Olivia Rodrigo's Dress Melts Off Onstage During Tour Kickoff
The singer's costume transformed during a "rain" effect on the opening night of her 'Unraveled Tour'.
Olivia Rodrigo launched her "Unraveled Tour" in Hartford, Connecticut, with a dramatic wardrobe reveal as her white dress appeared to melt off her body during a performance.
During the song "the cure" at the People’s Bank Arena, artificial rain began to fall on stage. As the water cascaded down, Rodrigo's white sleeveless dress gradually disintegrated, ultimately exposing a red corset bodysuit and a micro miniskirt beneath.
The singer stood and performed as the costume change unfolded, with the reveal tying into the lyrics of "the cure" and the tour's name.
Rodrigo, 23, shared her excitement about the tour's opening night on Instagram. "First night of the Unraveled Tour was magic!!!! Been planning this show out in my head for the last year and seeing it all come together was a dream come true," she posted, accompanying the message with images from the concert, including the dissolving dress.
She added, "Thank you to everyone who came and showed so much love … Can’t wait to see more of yall on the road!!!!"
The "melting dress" was a custom creation by designer Hussein Chalayan. The Cyprus-born British designer first developed a similar water-reactive design for his Spring 2016 collection, which was inspired by Cuba and aimed to represent the country's evolving landscape. Chalayan reportedly spent six months developing the dress for Rodrigo.
The "Unraveled Tour" concert featured six distinct outfits and five costume changes, divided into seasonal segments from Spring to Winter. The rain-soaked performance of "The Cure" served as a centerpiece for the Winter section.
Earlier in the show, Rodrigo wore a white babydoll dress and a cropped graphic t-shirt with hot-pink micro minishorts. During an acoustic set, she appeared in a purple leather dress.
The North American leg of the tour is set to continue through February, with multiple shows scheduled in cities including Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Boston, concluding with a 10-night run at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
This is not the first time Rodrigo has addressed public commentary on her fashion choices. She previously spoke out against what she described as the sexualization of her "babydoll dresses," telling the New York Times' "Popcast" in May that she found it "really disturbing" when fully covered outfits were interpreted in that manner.