Ariana Grande has offered a poignant and deeply personal explanation for her distinctive fashion choices during 2018, revealing that her frequent wearing of oversized hoodies was a direct response to profound emotional distress and a desire to conceal herself from the world.
The Signature Look That Concealed Pain
In a recent video for Vogue's acclaimed Life in Looks series, the 32-year-old singer and actor revisited the most memorable sartorial moments of her career. The discussion prominently featured a 2018 photograph of Grande leaving her New York City apartment, captured in what became her uniform of that period: an oversized sweatshirt, dramatic thigh-high boots, and her trademark high ponytail.
Grande confessed that this now-iconic ensemble was far more than a simple fashion statement. "I wanted to hide away," she revealed, describing 2018 as "a very strange time" in her life. The look, she explained, was a physical manifestation of her internal struggle to process multiple overlapping tragedies.
A Year of Overwhelming Trauma and Loss
The Wicked star was grappling with the aftermath of several devastating events. The most public of these was the horrific Manchester Arena attack in May 2017, where a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at her concert, killing 22 people and injuring over 500. Grande has spoken openly about suffering from "physical" anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder following the atrocity, which she said would leave her "speechless and filled with questions for the rest of my life."
Simultaneously, her personal life was in tumult. She embarked on a whirlwind, highly publicised romance and engagement with comedian Pete Davidson, which ultimately dissolved. This breakup was compounded by the tragic death of her ex-boyfriend, rapper Mac Miller, from an accidental overdose in September 2018 at just 26 years old.
Fashion as Armour and Escape
"I was processing a lot, and I always wanted to hide away in something really cozy," Grande explained of her hoodie-centric wardrobe. The oversized garment served as a protective shell, a place of comfort amidst chaos. Yet, she noted a telling detail: the thigh-high boots provided a contrasting spark of confidence. "I remember that the boots still made me feel c***," she said, highlighting the complex duality of her emotional state—seeking both invisibility and a sliver of self-assurance.
The singer admitted that during this period, she had "genuinely at the time did not have the mental energy to consider clothing." The effortless combination of a sweatshirt and boots became a practical, emotional necessity. "So the easiest thing for me was to throw on a sweatshirt and a c***y boot, and that was how it happened," she stated. "I’m sorry to say it. This is just the honest truth."
Grief, Glue, and Moving Forward
Grande's grief following Mac Miller's death was particularly all-consuming. In a 2019 Vogue interview, she described him as "the best person ever" and reflected on her role in their relationship. "I was the glue for such a long time, and I found myself becoming . . . less and less sticky. The pieces just started to float away," she shared, offering a raw metaphor for her sense of fragmentation.
This candid revelation reframes a globally recognised pop culture fashion moment. What was once seen as a quirky, cosy-chic trend is now understood as the external uniform of a young woman navigating unimaginable trauma, very public heartbreak, and profound loss. Ariana Grande's 2018 hoodie era stands as a powerful testament to how personal style can often be a silent language, speaking volumes about the private battles fought beneath the fabric.
