Self Expression Redefined: The Billie Eilish Effect

Written by Kaitlyn Patton and Jenna Brown

Creative Directed by Jenna Brown

Photography by Mira Church

Editing and Graphics by Jenna Brown

Modeled by Finne Benne , Jenna Brown , Blu Campbell , Andrea Martinez , Kaitlyn Patton , and Cole Vest

Billie Eilish. You know her name, but do you know her impact? Billie Eilish is a world-renowned music artist who not only authentically expresses herself through her music, but also through her unique fashion choices. From the moment Eilish entered the world of fame, she was a sensation, but not just for her craft. She expressed herself in a way the world hadn’t yet seen. She wore what she wanted to wear, said what she wanted to say, and paid no mind to the opinions and comments she consistently received. Throughout the years we’ve seen the star in baggy masculine clothing, tight feminine attire, layering on pounds of chunky jewelry, rocking vibrant colorful hair, wearing full galm with long nails, and, of course, in her natural state.

Eilish answers to no one and dresses the way she wants, which has culminated in many of her most iconic looks. In 2018, Eilish posted a picture of herself at Camp Flog Gnaw with fellow musicians SZA and Tierra Whack, playfully captioned “man why tf are tierra whack and sza hanging out with soulja boy ?” The post garnered a fair amount of teasing from fans and trolls alike, but Eilish’s devil-may-care attitude about the whole ordeal inspired many of her fans to express themselves just as unapologetically.

Another iconic look that shook the whole internet came in 2022, when Billie was featured on the cover of British Vogue in a lingerie-inspired outfit and heels, with more of these ulra-femme, risqué photos featured alongside her interview later in the magazine. This look was a stark contrast from anything we’d seen the singer sport before, and many fans were tickled, reposting former tweets from the singer in which she discussed how shocking it would be if she “pulled up in a tight dress and heels”.

Whether it’s a masculine or feminine look, Eilish dresses for herself, not for the eyes who view her. She’s consistently allowed herself to be exactly who she is with no restrictions. From speaking her mind on her instagram story to advocating for what she believes in in rooms full of celebrities, Eilish stays true to herself to the highest level while simultaneously inspiring her fans to do the same. She even included a film interlude at concerts for her “Where Do We Go?” tour titled “Not My Responsibility”, in which she responds to unwanted public critique over her body and style. This interlude was later featured on her sophomore album, “Happier Than Ever”. This bold confrontation against unfair beauty standards was a further nod to her fans to wear, do, and say what they want. When attending one of her concerts, you’ll see people of all genders dressed in an array of styles– from crop tops and tight dresses to oversized jerseys, button-ups, and jean shorts. Despite the diversity in styles, these outfits all emulate one single person: Billie Eilish.

One organization that has played a massive role in Eilish’s success is Billie Eilish Tours (@billieeilishtours on Instagram). Having accumulated one million followers, this account is fans’ go-to for not only Billie Eilish related news, but also for the dress codes for her famous themed tour nights. We chatted with a friend of the organization and member of Billie Eilish Tours for a short interview to gain an inside look at Eilish’s impact on her community’s style.

KAITLYN: What originally inspired you guys to start doing themed nights ?

BILLIE EILISH TOURS: We started our themes from Billie’s encore back in 2022 as a way to make the three shows more exciting and hands-on with fans. It was her birthday show so we wanted to make it special. The idea came up to us randomly and we actually named it “dress codes” at first! 

KAITLYN: What’s the process behind themed tour nights, like delegating themes to different cities, getting the information out, etc.?

BILLIE EILISH TOURS: We tried to come up with “Billie-related” themes that weren’t too obvious but were easy to participate in. The cities got different themes based on randomization, nothing too particular (ex. for Halloween themes they were definitely just based on closest date and city.) We have a pretty large base to do announcements and such, but we would remind fans every once in a while, more so closer to the shows, maybe once or twice a month– we also pinned the themed posts to ensure that they are always there for everyone.

KAITLYN: As an organization that works so closely with Billie’s fanbase, have you noticed an impact on fans as Billie’s style ebbs and flows throughout the years? How about on a widespread scale?

BILLIE EILISH TOURS: Yes!!!!!! Fans genuinely love to match with Billie and be inspired by her style. Granted, some people will copy her style era-by-era but it’s definitely noticeable when fans are very inspired. For example, ties made a huge surge into shows or general style because of her style during the HIT ME HARD AND SOFT era. I would say Billie has a lot of impact on her audience and their fashion sense.

As evidenced by the experience of this Billie Eilish Tours member and the experiences of millions of fans who enjoy her style, Billie Eilish has had a tremendous impact on the fashion world since the very beginning of her career. Her tenacity in the face of public degradation and unwillingness to be anyone but herself has created a space for everyone who admires her to do the same.