Goulding's Off-Duty Armor: When Pop Stars Privilege Ease (and Still Slay)
- Editorial Team
- Oct 24, 2024
- 2 min read
She emerged from the Bowery Hotel, a sliver of a figure in jeans and a black leather jacket, the late afternoon light catching the glint of gold hoops. Ellie Goulding, the pop star who belts out anthems of heartbreak and resilience, was a study in studied nonchalance. And why not? The woman deserves a break, a moment to breathe between stadium tours and recording sessions.
But this wasn't just about comfort. This was a statement. A deliberate rejection of the pop princess playbook, the one that dictates sequins and stilettos even for a coffee run. Goulding, in her artfully disheveled way, was reclaiming something. A sense of self, perhaps. Or maybe just the right to exist in the world without the full armor of performance.
It made me think of something I saw years ago, back when I was still a cub reporter in Antwerp. Dries Van Noten, the designer, had just shown a collection that was all about deconstructed elegance – luxurious fabrics draped and twisted into seemingly effortless silhouettes. Backstage, amidst the chaos, he told me, "Luxury is about freedom." At the time, I thought he meant the freedom to wear a $5,000 sweater with holes in it. But now, looking at Goulding, I understood it differently. It's the freedom to choose. To embrace ease without sacrificing style. To be both powerful and vulnerable, polished and raw.
There's a quiet power in that, a subversion of expectations. We're so accustomed to seeing pop stars in their full, dazzling regalia, that it's almost jarring to witness them embrace the mundane. But it's in those moments, I think, that their humanity shines through. They become less like untouchable idols and more like…well, us. Women navigating the world, trying to find a balance between the public and the private, the polished and the real.
And it's not just Goulding. Think of Phoebe Bridgers in her skeletons and cardigans, Billie Eilish in her baggy silhouettes, Lizzo in her sweats and a face mask. These women aren't shying away from the spotlight, they're redefining it. They're showing us that you don't need a costume to command attention, that true confidence comes from within. That sometimes, the most radical act is simply being yourself, even if that self is wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
Of course, it helps when those jeans are perfectly distressed and that t-shirt is from The Row. Let's not pretend that money doesn't buy access to a certain kind of effortless chic. But even with the best stylists and an unlimited clothing budget, there's an art to making it look this easy. It's about understanding proportion, texture, and silhouette. It's about knowing how to elevate the everyday without sacrificing comfort or authenticity. It's about, dare I say it, having good taste.
And Goulding, it seems, has it in spades. As she disappeared down the street, a fleeting figure in the urban landscape, she left a trail of something more than just good style. She left a message: You can be a powerhouse and still crave comfort. You can be a global icon and still want to blend in. You can, in short, have it all. Even if "having it all" sometimes means trading in the sequins for denim and a smile.
Shop the must-have Taylor Swift outfits- https://www.cusuti.com/category/taylor-swift
Comentários