Singer reflects on using comfort fashion as emotional armour during a difficult phase
January 28, 2026: Ariana Grande has opened up about a period in her life when her fashion choices reflected her emotional state rather than trends. Revisiting her style evolution on Vogue’s Life in Looks series, the actor-singer spoke about frequently wearing oversized sweatshirts paired with tall boots in 2018, describing it as a “very strange time” marked by emotional exhaustion and a need for comfort.
Grande explained that during that phase, she lacked the mental energy to think about styling or appearances and instead gravitated towards clothes that made her feel safe. She said oversized hoodies allowed her to “hide away,” while the boots still helped her feel confident. The look, she noted, emerged organically from a desire for ease and emotional protection rather than fashion intent.
The Wicked star was navigating a deeply challenging period following the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing at her concert, an event that claimed 22 lives. Grande has since spoken candidly about living with anxiety and post-traumatic stress in its aftermath. Though she paused her tour, she returned to Manchester weeks later for a benefit concert for victims, later writing to fans that the tragedy would leave her “speechless and filled with questions” for the rest of her life.