There’s no doubt you’ve seen Billie Eilish’s internet-breaking Vogue cover. Once known for her neon green hair, she was pictured blonde, covered in silk, wearing latex gloves and corsetry in shades of rose gold – contrasting her trademark oversized and baggy apparel. To put it simply, she’s transformed.
As expected, many sexualised her outfits – likening the lingerie, lace and latex to fetish wear. She knew the media would react in this way – as they always have and always will – so why not do it anyway?
Since the debut of Ocean Eyes, she found comfort in wearing oversized clothing to cloak her curves. In an advert for Calvin Klein, she said: “Nobody can have an opinion because they haven’t seen what’s underneath.” Yet, everyone did anyway.
She, amongst many celebrities, deal with male gaze in the public eye, regardless of what they wear. The music industry and the media sexualising young women is nothing new to us – if anything, it’s what we’ve come to expect. Simply wearing a tank top led Billie to be the number one trending topic on Twitter.
“Billie Eilish wanted nothing short of a transformation. What if she wanted to show more of her body for the first time in a fashion story? It was time, she said, for something new,” said the Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue.
Through realising she couldn’t express her art without being subject to this response, Billie took control and revealed her body on her own terms. The power she had over this fashion narrative for the very first time was empowering.
But of course the slut-shaming prevailed. “Suddenly you’re a hypocrite if you want to show your skin, and you’re easy and you’re a slut,” said Billie to British Vogue.
When asked why she wore a corset instead of showing her actual body if she wants to promote body positivity, she explained: “My thing is that I can do whatever I want. It’s all about what makes you feel good.
“If you want to get surgery, go get surgery. If you want to wear a dress that somebody thinks you look too big wearing, fuck it – if you feel like you look good, you look good.”
However, Billie explained her endeavour to wear corsets is body-image related. “If I’m honest with you, I hate my stomach and that’s why,” she told British Vogue.
To hear a famous, 19-year-old female open up about her struggles with body image gives me hope for the relentless number of people who will be able to relate.
“Showing your body and showing your skin – or not – should not take any respect away from you.” We’re right behind you, Billie, and thank you for empowering our nation’s young girls.
Edited by Katie Wheatley