Olivia Rodrigo Seems Pretty Whimsical For A Girl so Punk
“If you want to be a popstar, there’s the right way, the wrong way, and the way Olivia does it.” -Shaad D’Souza
Grammy-winning sensation Olivia Rodrigo has once again gotten people talking about her latest album, which has been breaking multiple records since the first week of its’ release. From being a Disney kid to what the media is now calling ‘one of the greatest musical artists of this generation’, the singer has had quite the journey. She has been securing top positions in multiple music charts ever since the release of her first album.
An artist’s aesthetic evolution, wardrobe choices and style palette play an important role in showcasing their personality and building their public perception. Olivia Rodrigo’s fashion persona is as unique, versatile and timeless as her music trajectory. As someone who turned the colour purple into an absolute emotional rollercoaster back in 2021, and has recently led to a hike in the popularity of babydoll dresses all over the world, she appears to be a clear personification of chaotic femininity. With her astounding ability to connect with her audience both sonically and through her style, she displays her authentic self and curates a strong framework for her music.
When the singer made her debut with SOUR, she exhibited a blend of the ‘90s and early ‘00s nostalgia. With the combination of plaid skirts, chunky boots, fishnets, and of course her pop-punk-female-rage instrumentals, she perfectly exemplified an angsty, rebellious teenager with a side of vulnerability, and with the forever y2k-romanticising gen-z teenagers and young adults of 2021, it hit all the right spots.
Photo: Pinterest
GUTS in 2023 saw the continuation of her love for the colour purple, however this time in a bolder, stronger pallete that allowed her to be more eccentric in her exploration of her style. The palette for this album involved a lot of sequins and sparkles, leather-accented sets, and an outline of the colours red and black, showcasing her confident, quirky self with a more alternative touch, telling Harper’s Bazaar that her style ‘is constantly changing with every year I grow’.
Photo: Pinterest
With the passing of time, Olivia’s aesthetic has taken a turn towards a softer, more feminine look. The wardrobe choices of the singer have now shifted along the colour palette of her new album you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, moving away from the shade of purple associated with the previous albums into soft pink and blue hues, not only giving her a more mature look, but also bringing out the kind of tenderness that allows her to explore the more complex side of love as she’s growing up. She has represented this with her style in the form of babydoll and lace dresses, cardigans, peep toe heels and round collars.
Photo: Pinterest
Olivia is more than just a trendsetter. Apart from pioneering her own aesthetic and inspiring youngsters globally, she also possesses the ability to grasp the on-going trends and relate to them in a way that resonates excellently with the audience, while staying true to her own self. This kind of authenticity in both her music and her style expression is what makes her relatable, genuine and distinctive at the same time.
Cover of Olivia’s debut album SOUR, inspired by parts of 2021-popular indie-kid and y2k aesthetics
Photo: Pinterest
From magazine covers to off-duty looks, the musician has portrayed absolute dedication to her art and style with her surreal rebellious energy, pop-punk character and attire with cultural references to the past. I strongly believe that she will continue to surprise us with her shockingly relatable lyrics and inspirational outfits. Until then, I can’t help but already wonder what she is going to bring to the table for her next project.
XOXO, The Fashion Stock Market
