Halsey, born Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, has long been a figure at the crossroads of music, art, and self-expression. While her powerful voice and deeply personal lyrics have earned her critical acclaim, it’s her ever-evolving style that continues to captivate fans and fashion critics alike. Halsey’s wardrobe is not just a collection of trendy outfits—it’s a canvas where fashion history comes alive, a tapestry woven from various iconic eras and historical influences.

From Victorian-inspired corsets to bold ’90s grunge aesthetics, Halsey seamlessly incorporates elements of fashion history into her modern wardrobe, creating looks that are not only visually striking but also rich in cultural and historical significance. She’s a pop star who is unafraid to take risks, experimenting with styles that defy trends while paying homage to the past. Her fashion choices reflect her music: bold, boundary-pushing, and deeply connected to storytelling. In this article, we’ll explore how Halsey draws inspiration from different fashion eras and how she incorporates these elements into her wardrobe, making each outfit a statement of both style and substance.

The Victorian Influence: Reclaiming Femininity Through Fashion

One of the most notable periods that Halsey draws inspiration from is the Victorian era, a time known for its intricate, often restrictive, fashion choices. The era’s signature styles—think corsets, high necklines, and layers of lace—symbolize the complex social roles women navigated in the 19th century. Halsey, however, takes these elements and reinterprets them through a modern, feminist lens.

In many of her music videos, red carpet appearances, and photo shoots, Halsey has been seen wearing corset-inspired tops and gowns with lace details. But instead of adhering to the Victorian notion of female fragility, she reclaims the corset as a symbol of empowerment. In doing so, she turns a garment historically associated with restriction into one of strength and liberation.

For instance, in her Manic era, Halsey frequently appeared in high-fashion corsets that accentuated her figure, pairing them with modern accessories like chunky boots and oversized jackets, bringing a rebellious twist to what might otherwise be a historically conservative look. These outfits are an emblem of her ability to merge the past and present, using fashion to tell a story of reclaiming power and autonomy over one’s body.

The Victorian era was also known for its ornate details, and Halsey’s wardrobe often embraces this aspect with her use of delicate lace, intricate embroidery, and structured silhouettes. In an age where fast fashion tends to dominate, Halsey’s choice to highlight the craftsmanship of bygone eras reflects her appreciation for art and history.

’90s Grunge: A Nod to Rebellion and Individuality

Halsey’s music has always had an edge, much like the grunge movement of the 1990s—a style she channels frequently in her wardrobe. Rooted in rebellion, grunge was a rejection of the over-the-top glitz and glam of the ’80s, favoring a more stripped-down, raw aesthetic. Halsey’s fascination with this era is not just about the look; it’s about the attitude.

She has been known to embrace flannel shirts, oversized sweaters, combat boots, and distressed jeans, all key elements of the grunge uniform popularized by icons like Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love. But Halsey’s take on grunge is far from derivative. Rather than merely replicating the looks of the past, she infuses her own brand of femininity and artistry into the style. For instance, she often pairs flannel shirts with bold makeup choices, such as a dark lip or smokey eye, adding a layer of high-fashion glamour to the traditionally rugged look.

Halsey’s use of ’90s grunge is particularly notable for its juxtaposition against her more high-concept, elaborate outfits. It’s a reminder that fashion doesn’t have to be polished to be powerful. Sometimes, rawness, rebellion, and comfort are the statements in themselves. By mixing casual grunge with high-fashion elements, Halsey tells a story of both vulnerability and strength—two themes central to her music and public persona.

1920s Flapper Glam: The Spirit of Defiance

When Halsey isn’t channeling modern-day grunge or Victorian romance, she often dips into the roaring ’20s for inspiration. The 1920s was a time of radical change, particularly for women. It was an era marked by liberation—women were rejecting the corseted silhouettes of the past in favor of looser, more androgynous styles. The flapper, with her bobbed hair, fringed dresses, and smoky eye makeup, became the symbol of a new kind of woman: bold, unapologetic, and defiant.

Halsey often taps into this spirit of rebellion and freedom. At various awards shows and events, she’s been seen in dresses that evoke the jazz age: drop-waist silhouettes, shimmering fabrics, and dramatic accessories like long pearl necklaces and headbands. Her hair, often styled in short waves or a sleek bob, harks back to the iconic flapper aesthetic.

But Halsey doesn’t just stop at the visual; she channels the energy of the 1920s in her attitude. Much like the flappers who pushed societal boundaries, Halsey too is a figure of defiance—whether she’s advocating for gender equality, speaking out about mental health, or embracing her own fluidity in terms of identity and sexuality. For her, fashion is not just about appearance, but about embodying the values of the eras she draws from.

In an industry where conformity often reigns, Halsey’s flapper-inspired looks serve as a reminder of the power of individuality and the importance of pushing boundaries, both in fashion and in life.

Renaissance and Baroque: A Return to Dramatic Opulence

Halsey’s wardrobe choices sometimes reach even further back into history, incorporating elements from the Renaissance and Baroque periods—times of dramatic opulence and elaborate artistry. The Renaissance, with its emphasis on classical beauty, and the Baroque, with its extravagant, highly detailed designs, are both eras steeped in a sense of grandeur and theatricality.

Halsey has been known to embrace these influences, particularly in her more avant-garde looks. During her If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power era, she adopted regal silhouettes reminiscent of the Renaissance. Corseted bodices, puffed sleeves, and velvet fabrics were key components of her style, often paired with intricate jewelry and dramatic hairstyles that nodded to the royal courts of Europe.

In photo shoots and music videos, Halsey has also been seen in Baroque-inspired gowns, complete with voluminous skirts, ruffled collars, and luxurious fabrics like silk and brocade. These looks transport the viewer to another time, reminding us of the role fashion has always played in conveying status, power, and identity.

What’s striking about Halsey’s use of Renaissance and Baroque elements is how she modernizes them. Instead of appearing as though she’s wearing a costume, Halsey seamlessly integrates these historical influences into her contemporary style, making them feel fresh and relevant. She uses fashion history not as a relic of the past, but as a living, breathing form of self-expression that continues to evolve.

Androgyny and Gender Fluidity: Breaking Boundaries

Throughout her career, Halsey has been open about her fluidity when it comes to both gender and sexuality, and her wardrobe reflects this openness. She often embraces androgynous styles, blending masculine and feminine elements in a way that challenges traditional fashion norms.

Halsey’s androgynous looks often draw inspiration from early 20th-century fashion, particularly the rise of women’s suiting in the 1920s and ’30s. At various red carpet events, she’s been seen sporting tailored tuxedos, often pairing them with bold, feminine makeup or delicate accessories to create a balance between masculine and feminine aesthetics. Her ability to navigate between these fashion worlds speaks to a larger cultural shift towards breaking down the rigid boundaries of gendered clothing.

But Halsey doesn’t limit her androgyny to formalwear. In everyday outfits, she often mixes oversized, traditionally masculine pieces like baggy pants and bomber jackets with more fitted, feminine tops. Her style reflects her belief that fashion should not be confined to binary categories, but should instead be a fluid expression of identity and individuality.

The Power of Fashion as Storytelling

At the heart of Halsey’s approach to fashion is the belief that clothing is a form of storytelling. Each outfit, whether it draws from Victorian history or ’90s grunge, tells a narrative about who she is, where she’s been, and where she’s going. Much like her music, Halsey’s fashion is deeply personal, yet universally resonant. It’s a reflection of her multifaceted identity—at once rebellious, romantic, and unapologetically bold.

By incorporating elements from various historical periods, Halsey bridges the gap between past and present, showing that fashion is not just about following trends, but about understanding and reinterpreting the cultural legacies that continue to shape our world. Her wardrobe is a journey through time, a visual representation of her unique ability to blend art, history, and self-expression into a cohesive, dynamic identity.

As she continues to evolve as an artist and fashion icon, one thing is clear: Halsey’s wardrobe will remain a powerful force, a living testament to the enduring influence of fashion history and the timeless appeal of individuality.