Billie Eilish Stuns Fans With Pin-Up-Inspired Look

The singer departed from her signature fashion style for a new Vogue cover, where she discusses sexual harassment, body positivity, and contradictions of the music industry. 

  • Author: Luana Harumi
  • Cover photo by Craig McDean/Via Instagram.

After the record-breaking Instagram debut of her new blonde locks, Billie Eilish nearly broke the internet again on Sunday when she unveiled a completely different visual from what fans are used to seeing her. The 19-year-old singer stars on the June cover of British Vogue with a revealing pin-up-inspired look that includes a custom Gucci corset and Agent Provocateur lingerie set.

The neutral-tone provocative photoshoot takes a 180-degree turn from Eilish’s signature neon-colored, baggier style – and it was all her idea. The seven-time Grammy winner revealed to music writer Laura Snapes that she had already been anticipating what the response to the photos would be.  

“‘If you’re about body positivity, why would you wear a corset? Why wouldn’t you show your actual body?’,” Eilish said. “My thing is that I can do whatever I want.”

The artist also pointed out how she felt very uncomfortable about the way people would often celebrate her modest style choices in comparison to other female pop stars who opted for more exposing looks. “Suddenly you’re a hypocrite if you want to show your skin, and you’re easy and you’re a slut and you’re a whore. If I am, then I’m proud. Me and all the girls are hoes, and f**k it, y’know? Let’s turn it around and be empowered in that,” she said. 

“Showing your body and showing your skin – or not – should not take any respect away from you.”

Photo by Craig McDean/Via Instagram.

In a 2019 conversation with Pharrell for V121, Eilish explained that the public’s judgment of her clothes was one of the biggest misconceptions people had about her. “I wear baggy shit and I wear what I want; I don’t say, ‘Oh, I am going to wear baggy clothes because it’s baggy clothes.’ It’s never like that. It’s more, just, I wear what I want to wear.” she said. “But of course, everyone sees it as, ‘She’s saying no to being sexualized,’ and, ‘She’s saying no to being the stereotypical female.’” 

The Vogue photoshoot shows Eilish in a custom Burberry coat and corset, custom Mugler corset, catsuit, and shoes, and Alexander McQueen corset dress and skirt, along with latex gloves and stockings by Atsuko Kudo. The old Hollywood glamour visuals were inspired by pin-up model Betty Brosmer, and photographers Horst P. Horst and Elmer Batters. 

Eilish also spoke to Snapes about her latest single from her upcoming album Happier Than Ever, “Your Power,” which addresses an abuser who has used his position of power to take advantage of a minor. The singer said “it’s an open letter to people who take advantage – mostly men,” and was inspired by her own experience when she was younger. 

“I would like people to listen to me. And not just try to figure out who I’m talking about, because it’s not about that. It’s really not at all about one person,” she said. “I don’t know one girl or woman who hasn’t had a weird experience, or a really bad experience. And men, too – young boys are taken advantage of constantly.”

But she also predicted how the song’s theme might seem contradictory to some people in juxtaposition with the photoshoot. “‘You’re going to complain about being taken advantage of as a minor, but then you’re going to show your boobs?’,” she said. “Yes I am, motherf**ker! I’m going to because there’s no excuse.”

Eilish is set to co-host the Met Gala in September with Timothée Chalamet, Naomi Osaka, and Amanda Gorman. 

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