SNL slayed with host and musical guest Charlie XCX. Following a criticized post-election show with Bill Burr, the girls, gays, and theys were ecstatic to see Charlie serve.
She introduced herself and explained “Brat” in a feathered, off-the-shoulder Dilara Findikoglu dress. A signature in her wardrobe, black remained a staple throughout the show. Her first outfit, a slick corset-backed dress, showed off her curves and exemplified her “cool girl” persona, combining feminine nods with avant-garde textures.
Charlie didn’t embrace the cult of “effortlessness,” with her long black hair styled in beachy waves and her makeup look — which included a matte lip, extra blush, and flawless winged eyeliner.
While most sketches showed Charlie as a different character, she played herself in the Please Don’t Destroy sketch. The pre-filmed bit featured her in a black dress with a high/low cut, popularized in the mid-2010s – around the same time her career was taking off with hits like “Boom Clap.” She accessorized with a Khaite’s Elena bag.
In her “360” performance, she covered her eyes with dark square sunglasses, which only exemplified her icy allure. Her outfit combined casual and high-maintenance, pairing an oversized black Lou Reed graphic T-shirt with a frilly white micro-skirt. Although it was hard to notice anything besides her thigh-high stiletto boots, she accessorized with a chunky belt and a large Gucci Jackie bag.
In her “Sympathy is a Knife” performance, she wore tight black leather shorts with slightly shorter black boots that ended just above her knees. Once again, she wore her black shades, which, like her music, provided a lure of emotional detachment. Again, she wore a casual top: a black tank layered under a black high-cropped California sweatshirt. She completed the look with fingerless gloves.
All her SNL looks featured a dark color palette and leaned heavily into accessories. Reminiscent of Y2K trends, she added her spin, incorporating some pieces, like the high/low skirt, that have yet to return to mainstream fashion. Charlie, embracing black, especially with her shades and eye makeup, remained an enigma—sexy, aloof, and mysterious.
