Pop sensation Hayley Kiyoko knows how to captivate an audience not just with her tunes, but also her trendsetting style. Prepping for a gig at the buzzing House of Blue Boston, she lets us in on her fashion secrets that help her take command of the stage. “I love looking tall and feeling tall,” says the five-foot-four singer, attributing her towering stage persona to both her compelling presence and clever wardrobe choices.
Hayley’s style playbook for her Panorama tour? Casual silhouettes that shimmer with a hint of sparkle. She carries a fashion trove around her tour bus, a “dungeon closet” as she fondly calls it, packed with vibrant, show-stopping pieces. In her mobile fashion haven, you’ll stumble upon a cheery yellow and pink Collina Strada ensemble, a heart-shaped Area crop top that glitters under the spotlight, and a glossy grey Diesel bomber jacket that almost mirrors the stage lights.
Driven by a passionate love for color, Hayley crafts a mood board with stylist Katie Qian, incorporating the vibrant hues of her album—whirls of purples, blues, bursts of orange, and hints of chartreuse. “I really just wanted to bring everyone into a world and just be engulfed in that world for an hour and twenty minutes,” she divulges her aim to create an immersive, colorful experience for her audience.
Every ensemble must pass the dance test. Hayley loves to move on stage, and comfort is paramount in her fashion choices. Offstage, she is a sweatshirt and sweatpants kind of girl, and she seeks to transfer that effortless, cozy vibe to her onstage attire, with a dash of glam and glitter. One of her beloved picks is an oversized blue set from The Incorporated, radiating psychedelic vibes, paired with the sparkling heart top and a rhinestone belt for some added pizzazz. Yet, she laughingly admits, “I wouldn’t really wear crystals and shiny things in everyday life.”
Hayley’s fashion routine may seem strictly planned, but there’s a spontaneity to her wardrobe selections, often making day-of choices based on her mood. But consistency isn’t a stranger to her fashion game. The singer’s accessories game is strong with her signature “HK” Vidakush chain, diamond bracelets—a splurge from her first paycheck—and her and her dancers’ steadfast loyalty to Hoka shoes for their unrivaled comfort and support.
Reflecting on her previous Expectations tour in 2018, Hayley candidly shares about her journey of self-love and acceptance. Then, her choice of athletic wear was a shield; now, she boldly sings about reclaiming her power, an ethos mirrored in her wardrobe. “That’s why fashion is so powerful, because when we feel like we are presenting our true, authentic selves, we shine the brightest,” she asserts. This reinvented Hayley, shining in her authentic self, believes fashion to be a vehicle for expressing yourself and sharing a part of you with the world.
Hayley Kiyoko’s unapologetic embrace of her style and persona is a potent reminder for all of us. Whether it’s stage or street, wear your heart on your sleeve and let your true colors shine through. Because when you wear your authenticity with pride, you take command of your own stage.
