If the year belonged to anyone, it was Chappell Roan. The 26-year-old singer went from cult favorite to overnight sensation, culminating in her 2023 debut The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess earning an Album of the Year nomination at the Grammys. While Chappell has become known for her soprano synth-pop, she’s cultivated a campy, drag-inspired, pop-culture laden image to go alongside it.
Chappell turned to stylist Genesis Webb to fashion her into a pop star. The two met on the set of an editorial shoot where Webb was assisting Nicola Formichetti, and the two bonded over their Midwestern roots. “The trashiness is there with us,” Webb told Vogue earlier this year. These days, Webb acts as fashion creative director, helping execute larger-scale visions, like Chappell’s medieval VMAs performance of “Good Luck Babe.”
While the two have tapped brands like Rabanne, Wiederhoeft, Ottolinger, and Y/Project to create Chappell’s singular image, they have also shone a light on craftsmen and artisans. Leather artist Zana Bayne created her wrestle-mania Lollapalooza look, VMAs armor, and SNL cowgirl getup, while designer Gunnar Deatherage was responsible for her Jazz Age SNL promo look and Swan Lake-inspired costume.
Chappell and Webb have pushed each other out of their comfort zones to create some truly remarkable work in 2024. “She obviously loves drag and comes from a more glam drag background, where I loved the club kid scene,” Webb said. “She taught me just that glam and color and glitter can be just as avant garde and just as high fashion as anything.” Amen to that. Below, see some of Chappell Roan’s most spellbinding looks from 2024.