After the success of her new single “High Fashion”, Addison Rae has solidified herself at the forefront of pop music for the next generation. However, you might know her from TikTok. She has always been in the low simmer of the public eye, from making dance videos, belonging to a famous content house, or hanging out with the Kardashians. Rae initially gained popularity during pre-pandemic Tiktok, but she has garnered an audience who has seen her grow and change over time.
There comes a time during a TikTok celebrity’s career wherein they understand the difference between a celebrity and an influencer and try to break out of the 15 seconds of fame. Some choose to harness their popularity and create their reality TV show, some dive into business ventures, and a couple try to break out through music. You might have heard her singles “Diet Pepsi” and “Aquamarine” or even her feature song “Von dutch a.g. cook remix featuring Addison Rae” by Charli xcx. All of these are a testament that she has changed, and she is not just an internet influencer, thanks to the people with whom she is surrounding herself now. Today, Addison Rae has picked the right mentors and successfully rebranded herself From being a TikTok star to a pop princess.
In the fashion world, Addison has chosen to surround herself with fashion heavy-hitter, stylist, and Fashion Editor of Interview Magazine, Dara Allen. Dara’s touch on Addison’s new era has been very evident and, safe to say, effective. During the VMAs, Rae wore a Claire Sullivan outfit styled by Dara. The premise of the outfit was to “capture a feeling,” with the event being the VMAs, the duo wanted to capture the essence of what a popstar really is, getting inspiration from the greats like Madonna, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and others. It was provocative, experimental, and cultural.
Addison’s new singles have all been heavy hitters, dawning Rae’s new artistic era and proving that she is not only an internet sensation but an artist with intention. “Diet Pepsi” Addison showcases Americana in a can (get it?), a melodramatic pop track that features Rae in her most promiscuous, cheeky, and intimate self, a simple song about a girl madly in love and ready to risk it all. Her styling in this music video shows Rae in a very raw manner, wearing a bullet bra with underwear and stockings, showing that she is ready to show herself and let her energy captivate you.
In contrast, Addison’s second single, “Aquamarine”, showcases her in her most extravagant self. Her styling showcases avant-garde pieces, which Dara noted: “It’s sort of like, you’re unafraid to make others uncomfortable because you’re so comfortable in what you’re doing… you take the mask off and you’re free.” In the video, Addison shows that she has a branded language and she is not going to follow a specific mold. Those who get it will get it, and those who won’t won’t. She showed that she’s not afraid of being more artistic, experimental, and different just to fit the popstar stereotype, which we have seen from former popstars is the popstar way.
Lastly, “High Fashion”, a song about rejecting drugs and indulging oneself in glamour, rounds out Rae’s overall voice for her new era and a styling success on Dara’s end. With an ensemble that references Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, rolling around in a pit of powdered sugar in a blue tights ensemble, and a nude skin-tight halter neck dress in a closet filled with shoes, the music video screams glamour with a capital G. Also notable is the rhinestone cage bra top with lowrise jeans and bedazzled fringe dress, referential of popstar icon Britney Spears. Throughout this music video, Addison showed that she knows her references, and she’s not afraid to pay homage to them because they were the ones who molded the people’s Addison Rae.
Overall, Addison Rae’s new artistic era has been no less than successful because she chose to surround herself with the right people for the right things. Rae is starting to understand that there are people to reach out to, references to learn, and boundaries to be pushed. Addison is on the right path to gaining ultimate pop star status for the next generation, and it’s beautiful to see how one TikTok star can meet their perfect esoteric fairy godmother and transform just like bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.
Words & Graphic by 3rdy Pacis