Billie Eilish’s Vogue Cover Shoot: What She Wears Is Her Choice
Coinciding with the release of her new single ‘Your Power’, Billie Eilish’s cover shoot for the June 2021 issue of British Vogue has officially broken the internet. The 19-year-old debuted her new hair, closing the chapter on neon green roots and unveiling a transition to platinum blond, which has been glimpsed on her since March this year. She also made public a completely new – and conscious – fashion aesthetic, shot by Craig McDean and styled by Dena Giannini, in which soft-toned, romantic corsets and lingerie took precedence over her previously bright and baggy skatewear looks. This new wardrobe breaks with Eilish’s established style choices to introduce to the world a strong vision of femininity and womanhood, and a very different Billie – one who has evolved both physically and professionally.
British Vogue knew that this cover shoot was going to turn heads, but the backlash generated by the issue was nonetheless unexpected. While majority of fans expressed support and admiration for Eilish’s choice, others were shocked and disappointed by the ‘raunchiness’ of her new look, deeming it overtly – and unnecessarily – sexual. Eilish has therefore found herself at the centre of a discussion on the over-sexualisation and objectification of female bodies, one which defines our modern media age.
In an article for The Independent entitled ‘Why I feel so conflicted about Billie Eilish’s Vogue Cover Shoot’, Jennifer Stavros contends that, “as much as the mother I am might take pause with this confronting new version of Eilish, it would be intellectually dishonest not to remind myself of how things were when I was an alternative-dressing awkward teenager. Getting comfortable in our own skin is a battle, and Eilish is not immune from it.” Her sentiment rings true when we consider that there are many who, during their formative teenage years, feel on the edges of societal norms and struggle to fit in. The confidence and strength of Eilish’s shoot seemingly confronts this notion, acting as a powerful statement on her evolution both within the music industry and within herself. In recent interviews she has stated that she has “never been this happy in my life”, and she was quick to reassure concerned fans that the shoot was entirely her choice, captioning an Instagram post: “I love these pictures and I loved doing this shoot. Do whatever you want whenever you want. Fuck everything else.”
“I love these pictures and I loved doing this shoot. Do whatever you want whenever you want. Fuck everything else.”
It’s understandable for fans to be concerned about their idols, especially those who have followed Eilish from the very beginning through her meteoric rise to global pop stardom. However, the constant debate surrounding her image and the extent to which it impacts her successes applies an extraordinary amount of pressure on one individual in the spotlight. It is not up to Billie Eilish to break norms – and indeed the internet – in order to provoke questions about our society’s relationship with (public) body image. While she may be doing so in the process, her choice should be seen primarily as a powerful step in her own personal journey. The decision to shed her layered outerwear is about more than just clothes; in this shoot, Eilish also chooses to shed expectation and negativity, and each discarded layer marks a milestone in her journey towards greater self-confidence and freedom - which can only be cause for celebration.
“Suddenly you’re a hypocrite if you want to show your skin, and you’re easy and you’re a slut. Lets turn it around and be empowered in that. Showing your body and showing your skin - or not - should not take any respect away from you.”
