Raye: Our 21st Century Muse

Nina Simone famously said, “It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times.” Raye’s first album, My 21^st Century Blues, perfectly follows this, being powerfully introspective, contemplative and relatable to our modern world. Raye understood the traditional route to success in the music industry when she initially signed a four-album deal with Polydor, but after working with them for seven years, a single album was nowhere to be seen. So, she broke the industry's rules and became an incredibly successful independent artist who bagged six Brit Awards in 2024. As she gained her own independence, there was a noticeable shift in her style. She was no longer limited to her voice being used on controlled commercialised tracks; she has now created her own style in the music industry. She has combined multiple genres, such as R&B, jazz, dance, and soul, to give her music a unique and timeless sound. She is the perfect contemporary blend of the 21^st century with old-school glamour, and this volta in her discography is not only prominent in her music but also in her underrated fashion choices.    

Raye has said in the past that she takes her fashion inspiration from women in the 1950s and 1960s. This can be seen in many of Raye’s outfits, where the silhouettes are reminiscent of those worn by Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. Think fitted midi skirts, red nails, cat-eye sunglasses and sequins. Here are some of the standout fashion moments in her career so far.

Corsets

When performing live, Raye has become known for her long-cabled microphone and bare feet, but her go-to performing costumes aren’t talked about enough. I went to see Raye perform live in February 2024, and she wore one of her go-to maxi skirts and coordinating corset top sets. Often in a bold primary red or blue, these co-ords perfectly allow her to move freely on stage, with the spontaneity of her performing style, much like a traditional jazz artist.

Raye’s most notable corset look is the vintage Valentino she wore for her performance at the Royal Albert Hall. The corset was a white satin style with lace detailing around the edge, with the added feature of her bra straps. She paired this with black satin trousers, statement earrings, chain necklaces and the pièce de résistance, a double-layered chunky pearl necklace. Though this outfit was stunning, later in this set, during her song Body Dysmorphia, she removed her clothes so only her underwear remained, to make a statement about her own struggles with body image; the lack of outfit here really makes the powerful statement. So, this vulnerable outfit, paired with her soulful vocals, was really the emotional standout moment from the performance.

Latex Couture

Raye often wears gowns designed by Atsuko Kudo, a latex rubber couturier. Raye loves clothes which accentuate the hourglass figure, and latex achieves this flattering look. During her unforgettable Brit Award performance, she wore a custom latex tulip Kudo gown in black and white. A stunning combination of an Old Hollywood silhouette with a modern material created a unique and breathtaking look, perfect for her record-breaking evening where she took home six Brit Awards. She had even previously worn another Kudo gown for British GQ’s Men of the Year 2023. This time it was in a deep red, again achieving a contemporary take on the timeless red-carpet look.

Polka Dots

2025 is the summer of polka dots, and Raye is no stranger to adding this classic print trend to her fashion. She recently wore a stunning Jacquemus Rita Long Dress to the Jacquemus Menswear Fall-Winter 2025/2026 show during Paris Fashion Week. Styled with thin cat-eyed sunglasses and a long, thin clutch bag, she is the epitome of retro chic. Dots may have only just been introduced to 2025’s fashion trends, but for Raye, they’re not new. During the video for her 2024 single Genesis, in the third segment of the song, Genesis, pt. iii, she wears a cream and black spotted halter dress, which is fitted with a slight trumpet flare skirt, perfectly fitting to be paired with the jazz-infused final third act of the song.

Elevated Casual

When Raye isn’t performing or on the red carpet, her casual looks are equally fantastic. Much like her previous combination of modern and retro style, she also juxtaposes casual with formal accessories. In many interviews, she will wear a simple white T-shirt and jeans but will accessorise with big statement earrings, her voluminous rolled bob, striking eyeliner and perfect red nails, so that though her clothes are simplistic, she still looks elegant and put together.

She will even wear a formal evening gown paired with glasses, which are traditionally seen to be casual. As a glasses wearer myself, I always used to view wearing my glasses as a limiting factor to what could be a perfectly put-together outfit. But Raye is brilliant inspiration for using glasses as a chic accessory that doesn’t ruin an outfit; she instead uses them to add a unique, classy statement edge.

Raye continues to bring a stylish revolution to the music and fashion world, and we can’t wait to see what she will conquer next as an independent icon.