We have pontificated plenty over amazing stage costumes, be they latex, lace…or anything really. These days, designers and stylists are truly helping artists bring their vision to full fruition, no matter how unusual or hard to pull off. In Olivia Rodrigo’s case, out on her Unraveled tour presently, a truly stunning outfit ‘change’ happened during her debut show in Hartford, CT, just the other night.
And yes, there was latex!
As she wore a white pleated dress and sang her ballad “The Cure,” rain began to fall on the 23-year-old singer. This was when Rodrigo’s dress disintegrated to reveal a red latex outfit underneath. The bespoke white melting dress was designed by Hussein Chalayan, using the same unique melting technique he had employed in his spring 2016 collection. On the runway ten years ago, Chalayan’s models were sprayed with water, and their outer couture uncovered palm-patterned dresses embellished with Swarovski crystals.
Then, as now, the designer says, timing is crucial for the moment of the dress melting.
The dress, made from a special paper-like material that melts away when coming into contact with water, created quite a dramatic effect as Rodrigo sang such a heartfelt ballad. As the delicate outer dress split off her, Rodrigo finished singing, took the moment with arms outstretched while the bright red tulle corseted latex outfit underneath came into view.
The red revealed under white also made quite the fantastic color contrast.
Olivia Rodrigo is no stranger to making news with her outfits…and sometimes controversial news. Back in May, while performing in Barcelona, she took some heat for wearing a ‘babydoll’ dress (short pink floral dress with puffed sleeves) while singing her “The Stupid Song.” As she said about the criticism at the time leveled at her that she was “infantilizing” her image:
“What’s really disturbing is I have worn outfits that are maybe revealing on stage… but me fully covered up in a dress that people deem to be childlike was inappropriate.”
There are sure to be more interesting couture turns from Olivia Rodrigo, but we do thank her for the latex.
