In the modern world of 2025, our fashion trends are no longer presented to us strictly from Paris’ top designers. Influential aesthetics and looks are emerging from the world of music, specifically through the curated aesthetics of pop’s biggest artists. With the popularity of Taylor Swift’s “Eras” concept, it is becoming standard practice for other artists to reinvent their musical image, creating entire visual worlds inside their albums. These concepts are not confined to the stage or music videos; they trickle into social media spaces, people’s closets and even create trend cycles.
These influences are especially evident in the recent and upcoming pop album releases of this year. From Taylor Swift’s glamorous showgirl world to Doja Cat’s funk-pop ‘80s look to Sabrina Carpenter’s callback to ‘60s/’70s styles, our pop stars are using fashion to give their albums and themselves a unique visual identity. Let’s look at how 2025’s biggest albums will be, or already are, influencing what we wear.
Taylor Swift: “The Life of a Showgirl”
October is revving up to be a month full of glitz and glam with the release of “The Life of a Showgirl” from Taylor Swift. Recently, Swift has been showing visuals for her new album adorned in sequins and feathers, exuding the true showgirl aesthetic. A callback to classic burlesque and Vegas glamour, Swift creates a newfound rediscovery of these elements of fashion.
Referencing iconic looks from showgirls past, like Josephine Baker and Gypsy Rose Lee. Even before the album’s release, fans are already drawing fashion inspiration from Swift’s album looks. Swifties are posting video after video on social media curating inspiration for what to wear to release parties, how to dress up as a showgirl for Halloween and everyday outfits that encapsulate the showgirl standards. Expect there to be more bright colors, sequins and dazzling jewelry, adding some much needed shine to a usually dark, serious autumn.
Sabrina Carpenter: “Man’s Best Friend”
With the recent release of “Man’s Best Friend” by Sabrina Carpenter, we have seen quite the resurgence of dainty meets disco. Drawing some clear inspirations from silhouettes of the ‘60s and ’70s, Carpenter showcases babydoll dresses, go-go boots and glittery disco gowns. Her use of babydoll silhouettes and platform heels reflects the established coquette trend while putting her own retro spin on it, blending the confident, attention-grabbing nature of disco attire along with it.
She creates this image throughout her most recent albums, “Short ‘n Sweet” and “Man’s Best Friend,” through her red carpet looks in halter-cut, metallic floor-length gowns and vintage-inspired styling, channeling icons like early Cher and Donna Summer. She isn’t just copying these aesthetics; instead, she is modernizing them and reintroducing them to the fashion cycle. There has been a noticeable repopularization of these styles among the general fashion consumer since her showcase of these looks, and they have now been combined with modern elements from previous trends. Many fans recreate Carpenter’s looks on social media and create inspiration boards based on the outfits, making brands quickly jump on the trend to push out similar styles, causing us, the audience, to begin incorporating these elements into our wardrobe.
Doja Cat: “Vie”
Doja Cat’s newest album, “Vie,” displays a myriad of ‘80s fashion references. She incorporates elements of the new wave aesthetic into her couture on stage and in promo photos with things like bold-futuristic makeup, loud colors and flashy, big jewelry. Doja Cat also includes metallic fabrics in her wardrobe, emphasizing the fun, creative and unique ambience of ‘80s fashion. Not only with her newest album does she influence fashion, now and in the past, Doja Cat frequently highlights flamboyant silhouettes, embedding over-the-top wide collars and spacious padded shoulders into her looks. This is an exaggerated interpretation of the tailored and sharp styles of the more professional side of ‘80s fashion, showing how you can blend different fashions into your own signature look. With Doja Cat’s newest inspiration, we can look forward to seeing striking color palettes, statement accessories and dramatic silhouettes.
While artists continue to meticulously create visual fashion worlds along with their music, fashion is becoming one with their influence, an extension of the auditory element, to submerge audiences into their worlds through sight and hearing. The visuals from Taylor Swift’s theatrical showgirl realm, Sabrina Carpenter’s vintage revival and Doja Cat’s reimagining of ‘80s glam each show how musicians can now be fashion innovators and influence the cycle of trends. In 2025, picking up a hot new album isn’t just about the music anymore; you get to be immersed in an entire aesthetic world.
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Hi! I’m Hannah Planey, A Magazine’s editor-in-chief. My staff and I are committed to bringing you the most important and entertaining news from the realms of fashion, beauty and culture. We are full-time students and hard-working journalists. While we get support from the student media fee and earned revenue such as advertising, both of those continue to decline. Your generous gift of any amount will help enhance our student experience as we grow into working professionals. Please go here to donate to A Magazine.
