Introducing Khalid, 19-Year-Old VMAs Winner and Gucci Addict
It’s no surprise that Khalid has stepped into the spotlight this year. The 19-year-old singer has an origin story involving Kylie Jenner (she played his song “Location” in a Snapchat video and gave it a heavy boost) and crowds who lose their composure at the mere whisper of “Khalid” at his sold-out shows. But despite the smash success of his debut studio album, American Teen, which is currently ranked number four on the Billboard 200 chart and earned him a win at tonight’s MTV Video Music Awards, the teen still expresses shock. “When I started writing, I said, ‘I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know if it sounds good,’ ” he says. “Coming from being an underdog or being told that something wasn’t for you over and over repeatedly, it took a lot out of me. It took a lot of my self-confidence.”
It is the last thing you would expect to hear from someone with a hit record and a slew of A-list collaborations under his belt (a song with Calvin Harris, an upcoming tour with Lorde). Those honors are all well-deserved—it’s easy to see why Khalid won Best New Artist. On American Teen, he covers common ground, meditating on loneliness, loss, and love. There’s an obvious generational influence in his music, as he mentions subtweets, living with his parents, and passing out in Uber rides, but its message is clear. His is an unwavering ode to the teenage years—their triumphs, their confusions, and above all, their heartbreak. “I want to look back and say, ‘Wow, there’s so much growth from this,’ ” he says. “For me, love is endless and love has no age limit. I feel like we go through different stages of love. When you get a little bit older, love starts to feel different, but you see that love has always been there.”
It’s this exact craving for evolution that also marks his unique sense of style, which shows an artist rightfully caught between his youth and looming adulthood. His wardrobe, then, is an extension of that balance, resulting in a mix of millennial-friendly athleisure and retro fashion. “I use my clothing choices as a way to express how I feel. I’m a lot happier now than before, and I feel like my clothing choices reflect that and are brighter,” says Khalid. “Recording my music allowed me to feel more confident, and I feel like my personal style is comfortable [as a result]. I could walk onstage with sweatpants and feel great about myself.”
That doesn’t mean that he spends his days in sweats. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Take a look at his Instagram, and you’ll find monochrome suits, logoed overalls, striped raglan tees, and eccentric accessories (think: flag-print fanny packs) balanced with plenty of designer accessories like low-top leather platform sneakers. Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, and Givenchy are present, but above all, Gucci is the recurring star. From a leather belt with a double-G buckle to long-sleeved logo hoodies and embroidered snake T-shirts, he enthusiastically shares, “I feel like I have enough [Gucci] to be a collector now. I’m saying that while looking at my different colors of the same bag.” A quick look through his feed does reveal multiple versions of a Gucci backpack, blooming with floral and animal appliqués.
He starts laughing when asked if he identifies with dadcore style—the trend that took over the men’s Spring 2018 runways most notably in Demna Gvasalia’s Balenciaga collection—and gives a passionate yes. He’s made a habit out of wearing tracksuits and headbands—the kind you can imagine Will Smith sporting in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. And then there are the cozy wool knits and varsity jackets that look like they could have been plucked out of Danny Tanner’s closet on Full House. On second thought, it may have been obvious. From “loving dad jeans to loving to tuck in [his] shirts,” his personal style is defined by a quest for comfort and confidence. Consider him well on his way.
It is the last thing you would expect to hear from someone with a hit record and a slew of A-list collaborations under his belt (a song with Calvin Harris, an upcoming tour with Lorde). Those honors are all well-deserved—it’s easy to see why Khalid won Best New Artist. On American Teen, he covers common ground, meditating on loneliness, loss, and love. There’s an obvious generational influence in his music, as he mentions subtweets, living with his parents, and passing out in Uber rides, but its message is clear. His is an unwavering ode to the teenage years—their triumphs, their confusions, and above all, their heartbreak. “I want to look back and say, ‘Wow, there’s so much growth from this,’ ” he says. “For me, love is endless and love has no age limit. I feel like we go through different stages of love. When you get a little bit older, love starts to feel different, but you see that love has always been there.”
It’s this exact craving for evolution that also marks his unique sense of style, which shows an artist rightfully caught between his youth and looming adulthood. His wardrobe, then, is an extension of that balance, resulting in a mix of millennial-friendly athleisure and retro fashion. “I use my clothing choices as a way to express how I feel. I’m a lot happier now than before, and I feel like my clothing choices reflect that and are brighter,” says Khalid. “Recording my music allowed me to feel more confident, and I feel like my personal style is comfortable [as a result]. I could walk onstage with sweatpants and feel great about myself.”
That doesn’t mean that he spends his days in sweats. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Take a look at his Instagram, and you’ll find monochrome suits, logoed overalls, striped raglan tees, and eccentric accessories (think: flag-print fanny packs) balanced with plenty of designer accessories like low-top leather platform sneakers. Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, and Givenchy are present, but above all, Gucci is the recurring star. From a leather belt with a double-G buckle to long-sleeved logo hoodies and embroidered snake T-shirts, he enthusiastically shares, “I feel like I have enough [Gucci] to be a collector now. I’m saying that while looking at my different colors of the same bag.” A quick look through his feed does reveal multiple versions of a Gucci backpack, blooming with floral and animal appliqués.
He starts laughing when asked if he identifies with dadcore style—the trend that took over the men’s Spring 2018 runways most notably in Demna Gvasalia’s Balenciaga collection—and gives a passionate yes. He’s made a habit out of wearing tracksuits and headbands—the kind you can imagine Will Smith sporting in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. And then there are the cozy wool knits and varsity jackets that look like they could have been plucked out of Danny Tanner’s closet on Full House. On second thought, it may have been obvious. From “loving dad jeans to loving to tuck in [his] shirts,” his personal style is defined by a quest for comfort and confidence. Consider him well on his way.
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