Costume designer behind Sam Smith's BRIT Awards outfit explains what it was meant to represent
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Sam Smith’s costume designer has explained the meaning behind their bizarre outfit at the BRIT Awards.
Over the weekend, the singer graced the red carpet at The O2 Arena in a latex number that truly left people scratching their heads.
Smith's inflatable outfit was designed by London-based fashion label Harri, founded by London College of Fashion MA Fashion graduate Harikrishnan Keezhathil Surendran Pillai.
Recently Pillai sat down with Women’s Wear Daily to reveal what it represented.
He told the outlet: “Sam was having a lot of hate comments recently after ‘Unholy’ about their body image. This is my take on celebrating his natural form and the beauty of being one’s self.
“I wanted to create an image which people have never seen Sam in.”
The designer, who has set up a studio in London after receiving a UK Global Talent visa, admitted: “I would never sell those rubber trousers but yeah, people love it.”
Or, they hate it.
It’s safe to say this wild costume left the internet divided.
One person on Twitter wrote: “Someone put the Squidward walk sound over Sam Smith on the red carpet and I can’t breathe.”
Another said: “So apparently Sam Smith’s Brit Awards outfit is both a homage to artists like David Bowie and a commentary on the body shaming they’ve gotten lately. While I see the vision, he [they] still seems uncomfortable. The outfit reminds me of Missy, but he’s [their] not giving 'Supa, Dupa Fly'".
While a third commented: “I may not always like the outfits Sam Smith chooses, but I love his [their] confidence while wearing them.”
I may not always like the outfits Sam Smith chooses, but I love his confidence while wearing them.
— 🌴Teak🌴 🌈☮️🌊 (@tealmobile7) February 12, 2023
I was never into their music but honestly love seeing Sam Smith's outfits
— woah woah, hey hey 🤌🤌 (@0h_neat) February 9, 2023
Agreed, just make sure you stay away from sharp corners when wearing this bad boy.
It comes just a week after Smith became the first non-binary person to win a Grammy Best Pop Duo/Group Performance - along with the song’s feature Kim Petras, who became the first trans woman to win in her category.
Their fiery performance, which featured Smith donning a devil-horned hat and surrounded by dancers in red satin robes, was unsurprisingly slammed by conservatives.
In response to a person accusing the singers of teaching children to 'worship' Satan, Senator Ted Cruz replied: “This…is…evil.”
While Cruz’s Republican pal Marjorie Taylor Greene said: “The Grammy’s featured Sam Smith’s demonic performance and was sponsored by Pfizer.
“And the Satanic Church now has an abortion clinic in NM that requires its patients to perform a satanic ritual before services. American Christians need to get to work.”
