After a two-year hiatus, the hit show Euphoria is back. The show, which premiered in Summer 2019, follows a group of teenagers and their ups and downs of life. But this show is far beyond the typical struggles of high schoolers like breakups and failing the math test. The show follows themes of addiction, drug abuse, sex, and mental health to a graphic and almost jarring degree. The show has been praised for showing these more “real” themes on a major television show but also heavily criticized for its glamorization of drug use and addiction. While Euphoria’s themes caused a stir, the show’s distinct aesthetic choices are what made waves for the past two years.
Season 1 created the fashion mood board for every 16-23 year old. Shades of blue and purple with chunky eye glitter and crazy platform shoes filled the closets of almost every girl from coast to coast, inspired by the looks of Rue (Zendaya), Jules (Hunter Schafer), Maddy (Alexa Demie), and Cassie (Sydney Sweeney). The show had a cool, effortless, rave girl-esque style that costume designer Heidi Bivens and makeup designer Doniella Davy worked to create. Bivens has said that she wanted the characters to have a very strong stylistic point of view while still being “realistic.” Almost anything the characters wore turned to gold. Famously, the I.AM.GIA purple two-piece set worn by Maddy was sold out for months and seen on every influencer. Chunky glitter makeup looks were all the rage, and parties across the country had Euphoria themes. It’s clear that Euphoria has been a major influence on teen culture, but will that continue with season 2?
Almost all cast and creative from Euphoria have stated that this new season will be even darker than the previous. The show’s star, Zendaya, posted on the night of the premiere to her Instagram story, cautioning viewers that the show is written for “mature audiences” and that the subject matter of the season can be “even more triggering and difficult to watch.” This shift to an even darker subject matter is evident in its early stylistic choices. The show’s cinematography now has a dream-like, almost hazy look. Euphoria’s creator, Sam Levinson, has said that “If Season 1 was the party at 2 am, Season 2 is 5 am, way past the time everyone should’ve gone home.”
I am curious to see how this new gritty look and deeper themes translate to Tik-Tok fashion. Will teen fashion respond to this less candy-covered look in Euphoria? It seems so. Businesses have already banked in, even after just one episode. The dress Cassie wears throughout the first episode is by the British fashion label House of CB and is already completely sold out.
As the season continues, I’m sure everyone will be watching to see how the lives and looks of Euphoria’s cast change.
Words by Tommy Drennan.
Graphic by Emily Tobias.