At just 23, Olivia Rodrigo is a certified style icon. Her aesthetic is specific and curated, making her a recognizable figure with only a few symbols. Since her solo debut a few years ago, her fashion has shifted and evolved, remaining one of the largest sources of visual inspiration for Gen Z. As a fan since her Disney days and someone who got curtain bangs solely because Rodrigo posted a selfie, I feel uniquely qualified to take you through her aesthetic eras.
SOUR
SOUR, Rodrigo’s first album, came out on May 21, 2021. This release marked her departure from Disney and the establishment of her own distinct aesthetic. As the star of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Bizaardvark, Rodrigo was styled in Disney’s conservative looks for years. She shifted away from overly youthful outfits by embracing popular styles on social media. Since the release of her lead single “drivers license”, Rodrigo integrated Dr. Martens into her personal and performance style, illustrating how rock and 90s culture have impacted her, even in something as seemingly minor as shoes. Her grungier looks included elements of plaid and chunky chain necklaces.
These edgy accessories were a great contrast to the other aspects of her style. Apart from the rock influences on her look, she still maintained teenage and feminine elements. Rodrigo favored slip dresses, miniskirts, and a variety of different braids while touring SOUR. Her album cover and merch were dotted with stickers, notably smiley faces and butterflies, intertwining her song lyrics and visuals while romanticizing the chaos of teenage years.
This album cycle established purple as Rodrigo’s signature color. She mentioned her synesthesia in a Vogue interview, explaining that these songs felt purple to her, with a pale shade dominating her clothing, marketing materials, and Instagram feed. She also included pops of neon green and pink, which, to me, reflect social media trends of the time with bright, oversaturated colors.
GUTS
For her second album, GUTS, Rodrigo stepped away from youthful aesthetics, transforming into a modern rockstar. This album came out on Sept. 8, 2023, so she was 20 years old, and as Rodrigo sang in “all-american b*tch,” she knows her age, and she acts like it!
Rodrigo maintained purple as a prominent color for this era, as seen on the album cover, but the chosen shade was darker, reflecting the project’s maturity. She paired the deep hue with red, especially in her festival-run outfits, for a sexy, moody combination. These colors were noticeable in her tour outfits, a wardrobe defined by leather dresses and two-piece sets. She complemented these outfits with fishnets, printed tank tops, and baby tees with slogans and cute illustrations. Some of the shirts Rodrigo wore at various festivals teased lyrics for her upcoming album, so I’ll be keeping track of them as more songs come out.
With the rockstar look, Rodrigo included more metallic elements in her style. She retained silver jewelry, primarily her signature rings, but also embraced this color in her clothing. Silver, sequins, and stars are all important details that now make me immediately think of Rodrigo’s sophomore project.
However, the GUTS era wasn’t a complete departure from Rodrigo’s previous aesthetic. Her staple Dr. Martens remained a prominent part of her street fashion and concert wear. She did, notably, don knee-high boots and a more dramatic style.
You seem pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love
You seem pretty sad for a girl so in love is the lengthy title of Rodrigo’s upcoming album. Set for release on June 12, this project shows a massive shift in her personal style, reflecting the many changes in her life over the past few years.
You seem pretty sad for a girl so in love cannot be discussed without first looking at the transition period before its announcement. The gap between her previous project and the forthcoming release is significant and therefore includes fashion moments that aren’t fully tied into either album.
Many fans, myself included, theorized that her third album would be luck-themed, due to the small clues in her clothes. Over the past year, Rodrigo embraced polka dots, green, red, and black gingham, and ladybugs. With her penchant for four-letter titles, we all thought we’d be streaming LUCK.
However, as she began promoting, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, Rodrigo presented a wildly different aesthetic. The album title was revealed through a wall that gradually transitioned from purple to pink. Her website also saw a refresh with GUTS’ starry branding swapped for a pink bedroom strewn with vinyl records, letters, and clothing, all interactive elements.
This bedroom reflects Rodrigo’s super-feminine style for this era. Apart from the pastel pink, she has been spotted wearing babydoll dresses with knee-high socks. These dresses feature embroidery, ruffles, and collars, all soft and vintage-looking details. Rodrigo even replaced her signature Dr. Martens with kitten heels and Mary Janes.
Her Instagram account also reflects these changes. Rodrigo’s former profile picture showed her pointing at her bright red lips, an image which has now been replaced by a Blythe doll in a field of grass, dressed in Rodrigo’s newfound aesthetic. Frequent collaborator Petra Collins gifted her a Blythe doll in the style of “bad idea, right?” almost two years ago as an homage to their creative work, but maybe also a tease at this new era. Collins directed the music video for the lead single “drop dead” so she might have some knowledge of what is to come from Rodrigo.
Olivia Rodrigo might be a world-famous musician, but her fashion should be as equally recognized as her songs. Her outfits are always perfectly curated to her recent releases, creating a cohesive visual and sonic universe for every era. I am one of many who have been influenced to try new outfits due to her creativity. With you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, set to release in a couple of months, I look forward to more unique styles from Rodrigo.