Chappell Roan, the vibrant 26-year-old pop star, made waves at the 2025 Grammy Awards with her dazzling debut appearance at music's biggest night, sporting an eye-catching vintage couture gown. Known for her unique sense of style, Roan graced the red carpet wearing an archival Jean Paul Gaultier gown from the 2003 Haute Couture Spring/Summer collection. The stunning piece combined bursts of canary yellow and robin’s egg blue tulle adorned with 3D embellishments, resembling the charming ballerinas depicted in Edgar Degas’s paintings.
Her stylist, Genesis Webb, had long envisioned this look, having kept it on her vision board for the past ten years. The outfit was completed with a feathered headpiece and sheer blue opera gloves, perfectly encapsulating the artistic and whimsical flair for which Roan has become known.
“I take [that] so seriously. But like, the fun of art and drag, I hold on to joy,” Roan shared with the Associated Press, emphasizing her commitment to uplifting her community after the devastating Los Angeles fires. She noted, “We lost so much. Like my community was lost.” This statement showcases Roan's dedication not just to her art, but to the people and places affected by tragedy.
Roan’s spectacular appearance coincided with her streak of six Grammy nominations, including for Record of the Year and Best New Artist. Her hit single “Good Luck Babe!” has been gaining traction, and she expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from her fans: “I hope you can understand… I’ve been crying tears of joy.”
The 2025 Grammy Awards, held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, created the ideal backdrop for Roan to shine. The ceremony was hosted by Trevor Noah and featured numerous celebrity performances and appearances. Roan's performance of “Pink Pony Club” during the ceremony added to her artistic showcase for the evening, where styles blended themes of rodeo clowns with ballet aesthetics.
Inside the ceremony, she changed her look, sporting a custom outfit by Thom Browne, which consisted of a blue wool and silk cropped jacket with exposed shoulder pads, perfectly accentuating her theatrical persona. Upon accepting her Grammy for Best New Artist, she wore a gray dress from Acne Studios adorned with playful bows.
Throughout the night, her fashion choices sparked conversations about her vision and the importance of creativity. “I wanted something with history; something carried weight beyond aesthetics,” Webb explained. This artistic intuition epitomizes Roan’s approach, as she continues to combine her vivid imagination with fashionable statements.
Chappell Roan's rise to fame is nothing short of impressive. Once dropped by her first record label, she was left without health insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic—a situation she described as feeling “devastated.” Roan used her Grammy platform to advocate for changes within the industry, calling on record labels to treat artists fairly. “Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a livable wage and health insurance and protection,” she asserted, echoing sentiments affecting countless musicians trying to navigate their careers.
Her poignant remarks spoke not just to her experiences but to several artists facing comparable struggles. Roan's ability to fuse advocacy with artistry is what truly distinguishes her from others.
The designer of Roan’s show-stopping red carpet look, Jean Paul Gaultier, is celebrated for his boundary-pushing fashion and creative vision. By wearing this piece, Roan is not only honoring the designer's legacy but also reviving the artistry of historical pieces within contemporary contexts. The gown's print echoes the fleeting moments of ballet—bringing attention to both beauty and the emotionally charged narratives often hidden behind such elegance.
With the Grammys behind her, Roan remains focused on her artistic growth and the impact she wishes to have on the industry. It’s not merely about accolades for her; it’s about creating spaces where artists can thrive in authenticity and security. Following her performance, which was enhanced by dramatic costume elements reminiscent of circus performers, she demonstrated her commitment to entertaining and inspiring her audience.
Roan's Grammy weekend marked not only her glamorous entry to the event but also underscored her commitment to uplifting her community and advocating for artist rights. Chappell Roan is poised for greatness, and from the way she shattered expectations at the Grammy Awards, it’s certain her artistic endeavors will resonate widely across the music industry and beyond.