Billie's New Look

So whether or not you are a Billie Eilish fan, if you have an Instagram account and are between the ages of 13-37, you probably noticed last week when the Internet LOST it’s mind over the new look that Billie debuted for the upcoming issue of British Vogue. The reason people are having such extreme reactions is that the pictures from the photo shoot- that Billie herself has been heavily promoting in conjunction with her upcoming new album Happier Than Ever- are a huge departure from her usual style. Billie Eilish is usually dressed in her extremely recognizable style of street-ware looks consisting of baggy jeans, brightly coloured and funky dyed hair, chunky accessories and layered necklaces, and branded puffy jackets that are usually about 8 sizes too big for her.

Her new look is a radical departure- starting right at the top of her head with a new look of beautiful golden, blonde hair- all the way down to the heels she is wearing in the photoshoot. Gone, ostensibly, are the days where Billie’s body is completely unrecognizable and drowned out in oversized clothes. Instead the 19 year old is wearing sensual looking lingerie which is made up of corsets, bustiers, robes and body length slip dresses in colours of nude and black. Vogue itself is calling it a “blonde bombshell moment” and the photos are clearly thematically inspired by Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren. None of the looks are too revealing or purposefully scandalous, which I think is a good move and Billie is smiling and looking coy in the pictures.

I think most people are shocked by this new look because it is such a far cry from her usual outfits and attitudes on fashion and showing skin. Prior to this photo shoot, Billie’s other reason for her shapeless and body-obscuring outfits was that she did not want her body to be judged by society. She was quoted, ironically in a Calvin Klein ad campaign stating: “I never want the world to know everything about me…I mean that’s why I wear big baggy clothes- no one can have an opinion because they haven’t seen what’s underneath. That way no one can say any (negative/ hateful comments) because they just don’t know…”.

The change is also very different, because Billie’s style had always mirrored the essence of her music: unique, different, and defiant of any expectations of what a “traditional pop-star” would sound/ look like. I’ve loved her wacky outerwear outfits because even though it has always been apparent that those outfits were on brand for the Billie Eilish persona, it always feels like a genuine brand- like something she chose because it spoke to who she was emotionally and what she was physically comfortable with at the time. The over sized puffy jackets and skateboarder pants were seen as relatable to her audience, or as relatable any celebrity can be, given the fact that they are still selling us things: their music, merchandise, and even sometimes selling themselves.

I find it interesting that she has been heavily promoting the shoot and some of the resulting positive press that she has been receiving as a result of this drastic change (not to say that all of the reactions have been positively received). Is it a signal to us that she is shedding her skin- much like the CGI snake that was lightly constricting her in the newest music video she just dropped for her new song Your Power (sorry Bil-that snake looked fake as hell). It is possible that Billie has been sharing the positive reactions to her new look, because she wants to affirm to herself that she has made the right choice in changing up her look.

I think it is also very possible that she is also gloating with these more sexy images in response to previously being told she had a “Mom-body” and “was looking more like a 40 year old Mom rather than a 19 year old!” by misogynistic trolls on the Internet in response to the few times she had been seen in more average, form fitting clothing. These new photos, of Billie in more sexy outfits and looking more confident would be the kind of response to those losers that I can get behind.

My hope is that this photo shoot is an expression of Billie becoming more comfortable and confident in her body and with who she is, rather than a result of her succumbing to any pressure from her music label to redefine her look for the new album, and be more sexy and show more skin. I don’t think this new style was simply or obviously the result of sinister forces though, because Billie herself has stated about the photo shoot that: “suddenly you’re a hypocrite if you want to show your skin…and you’re a slut and you’re a whore…if I am, then I’m proud…and fuck it, y’know? Let’s turn it around and be empowered in that showing your body and your skin- or not- should not take any respect away from you”. Additionally Billie has always seemed like a fairly self-aware person, and I think that this may become even more so the case as she enters young adulthood.

I think it is commendable that she is trying something new, that feels authentic and realistic to her fans, which as a fan I am very thankful for because we know that any time a female celebrity wants to demonstrate their transition in to adulthood it could very wrong easily (see Miley Cyrus- Wrecking Ball music video).

It does make me curious to see how she will handle this new look and theme when it comes to her street ware brand, designs, and merch, especially the designs she had that were centered around Blohsh- Billie’s self-designed stick figure symbol, which she has worn as a necklace in many music videos and interviews. The merchandise on her website has already started to look very different, in accordance with the new look and feel of the album: most of the older designs are further down on the webpage and there is no sign of poor Blohsh.

Ultimately as a HUGE fan of Billie and her brother Finneas I am hoping that the new album will still feel extremely authentic and relatable, while sounding incredible and interesting. As long as the music is good, and Billie is happy that this new look will be a genuine expression of who she is in this newest phase of her life, then I’m happy.  

RS