Ariana Grande has opened up about the intentions behind her signature oversized hoodie and boots look from 2018, but the reason isn’t as iconic as we all remember that era to be.
The pop star revisited some of her bygone fashion moments during a recent interview with Vogue, turning the pages back eight years to when she was almost exclusively seen in large jumpers and thigh-high boots.
No pants — just a sky-high ponytail, a baggy sweater and a lollipop as an accessory on at least one occasion.
“This was a very strange time in my life,” Grande said when discussing a picture of her in a big sweatshirt, black boots and a green belt bag. “I was processing a lot, and I always wanted to hide away in something really cosy.”
Grande explained that, at the time, she “genuinely did not have the mental energy to consider clothing, so the easiest thing was to throw on a sweatshirt”.
The rest, as they say, was herstory.
The look became synonymous with that era of Grande’s life and career, which if you recall, explains why she mentioned “processing” and “mental energy”.
2018 was soon after the horrific Manchester bombings that took place at one of Grande’s concerts, and it was the same year that her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller died by an accidental drug overdose just four months after they’d broken up.
This was also around the time that Grande had a whirlwind romance with Pete Davidson, culminating in a headline-making engagement and crashing with a break-up in late-2018.
All that while pumping out two albums in quick succession with Sweetener and Thank U, Next? Yep, I think I’d have absolutely zero bandwidth for wardrobe choices, too.
Still, even amidst all that heartache, there’s one element of Grande’s 2018 look that she still holds dear. “I remember that the boots still made me feel cunt,” she told Vogue.
Did she lie?
It’s not the first time the Wicked star has discussed that period of her life and the mental health struggles it inflicted.
In 2018, she revealed she’d had bouts of anxiety that stretched on for days, and she later broke down in tears when discussing the Manchester bombings during an interview.
In 2019, she shared a scan that highlighted the impact of PTSD on her brain, and last year, she opened up about protecting herself “from the noise” as fans commented on her physical health.
It doesn’t seem like Grande will be returning to her (ponytailed) roots anytime soon, but at least we all got a cheap and easy Halloween costume out of her 2018 look.
Well, cheap if you opt for Kmart thigh-highs and not the luxury ones she trotted around in.
Lead images: Getty Images, YouTube and X
