“I’m your favorite artist’s favorite artist.” This iconic quote comes from break-out 2024 pop star Chappell Roan via inspiration from RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Sasha Colby, who famously uttered to Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show”, “I’m your favorite drag queen’s favorite drag queen.” Roan has seemingly become an overnight hit due to her songs charting on the Billboard 100, with her hot single “Good Luck, Babe!” even reaching number four and garnering multiple Grammy nominations. She also made waves this summer by having the biggest set at Lollapalooza, filled with more fans than any other performance, including heavy hitters like Megan Thee Stallion and Metro Boomin! But what caught everyone’s attention to this new rising diva even more than her catchy songs is her incredible and unique style.
If you haven’t seen some of Roan’s performance outfits yet, let me give you a small glimpse into them. On NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert segment, Roan appeared with her extravagant drag makeup and huge messy red wig. This was an instantly memorable look for her due to it being similar to the cover of her album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” where she sported her drag makeup that consists of blue cut-crease eyeshadow, thin brows and red lips, all paired together with a bright pink blush on top of her white face paint.
Of course we can’t forget her iconic red hair that serves as a symbol of Roan’s brand as a one-of-a-kind artist. In the Tiny Desk performance, she had a little twist to that look, though. Instead of the neatly styled hair on the album cover, her red wig is teased up with lots of volume. In her hair we see different butterfly hair clips along her head, she even had some stray cigarette butts stuffed in her hair too. Roan’s look was also different with her brightly colored and frilly fuschia dress paired with her smudged red lip on her teeth. This look of Roan’s has even found its way on Pinterest where people have layouts of the outfit she has worn so others can look for the same pieces as hers to recreate the outfit too!
“Chappell Roan is more so a dramatized character/persona of the artist so her outfits being dramatic highlights that perfectly,” Avaya McCall (12) said. “I love the influence of drag in her overall style and how she always makes sure to credit her favorite drag queens for the persona and outfits. It’s the perfect combination of her persona as an artist but also her personal interests.”
Another outfit Roan wore for one of her performances during the Governor’s Ball in Queens, New York. She came on stage with her take on a Statue of Liberty outfit, consisting of everything green: Roan’s whole body was painted oxidized-copper green with a glittery green eye makeup look and a green wig. An interesting part of her outfit was her flowing dress made of separate belts hanging from a strap on her waist and a bikini-like bottom underneath. The accessories that pulled the look together were her headband that replicated the landmark statue, along with a tremendously realistic torch prop. The opening of her performance to showcase her outfit saw her coming out of a big red apple, an homage to New York’s ubiquitous nickname. Roan had her torch held high in one hand and a cigarette in the other as she came out, which left fans shocked and intrigued, followed by Roan showcasing an amazing performance to accompany her standout fashion. This performance hit many social media and professional press outlets with her astounding outfits, inspiring a rapid growth in her popularity and notable appearance through her music, which is as eye-catching as her songs are.
“It is so different and creative. It makes it even cooler that she’s in New York while wearing the outfit. I like how she goes all out for these outfits and makes them so cute,” Kaisha Diaz (11) said. “She is serving cuteness and hot. I love it.”
Roan’s stunning performance outfits are clearly a determining factor in her ever-skyrocketing career. The artist has gotten most of her inspiration for outfit choices from the drag community, who has wholeheartedly embraced her in response. Many of her fans love that about her as it proves her as a countercultural force that is nevertheless taking the mainstream by storm. A proud and out lesbian herself, Roan is very inclusive towards the LGBTG+ community and allies alike, leaving many to love and respect her! Fans can’t wait to see what other spunky outfits Chappell Roan will show up performing in her career, which is somehow only just getting started.
