Ariana Grande is opening up about one of her most talked-about fashion eras and revealing it was never just about style. In a new episode of Vogue’s “Life in Looks” series, the singer, actress and former ‘Voice’ coach reflected on her signature 2018 look of oversized hoodies paired with thigh-high boots, explaining that the aesthetic came from a much deeper and more emotional place.
Looking back at photos from that year, Grande described the period as a “very strange time” in her life. She shared that she was dealing with intense personal loss and trauma, and gravitated toward clothing that helped her feel safe and protected while moving through the world. Oversized pieces, she said, allowed her to hide when she needed to.
“I was processing a lot, and I always wanted to hide away in something really cozy,” Grande explained. She added that during that time, she simply did not have the mental energy to think about fashion. Instead, she reached for whatever felt easiest, often throwing on a sweatshirt without much thought. The boots, however, gave her a small sense of confidence amid everything else she was carrying.
A Painful Period Behind the Looks
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Grande’s hoodie-heavy era followed several life-altering events. In May 2017, a terrorist attack at her concert in Manchester, England, killed 22 people and injured hundreds. Grande later spoke openly about experiencing anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder after the tragedy, per People. She briefly paused her tour before returning to Manchester to host a benefit concert honoring the victims.
In a letter to fans shared later in 2018, Grande said the bombing would leave her “speechless and filled with questions” for the rest of her life. That same year, she was hit with another devastating loss when her former boyfriend Mac Miller died from an accidental drug overdose in September 2018 at age 26.
In a 2019 Vogue interview, Grande described her grief as “all-consuming,” pushing back on public speculation surrounding their relationship. She emphasized that outsiders did not see the years of effort, love and exhaustion they shared. Just weeks after Miller’s death, Grande and her then-fiancé Pete Davidson ended their engagement, closing out a year defined by emotional upheaval.
Looking back now, Grande reframed her fashion choices from that era as a form of survival rather than self-expression. What many saw as a trend was, for her, about getting through the day.
How a Personal Look Became a Cultural Moment
While Grande’s oversized hoodies were rooted in something deeply personal, the look quickly took off in the fashion world. According to Lyst’s 2018 Year in Fashion Report, searches for oversized hoodies jumped by 130 percent, driven largely by fans trying to recreate Grande’s now-iconic “lampshading” style, per Page Six.
The report also credited Grande with boosting searches for brands like Reebok, Burberry and Vera Wang, cementing her influence across both streetwear and high fashion. What started as a comfort choice became one of the most recognizable celebrity fashion moments of 2018.
As Grande reflected on that chapter, she made it clear the look was never meant to send a message — it was simply what she needed at the time. As she put it, “I genuinely, at the time, did not have the mental energy to consider clothing.”
Good for Ariana, not trying to be fake and having to put on a show to impress. Hard things in life can really humble and ground a person, to let things be, and giving yourself space to be you and how you feel, and of course time to heal however you see fit for you.
You be you, no matter what, and know that you are a good human being!
Yiu know what’s odd? She claims that the oversized hoodies n clothing was so she could feel safe or hide away if she needed but yet there’s a pic of her in the article of her wearing an oversized sweatshirt but no bottoms….how the heck is that wearing something to feel safe n to hide in? It’s not. She may have been going thru a rough time that year but almost 10 yrs later she wants to say this? I think she’s full of it.