Celebrating Tacky: How Chappell Roan is Making History, One Campy Outfit at a Time

Since her 2024 single ‘Good luck, Babe!’, singer-songwriter Chappell Roan has had quite the impact, and not just musically. Her bold, extravagant outfits would be better described as costumes, and they denote more than a love of theatrics. Join me in my exploration of her fearless approach to fashion, delving into her three most distinctive looks and the contexts informing her style decisions.

Embracing Queer Culture

Chappell’s expression is largely an ode to LGBTQIA+ culture. As a lesbian whose upbringing was Christian and conservative, she uses this strand of her image as an act of defiance – the ultimate fuck you to her oppressors. The standout signifier is the drag makeup, characterized by severe eyebrows, garish eyeshadow, huge lashes and bright red lipstick. While drag is typically associated with gay men presenting in an overtly feminine manner, Chappell claims the title of drag queen, stating she feels the need to physically transform before going on stage. While some people view it as encroaching on gay men’s domain, you could argue that re-interpreting the tradition by claiming it as gender-inclusive is actually pretty queer. She also uses white makeup, which is intended to be clownish. In the Manchester leg of her UK tour, Chappell stated: ‘people in my hometown call gay people clowns […]  that’s actually why I wear my white face… like bitch, I’ll show you a clown,’ generating a hearty applause.

Indulging her Inner Child

She’s also frequently seen in hyper-feminine clothes involving hot pinks, heavy ruffles, sequins, and tassels. In an interview with Capital Buzz, Chappell reflected on her childhood: ‘[I] was a little girl that wanted to play dress up all the time […] ‘Once I allowed myself to do that, that’s when my art got better’. Her lean into girlypop isn’t just an extension of her artistry – it feeds into it. The look isn’t overtly seductive like some of her contemporaries, and certainly isn’t for the male gaze – it’s camp and kooky, garnering comparisons to Cyndi Lauper (who, presumably, much to Chappel’s delight, has expressed admiration towards her). Her song ‘HOT TO GO!’ is reminiscent of a nursery rhyme, and is accompanied by a fun, simple dance routine, like something a child would perform for their family in the living room. The song's charming simplicity and risque lyrics proved to be a winning combination, earning its peak at no. 4 in the charts.

Promoting Feminism

Nothing says “fuck the patriarchy” like dressing as Joan of Arc to the VMAs. Sporting a chain-mail knight suit, she strutted onto the stage holding a sword, flames ablaze behind her, underscoring her power. This serves as another example of her aesthetic and music aligning. Her music explores themes of female empowerment, with, for example, ‘The Giver’, which alludes to the orgasm gap in the stereotypical heterosexual dynamic (in other words, men being selfish in bed).

Chappell’s goal isn’t to look pretty – it’s something much bigger: using fashion to assert confidence in one’s identity. It’s a big middle finger to the system as a whole, showcasing the everlasting power of pop.