Designer behind Sam Smith’s BRIT Awards outfit explains what it meant

‘I wanted to create an image which people have never seen Sam in’

The designer who put together Sam Smith’s much-talked about BRIT Awards outfit has explained what the meaning behind the look was.

On Saturday night, Smith caught the attention of many with their choice of red carpet attire at the 2023 BRIT Awards.

The singer wore a black latex, balloon-like outfit, which featured a high neck, sleeves and legs which appeared to be inflated and a zip going up the front of the all-in-one look.

Along with this, Smith wore a pair of heeled boots and a pair of tiny earrings as they posed for photographs on the red carpet before making their way into the main arena area.

Simply obsessed with @samsmith's look #BRITs pic.twitter.com/bFjOtP5SJz

— BRIT Awards (@BRITs) February 11, 2023

The outfit was designed by London-based fashion label Harri, founded by London College of Fashion MA Fashion graduate Harikrishnan Keezhathil Surendran Pillai.

Smith has had plenty of attention in recent weeks following the release of ‘Unholy’ and in particular the music video, which some have taken issue with for apparently being overly-sexual.

And last month, Smith – who identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them – said they have learned to love their body and feel like they have the “opposite of body dysmorphia.”

It seems like all the talk about the singer’s body and identity – which has often crossed the line into abuse – was the inspiration behind Pillai putting together the bold outfit.

Speaking to Women’s Wear Daily following the awards, Pillai said: “Sam was having a lot of hate comments recently after ‘Unholy’ about their body image. This is my take on celebrating their natural form and the beauty of being one’s self.