Vogue Singapore’s April ‘Pop’ issue’s cover star Charli XCX has always worn her London party girl roots as a badge of honour, as evidenced by hits like ‘Break The Rules’, ‘After the Afterparty’, alongside the countless other party anthems she has released over the past decade. Now, with upcoming sixth album Brat on the horizon, we now know that she’s returning to her club era, with the proclamations that she “came from the clubs” and was “born to make dance music” during the announcement on X back in February. The first taste of this Charli coming to play? ‘Von Dutch’ that radiated with angst, grit and mayhem—coupled with a fierce wardrobe and explosive beauty in the form of her wild, cascading tresses.
And while the pop star’s summer album is already one of the most anticipated releases of 2024, her club-ready record is not the only thing we’re looking forward to. With artfully pushed boundaries and generous splashes of colour, Charli has always taken to her beauty looks with the same unabashed, experimental approach as she does with her music. And as she has stunned with every look from grunge to glamour in her different music eras, we are excited to see how she will channel London’s underground warehouse raves cosmetically now that we’re inching closer to her latest album release.
Before the party tracks from ‘Brat’ undoubtedly top the charts this summer, peruse the coolest, party-ready beauty moments from Charli XCX’s music video timeline. This might be a good time to steal some inspo just in time for the pop sensation’s upcoming world tour this year.
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‘Boom Clap’, 2014
Pairing coral pink eyeshadow with bright red lipstick is the epitome of mid-2010s beauty, which is apt for the song that was Charli’s first solo top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100.
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‘Break the Rules’, 2014
Charli channels classic grunge beauty with kohl-rimmed eyes, blood red lips, and a flawless matte complexion in the music video inspired by ’90s cult classics The Craft (1996) and Jawbreaker (1999).
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‘After the Afterparty’, 2016
Putting her trendsetting capabilities on show, Charli sports a generous statement of Barbie pink years before Barbiecore and the single-colour eyeshadow trend came around.
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‘1999’ (With Troye Sivan), 2018
Charli gives a lesson in taking inspiration while staying true to your own look, as she keeps her trademark bold brows and winged eyeliner while paying homage Rose DeWitt Bukater Titanic (1997).
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‘Good Ones’, 2021
Proving once more that she can do it all, Charli manages a theatrical winged eyeliner that is both smudged and sharp, and channels fellow Britpop star Amy Winehouse and post-apocalyptic warrior Furiosa.
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‘Used to Know Me’, 2022
Offering an avant-garde take on Kirsten Dunst’s iconic look in Marie Antoinette (2006), Charli uses colour to her advantage in channeling a look reminiscent of Pat McGrath’s porcelain dolls at Maison Margiela’s artisanal couture spring/summer 2024 show.