"If I wear what is comfortable, I am not a woman. If I shed the layers, I'm a slut."
Upon releasing her long-awaited album Happier Than Ever, Billie Eilish called out the brutal criticism that comes with changing one's exterior identity-- a problem that applies not only to Grammy-winning 19-year-olds, but rather teens everywhere. Over the course of the pandemic, Billie renovated her persona; trading neon green for neutrals, baggy tees for corsets. This transformation unravelled brutal criticism and judgement on social media, comment sections overflowed with slut-shaming remarks.
At the start of her career, Billie stuck to oversized clothes to avoid this exact response: she didn't want to be sexualized by her followers (especially as a minor). In a 2019 interview with Vogue Australia, the singer explained, "I want layers and layers and layers and I want to be mysterious. You don't know what's underneath and you don't know what's on top." Eilish attended red carpet events in trench coats instead of gowns, chunky sneakers instead of heels. Her era of unique oversized garments strayed from the typical wardrobe of other celebrities, leaving an iconic mark on the fashion industry. While her style helped redefine society's idea of "feminine" fashion, it's disgusting that hatred on social media has become so brutal that Billie felt the need to hide her body from it.
Photo via Seventeen Magazine
Billie recently decided to face the criticism head-on, embracing her figure with a new sense of confidence and maturity. The 19-year-old broke the internet with this change as she posed for the June 2021 issue of Vogue in various corsets, stockings, and lingerie. While fans smothered Billie with support and body-positive comments, haters were quick to judge these looks as slutty, provocative, and attention-seeking. But Billie didn't change her look to please others, she changed to take back her own body and promote others to do the same. In her interview with Vogue, she addressed the issue of slut-shaming, stating, "Suddenly you're a hypocrite if you want to show your skin, and you're easy and you're a slut and you're a whore. If I am, then I'm proud...Let's turn it around and be empowered by that. Showing your body and showing your skin--or not--should not take any respect away from you."
Photos via Vogue
In Eilish's new album, lyrics such as "You said you thought she was your age," and "Is my value based only on your perception?" address the body shaming and unwanted sexualization that many women relate to. Society has taught women to cover up if they want to avoid getting "cat-called" while walking down the street. We're dress-coded at a young age so that men don't get "distracted" in class. We're considered trashy if our undergarments show through our clothes. Billie's evolution opened up a conversation about body empowerment, teaching future generations that it's okay to change your fashion identity and "[taking] that power back."
Wether it's sweatpants or stilettos, it's about wearing what makes you feel confident. Instead of dressing to conform to societal standards, Eilish promotes dressing for oneself. Biting back at the criticism, Billie continues to leave her mark in the fashion industry and in society as a whole.
July 30, 2021
Written by Katelyn Kolberg
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