For one of the visuals of the 2024 Gucci campaign, Billie Eilish sported a denim-on-denim look. Photo: Instagram/Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish has done it again. The singer-songwriter will appear on the November cover of US Vogue – her second for the fashion title.
It really shows her growth in terms of influence within the fashion sphere.
When Eilish first gained public attention in 2015, she was only 14 years old. Her style then reflected youthful innocence: all streetwear, with punctuations of neon hues, monograms and graffiti.
She was also observed to have heavily favoured the oversize silhouette in her early years.
The eventual change to her dressing reflects a growing confidence in herself – and the clothes she is able to carry.
“I only started wearing baggy clothes because of my body,” the 22-year-old artiste told Vanity Fair back in 2021.
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At the 2021 Met Gala, Billie Eilish wears a frothy peach gown. The design is said to be inspired by the tulle dress worn by Marilyn Monroe to the 1951 Oscars. Photto: Instagram/Oscar De La RentaWhen Eilish began dressing up to show off her figure at that time (after reaching adulthood), her fans were shocked. Criticisms poured in. Some people even lamented how she lost her sense of individuality.
“I spent the first five years of my career getting absolutely obliterated by you fools for being boyish and dressing how I did (and) constantly being told I’d be hotter if I acted like a woman,” Eilish wrote on her Instagram story in 2023.
“Now when I feel comfortable enough to wear anything remotely feminine or fitting, I ‘changed’ and am a ‘sellout’.”
Today, the way she dresses is a beautiful amalgamation of youthful cool and chic sensuality.
From one event to another, Eilish can be seen updating her look according to different moods.
For the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Met Gala editions, she appeared in girly gowns. All three designs showed off a different side to her personality.
On other occasions, like for the Oscars, Grammys or Emmys, she returned to her usual pants and oversized top look.
The fashion industry itself is enamoured with Eilish. Fashion houses have used her for campaigns numerous times, capitalising on her fame and pull among the younger generation.
Eilish is a long-time ambassador for Gucci. Last year, she helped launch the eco-friendly version of the brand’s iconic Horsebit 1955 handbag. The cinematic videos feature her What Was I Made For? song.
She modelled for Gucci’s eyewear campaign in 2022, channelling a retro vibe. Her outfits for awards ceremonies can sometimes just be a head-to-toe look of Gucci’s monogram designs.
In 2019, she fronted MCM’s campaign. She appeared in a Calvin Klein ad that same year.
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“Since I can remember, (fashion) has been how I convey my feelings, how I feel about myself, and my mood. It’s really like a security blanket, and I can’t remember when it wasn’t,” she said in a 2022 interview for podcast series Little Gold Men.
Nevertheless, Eilish’s duality in dressing (feminine versus boyish) has continued to be a talking point. This is something that frustrates her.
Last year, she once again clapped back at her critics on Instagram.
“Did you know that women are multifaceted? Shocking right? Believe it or not women can be interested in multiple things,” she vented in a post.
“Also that femininity does not equal weakness,” she said, adding that it is not insane to want to express yourself differently at different times.
