![Maria Callas and Greek shipping owner Aristotle Onassis spends a night out at the International Spor...](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/b6a92561-8bca-44ac-948b-4f01861278d0-getty-517474686.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
In a floral cocktail dress next to her love affair, Aristotle Onassis, in the early ’60s.
![The Greek Opera singer Maria Callas (1923-1977) with Liliane Bettencourt (wife of the minister André...](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2db727ef-1c15-4645-afac-bb76f4b79b36-getty-838879918.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
To the left of French socialite, Liliane Bettencourt, in 1968.
![Maria Callas in 1959.](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/6e7f7469-9da3-45c2-bf72-a595252692d3-getty-1198738493.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
If looks could kill—signing autographs in 1959.
![Maria Callas and Athina Livanos Onassis in Greece, 1959.](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/13257eb1-e403-4864-a6f9-9fd376243e57-getty-953407410.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Wearing a belted shirtdress while traveling in Greece with Athina Livanos Onassis.
![Maria Callas, with pet pooch in tow, leaves Idlewild after arrival here from Milan for a Carnegie Ha...](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ebe7cbc8-dec7-4b25-8f62-b0c1466abd20-getty-517423618.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Staging a picturesque arrival in Milan with her beloved pet pooch.
![Helene Rochas, Maria Callas (1923-1977), Greek opera singer and Georges Cravenne.](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2fcb5b92-3f06-4569-8ac1-d66cd79d4dfc-getty-56232502.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Delighting in a two-toned evening gown with Helene Rochas and film producer Georges Cravenne.
![Opera singer Maria Callas (1923-1977) walks down a Paris sidewalk with her husband, Italian industri...](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a0f24eba-18a4-4ce7-93e0-b0c544567502-getty-627448794.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Stealing the show in one her signature fur coats.
![Greek-American soprano Maria Callas (1923 - 1977) makes a recording at the Hackney Empire in London,...](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/a9093b21-1224-4589-8d3f-8b607a26b33f-getty-886672894.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
Making a grand entrance in London wearing a look fit for a Queen.
![Maria Callas circa 1950s](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9935a621-f8ab-48c9-b854-c58516368be7-getty-541062505.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
The ultimate belted ’50s look, here, in Paris.
![Opera singer Maria Callas poses for portraits during an interview on November 21, 1970 in New York C...](https://i0.wp.com/iverifyu.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/9cc8745c-2675-4500-947c-7b4d36241100-getty-1430170932.jpg?w=1290&ssl=1)
In one of her final portrait sessions, before her death in 1977, in New York City.
This post was originally published on W Magazine