Sometimes a shirt is just a shirt. Most of the time, actually. You grab a random tee from the laundry pile because it’s clean or because you like the color, and that’s the end of it. But when Aubrey Plaza stepped onto the Studio 8H stage for the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special in February 2025, the pink tie-dye shirt peeking out from under her sharp black blazer wasn't just a fashion choice. It was a eulogy.
It was her first time back in the public eye after a devastating personal loss. Her husband, the talented director and writer Jeff Baena, had passed away just weeks earlier in January 2026. For a woman known for her razor-sharp sarcasm and "deadpan queen" persona, the outfit was an incredibly vulnerable, wordless signal to everyone watching. Honestly, it was one of those rare celebrity fashion moments that actually felt human.
The Mystery of the Aubrey Plaza Tie Dye Shirt
People were confused at first. Why wear a casual, home-dyed look to one of the biggest television events of the decade? You've got legends like Steve Martin and Kristen Wiig running around, and Plaza shows up looking like she just came from a backyard craft session. But for the "real ones" who have followed her career, the Aubrey Plaza tie dye look immediately clicked.
The backstory actually goes back to the 2020 lockdowns. While most of us were failing at sourdough or rotting on TikTok, Jeff Baena got obsessed with tie-dying. Not just "tried it once" obsessed, but "50 shirts a day" obsessed. Plaza talked about this during a 2021 interview on The Drew Barrymore Show, laughing about how their house was basically a dye factory.
A Wedding in Pajamas
The tie-dye isn't just a hobby remnant; it’s literally the fabric of their marriage. When Aubrey and Jeff decided to get married in 2021, they didn't do the whole Vera Wang and tuxedo thing. They did it on a whim. They decided at 5:00 PM and were married by 8:30 PM in their backyard.
Plaza wore a rosemary crown and—you guessed it—tie-dye pajamas that Jeff had made.
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She described the vibe as "very witchcore." It was private, weird, and perfectly them. So, when she wore that specific shirt at SNL50 while introducing Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard, she wasn't trying to start a new "festival season" trend. She was wearing her wedding colors. She was carrying a piece of Jeff with her during an incredibly difficult "first" in her new reality.
Why This Specific Look Went Viral
Social media usually picks apart celebrity outfits for being too expensive or "too much," but the reaction to the Aubrey Plaza tie dye moment was pure empathy. It stood out because it was so mismatched. You had this high-end, structured black suit—the uniform of a professional holding it together—and then this soft, swirling pink-and-white cotton underneath.
It’s a visual representation of grief, isn't it?
You put on the blazer to go to work. You do the job. You stand in the spotlight. But underneath, there’s this messy, colorful, handmade thing that you’re holding close to your chest because it’s the only thing that feels safe.
The Cultural Impact of "Grief Fashion"
We've seen this before, but rarely so subtly. Usually, "tribute" fashion involves a name printed on a jacket or a specific piece of heirloom jewelry. By choosing a tie-dye shirt, Plaza leaned into a very specific era of her life with Baena.
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- The Quarantine Era: A time when the world stopped, and they just had each other and a bucket of dye.
- The Improvisational Spirit: It mirrors the way they lived and worked together on films like Life After Beth and The Little Hours.
- The Anti-Hollywood Stance: It’s a middle finger to the expectation of "glamour" in the face of tragedy.
Can You Actually Buy the Shirt?
Sorta. But also, no.
Since the shirt Aubrey wore was handmade by her late husband, you aren't going to find an "official" version at Nordstrom. However, the internet being the internet, the search for Aubrey Plaza tie dye exploded immediately after the broadcast.
If you're looking to channel that vibe, you're mostly looking at two options:
- The DIY Route: This is probably the most "Aubrey" way to do it. Get a heavy-weight cotton tee, some Rit dye (specifically in petal pink or a soft rose), and use the "spiral" technique. Jeff apparently used the spiral method for their wedding PJs, which creates those centered, sunburst patterns.
- Independent Creators: Places like Etsy and Redbubble are currently flooded with "Aubrey Plaza Tribute" tees. Some are bootleg 90s-style graphics, while others are just fans trying to replicate the specific pink-and-white pattern she wore on stage.
It’s worth noting that while "tie-dye" is often associated with 60s hippies, the version Plaza wears is much more muted. It’s not "neon rainbow." It’s "faded memory."
What This Means for Her Style Moving Forward
Aubrey’s style has definitely shifted lately. Before 2025, she was leaning into high-glamour, "Old Hollywood" bombshell looks—think Loewe with giant gold pins or sleek Saint Laurent.
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But her 2026 appearances, including the Honey Don't! press tour and her recent sightings at New York Fashion Week, show a woman who is mixing that high-fashion armor with very personal, almost "grungy" elements. She’s wearing leather Khaite coats and barrel jeans, looking more like a 90s indie film star than a traditional starlet.
The tie-dye moment was the catalyst for this "refined but raw" aesthetic. It proved that she doesn't need to be "on" all the time to be the most compelling person in the room.
How to Style a Tie-Dye Shirt Without Looking Like a Camper
If you’ve been inspired by the Aubrey Plaza tie dye look but don't want to look like you're headed to a Grateful Dead concert, take a page out of her book. The secret is the "high-low" contrast.
- Layer it: Put the tie-dye under a structured piece. A navy or black blazer kills the "hippie" vibe and makes it look intentional.
- Control the palette: Stick to two colors. The pink-and-white combo Aubrey used is sophisticated because it doesn't fight for attention.
- Keep the bottom half simple: Go with tailored trousers or very dark, straight-leg denim.
- Mind the fit: An oversized, boxy tie-dye shirt works better for this look than something tight or cropped.
Ultimately, the tie-dye shirt wasn't about fashion trends or SEO keywords for Aubrey Plaza. It was a private signal sent through a very public medium. It reminded everyone that behind the "weird girl" characters and the sarcastic interviews, there’s a person navigating a really heavy chapter of life.
If you want to keep up with how Aubrey is navigating her career and style post-2026, I can help you track her upcoming film releases or look into the specific designers she’s been wearing on the red carpet lately.