Gracie Abrams has been steadily building a reputation not just as one of music’s most captivating young voices, but also as an artist who understands the power of image. Over the weekend, she proved it once again at Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco, where she headlined with a performance as enchanting visually as it was sonically.
For her debut at the celebrated Bay Area event, Abrams turned to GapStudio and enlisted none other than Zac Posen, Gap Inc.’s executive vice president and creative director, to design a look worthy of the milestone. The result? A breathtaking floor-length gown that moved with the music, capturing both the delicacy and strength of her artistry.
A Dress Designed to Move With Her
Abrams stepped on stage wearing a blush pink gown in vieux rose silk crepe de chine, complete with a plunging v-neckline and a dramatic open back. The pleated, goddess-inspired silhouette was paired with a cascading silk-fringed cape, which caught the light and swayed with every note. Ethereal yet powerful, the ensemble created the illusion that the singer was gliding across the stage.
In a statement, Posen explained that his vision for the piece was to design something that could “respond to her every motion” and highlight Abrams’ natural grace. Known for his ability to merge technical precision with romance in design, Posen called the commission especially meaningful given its setting: Gap’s hometown of San Francisco. “It’s a look imagined in San Francisco, created for one of the city’s biggest cultural moments,” he said.
This wasn’t Posen’s first foray into blending performance and couture. Earlier this summer, he designed a custom Athleta gown for Simone Biles at the ESPY Awards, sparking conversations around the concept of “performance couture” — high fashion built to move as seamlessly as the athletes and artists who wear it.
Style Meets Philanthropy
While Abrams took the stage in her custom gown, Posen was also present at the festival, spearheading Gap’s first-ever “Hoodie House” initiative. The activation invited festival-goers and artists to design and customize their own hoodies, with proceeds benefitting Holy Stitch, a local nonprofit supporting youth through sewing and creative programs. The initiative served as a reminder that fashion can be more than spectacle — it can be a platform for community impact.
An Artist in Bloom
Abrams’ Outside Lands appearance comes on the heels of an already transformative year. She made her Glastonbury Festival debut earlier this summer, winning over one of music’s toughest crowds. Her performances have been met with glowing reviews, including praise from the LA Times, which noted that some of her most recognizable fans at Outside Lands were none other than politicians Nancy Pelosi and California governor Gavin Newsom, seen singing along in the audience.
The California-born artist has been climbing quickly through the ranks of pop music’s most promising stars, admired as much for her delicate, emotional songwriting as for her ever-evolving stage presence. Each appearance seems to bring with it a new fashion moment, one that subtly reinforces her reputation as a modern style icon.
Fashion as Storytelling
From her custom Chanel dress at Madison Square Garden — a white satin camellia jacquard gown cinched with a scarlet belt — to the silk-fringed creation at Outside Lands, Abrams’ wardrobe choices feel intentional, almost narrative. They’re not simply outfits, but extensions of the stories she tells through her music: intimate, emotional, yet elevated.
Her influence has not gone unnoticed by the fashion world. In January, Abrams was announced as an official ambassador for Chanel, marking a new chapter in her relationship with the luxury house. The announcement coincided with the Spring/Summer 2025 pre-collection campaign, shot by Craig McDean with Sofia Coppola as artistic director — a pairing that perfectly matches Abrams’ cinematic, dreamlike aura.
This year also saw Abrams named a global ambassador for Hourglass Cosmetics, further cementing her status as a multi-hyphenate talent whose impact extends far beyond music.
A Bandana-Wearing It Girl
Even amid the couture gowns and global ambassadorships, Abrams has also cultivated a signature styling quirk that has become synonymous with her stage presence: the bandana. Whether knotted around her head or styled as an accessory, the look has become a hallmark of her performances. For fans, it’s an accessible, almost DIY piece of her aesthetic — and for fashion-watchers, it’s evidence of how Abrams manages to blend high fashion with relatable trends, sparking what could be described as the “bandana revival” among Gen Z and millennials.
Looking Ahead
If Outside Lands was a milestone, it was also a glimpse into what’s next for Abrams. With her voice continuing to win accolades, her style moments drawing international attention, and her collaborations with fashion heavyweights gaining momentum, she’s steadily becoming an artist who embodies both cultural influence and timeless appeal.
By choosing a gown that was as much about movement as it was about beauty, Abrams demonstrated how performance and fashion can merge to tell a bigger story. For the crowd at Outside Lands — and for the millions watching her rise — that story is only just beginning.
