It’s been a salacious, suggestive and downright scandalous ride—as far as HBO’s The Idol is concerned. With Sam Levinson helming the show alongside Abel Tesfaye (formerly known as The Weeknd) and Reza Fahim, there’s no question as to why the show has been touted as the next Euphoria, which alone had birthed many points of contention which lived on in the minds of the internet.
As with the Emmy award-winning narrative, the show screams treacherous; its titillating cast exuding a life lived on the edge. Where mysterious club owner Tedros—played by Tesfaye—meets Britney-coded pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) and seduces her into the darkest pits of stardom. Think drugs, rambunctious nights in clandestine locales and of course—discomforting, graphic sex parties that have earned the show its sordid reputation. Is this over-the-top industry satire or pure torture porn that panders to the male gaze? As critics double down on the show’s crude nature and curious audiences debate on the true message of the show, we’re keeping our eyes on the aesthetics of it all—which is notably proving to be every bit the indie-sleaze fashion fantasy it wishes to be.
With three episodes already in our midst, it’s clear Depp’s outfits for Jocelyn magnify the state of her mental design. Whilst all deliberately slinky and sultry, at times the costume she wears transforms into the ultimate metaphor. Take the scene when she finds herself on the brink of a breakdown on set of her music video filming—the neon-metallic, futuristic Nusi Quero bodysuit she dons becomes the very armour that restricts and confines her, just as her pop star identity targeted at supposed 14-year-olds strays far from her personal brand. Her walk is stiff, her gravity-defying heels make her bleed and her beautiful yet sharply-fitted suit cuts into her inner thighs.
So should The Idol have one redeeming quality, it just might be Jocelyn’s still much-desirable wardrobe dreamt up by costume designer Natasha Newman-Thomas. Not to forget other notable moments from the rest of the cast such as Dyanne, played by K-pop starlet Jennie Kim, Xander, screened by fashion-favourite Troye Sivan and Hari Nef’s scene-stealing delivery of Talia. Glean The Idol’s best fashion pulls, all below.
1 / 40
Jocelyn in Saint Laurent
4 / 40
Jocelyn in vintage Versace
7 / 40
Dyanne in a Saint Laurent top
9 / 40
Jocelyn in an Aya Muse top
11 / 40
Jocelyn in a WeWoreWhat bra top and Dolce&Gabbana shorts
14 / 40
Jocelyn in custom Nusi Quero
16 / 40
Xander in a Beams cardigan
18 / 40
Jocelyn in an Aya Muse slip dress
20 / 40
Jocelyn in a custom-made robe by Natasha Newton-Thomas
22 / 40
Dyanne in Nensi Dojaka
24 / 40
Jocelyn in a Didu top, Guizio mini skirt and Diesel sneakers
28 / 40
Talia in a corset-suit ensemble by Natasha Newton-Thomas
31 / 40
Jocelyn in Nana Jacqueline
33 / 40
Destiny in Gucci
36 / 40
Jocelyn in a Rui top and a Kirin skirt
39 / 40
