Honestly, if you’ve spent any time on the internet in the last few years, you’ve seen the comments. People are obsessed with it. They see a photo of Billie Eilish in a 5XL Gucci sweatshirt and immediately lose their minds, asking, "Why does Billie Eilish dress like that?"
It’s a weirdly loaded question. Some people think she’s hiding something. Others think it’s just a "gen z" thing or a calculated marketing ploy to stay edgy. But the truth is actually a lot more personal—and a lot more frustrating—than just wanting to look "cool" or "different."
The "Security Blanket" Theory
For the longest time, the big, baggy clothes weren't just a style choice. They were a shield.
Billie has been extremely open about the fact that she grew up with a pretty rocky relationship with her body. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she basically admitted she only started wearing those massive silhouettes because of her body image. She didn't want the world to have access to her. Not even visually.
"Nobody can have an opinion because they haven't seen what’s underneath. Nobody can be like, 'she’s slim-thick,' 'she’s not slim-thick,' 'she’s got a flat ass,' 'she’s got a fat ass.' No one can say any of that because they don’t know." — Billie Eilish
It’s kind of heartbreaking when you think about it. Here is one of the most famous teenagers on the planet, and she felt she had to physically disappear inside her clothes just to avoid being picked apart by strangers on Twitter. She called the baggy clothes her "security blanket." We've all had those—a hoodie we wear when we feel gross or a pair of jeans that makes us feel safe—but for her, that blanket was her entire public identity.
✨ Don't miss: Kaley Cuoco Tit Size: What Most People Get Wrong About Her Transformation
The Early Developer Struggle
There’s a specific detail she mentioned in a 2024 chat with Complex that really puts things into perspective. She talked about a brand called Brandy Melville. If you know, you know. They’re famous for their "one size fits most" (which usually means "one size fits tiny") policy.
Billie said she got "obsessed" with the brand when she was around 11, but because she developed early—getting boobs at age nine—the clothes didn't fit her. That’s where the "body problems" started. When you're a kid and the "cool" clothes don't fit your body, it messes with your head.
By the time she was 16 and her career was exploding, the "baggy clothes" thing became a cage. The media decided that "Billie Eilish wears baggy clothes because she’s not a woman" or "she’s not desirable."
She was stuck. If she wore the big clothes, she was "boyish." If she wore a tank top—which she did in a viral photo from 2020—the internet absolutely imploded. People actually said things like, "How dare she talk about not wanting to be sexualized and then wear this?"
As she put it: "I can-not win."
🔗 Read more: Dale Mercer Net Worth: Why the RHONY Star is Richer Than You Think
The 2021 Pivot and the "Sellout" Nonsense
Remember the 2021 British Vogue cover? The one with the blonde hair and the corset?
That was a huge moment. It wasn't just a "new era" for her album Happier Than Ever; it was a middle finger. She wanted to prove that she could be feminine, and sexy, and glamorous, and still be the same artist.
But then the "fans" turned. Suddenly, the girl who was praised for "not being like other girls" was being called a sellout. People acted like she’d betrayed some sacred oath to never show her skin.
It’s honestly wild how much we expect celebrities to stay frozen in time. Most people change their style ten times between ages 17 and 24. Why should she be any different? She’s mentioned that she felt trapped by the persona she created. She wanted range. She wanted to feel both masculine and feminine.
The 2026 Reality: Dressing for the Mood
If you look at her more recent appearances—like the Hit Me Hard and Soft era—she’s moved into what I’d call a "post-baggy" phase. It’s an amalgamation. One day she’s in a thrifted skirt that looks like pants with a random ribbon she found on a birthday present, and the next she’s in a custom Gucci suit.
💡 You might also like: Jaden Newman Leaked OnlyFans: What Most People Get Wrong
She’s finally at a point where she doesn't care if you think she’s "hiding" or "showing off."
The Real Reasons Why She Dresses "Like That"
- Comfort is King: Honestly, sometimes it’s just not that deep. She likes being comfortable.
- Rebellion Against Objectification: By choosing when and how to show her body, she maintains control over her own narrative.
- Gender-Fluid Expression: Billie has always blurred the lines between "menswear" and "womenswear," which has made her a massive icon for Gen Z's rejection of traditional gender norms.
- Brand Identity: Let’s be real—the lime green roots and oversized logos were iconic. They made her instantly recognizable in a sea of pop stars who all looked the same.
What This Means for You
We spend a lot of time judging people for their "aesthetic," but Billie Eilish is basically a masterclass in why that’s a waste of time. Whether she's in a 1950s-style Oscar de la Renta gown or a pair of baggy cargo pants, she's the same person.
The takeaway here isn't that you should go buy an oversized hoodie (though they are comfy). It's that "femininity" isn't a fixed point. You can be a woman in a suit. You can be powerful in a dress. You can be "desirable" and still want to hide your body from the public eye.
If you want to take a page out of her book, start by ignoring the "rules" of what someone with your body type or your age should wear. Use your clothes as a communication tool for how you feel that day, not as a permanent label for who you are.
Next Steps for Your Wardrobe:
Go through your closet and find one item you’ve been "saving" for a version of yourself you haven't reached yet (maybe something too bold or "not you"). Wear it tomorrow just to see how it feels to break your own "persona." You might find that, like Billie, you're a lot more multifaceted than you gave yourself credit for.