When I was introduced to Chappell Roan back in 2022, I liked her music well enough. But it was when I saw her perform in Orlando a year later that I became genuinely, truly interested in her work as an artist. Her stage presence is great, her sound design is wonderful, but after seeing her live, what I was most entranced by was her looks. Perhaps only rivaled by Lady Gaga, her distinctly campy style has me hooked.
Chappell’s looks have strong ties to the 80s drag and pop scene, while also incorporating modern style trends and her Midwestern roots. Though she has some signature selections (many a bedazzled body suit have graced her stage), no look is the same. Her creative vision is impeccable, further bolstered by the amazing work of her stylist, Genesis Webb and the legion of queer artists she commissions for her looks. Though it was hard to pick, I’ve decided to highlight some of my favorite Chappell looks.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Chappell Roan performing Red Wine Supernova on The Late Show, 2024.
Chappell’s rococo fantasy looks right out of a classic valentine’s card. Her outfit consists of a cream-colored corset and matching pannier with gold accents throughout, paired with a set of Betsy Johnson knee-high boots and rose-colored arm warmers. Pearl jewelry and lace bows tie the look together. For me, this look is “sweet.” Chappell stands out like a verifiable cupid, weaving a tale of lesbian infatuation. Complete with the impeccable set design, this look transports you into the brightly colored, glitter-covered world of the Red Wine Supernova.
Tiny Desk Concert, NPR
Chappell Roan behind the scenes at NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, 2024.
Chappell is in full beauty queen attire, sporting one of her most iconic looks to date. Her Barbie pink dress is vintage Betsy Johnson, complete with a pair of matching arm warmers. She also sports a Betsy Johnson butterfly necklace, tying into the butterfly clips that decorate her beehive wig. In addition to her tiara and hair barrettes, her wig is sprinkled with real cigarette butts, according to Genesis; “At 6:00 a.m. at the hotel, I was outside like a gremlin, lighting Marlboro Reds, just chain smoking.” This is such a pivotal Chappell look; aside from being a big milestone in Chappell’s career, it embodies everything the Midwest Princess is: glittery, gritty, and over-the-top.
Coachella, weekend two
First: Chappell Roan at Coachella, 2024.
Second: Lady Miss Keir at Wigstock, 1992.
Chappell’s butterfly looks pays homage to Lady Miss Kier, whose original version of the outfit was designed by Mr. Pearl in 1992. Mr. Pearl has designed for multiple celebrities as well as iconic fashion houses, including Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. Kier most famously wore this outfit to Wigstock in 1992. This lacey corset is filled with glittery butterfly patterned elements, brought together by an antennae headdress and a pair of larger-than-life butterfly wings. Chappell also sports some neon pink arm warmers and matching fishnets. She is a hyper-feminine fairy of love in this look, and it suits her perfectly.
The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
First: Chappell Roan performing Good Luck, Babe! on The Tonight Show, 2024.
Second: Chappell Roan behind the scenes of The Tonight Show, 2024.
Chappell’s Black Swan-inspired looks dispel a wonderfully unique fantasy couture. Her performance look features a custom dress and headdress from Gunnar Deatherage, complete with feathered nails and lashes. Her interview dress is a runway piece from The Blonds F/W 2024 collection and Fluevog shoes. Her existing nail and makeup looks provide an interesting contrast with the darker feature pieces. This is one of the first more “edgy” looks we’ve seen from Chappell, no doubt tapping into Genesis’ punk style. Though it’s not Chappell’s usual style, it suits her well, and I hope she leans into the darker side of things more often.
Kentuckiana Pride
First: Chappell Roan backstage at Kentuckiana Pride, 2024.
Second: Divine in John Waters’ Pink Flamingos, 1972.
With the classic blue eye and red dress, Chappell is paying tribute to one of the late and greats; Divine. Chappell, being a drag queen herself, has platformed and uplifted drag queens throughout her career. During her Midwest Princess tour, her openers were all local queens from each respective area. Divine was a drag queen, actor, and singer, most well-known for her film work with John Waters. Chappell has put her own spin on Divine’s iconic look from John Waters’ Pink Flamingos. She wears a custom dress from Oran Jaurelio and Divine’s signature makeup look. I love this look; despite the fact that it someone else’s signature style, everything looks just right on Chappell, including Divine’s thin, high-arched brows.
VMAs
First: Chappell Roan on the VMAs red carpet, 2024.
Second: Chappell Roan performing Good Luck, Babe! at the VMAs, 2024.
Chappell’s knightly looks from the VMAs are absolutely fantastic; her red carpet look calls to a gothic Florence and the Machine, and the details of this look are incredibly cool. Her sheer black dress is from one of my personal favorite brands, Y/project, featured in their A/W 2024 show, paired with boots from Jeffery Campbell. Her green robe is an antique; it appears to be made from green velvet, with gold appliqués and lace details. This robe dates back to the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and was most likely used in theatre productions of the era. Her personal “red” carpet is an antique, as are her purse and jewelry. The historical inspiration for her on-stage performance is very interesting; Chappell’s suit of armor and the flaming church are a reference to Julie d’Aubigny, a French swordswoman who set fire to a church in order to free her lover, who had been sent to convent after their relationship had been discovered. This is one of my favorite series of looks I’ve ever seen at an awards event; I hope Chappell continues to lean into queer historical figures as inspiration.
Saturday Night Live
Chappell Roan behind the scenes on Saturday Night Live, 2024.
Inspired by the early 20th century costumes of the dancers from The Casino de Paris, Chappell’s first SNL look is an absolute show-stopper. She sports another custom look from Gunnar Deatherage, complete with Thom Browne shoes and various bug-themed jewelry pieces. I love the dragonfly wings on the sides, and the headdress reminds me of 1920s art deco silk lampshades. This is such a wonderfully unique look, unlike anything else I’ve seen before on a celebrity.
Passing the first anniversary of her debut album, Chappell’s career is just getting started. She has done such wonderful things so far; I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Sources
all images from Pinterest
outfit details: @chappellroanstyle & @genesiswbb, Instagram
quotes: Genesis Webb Is More Than Chappell Roan’s Stylist, Vogue.com
Fashion Futurist 
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