Ariana Grande reveals why oversized hoodies were a 'shield' during the 'very strange time' of her life

Ariana Grande is revisiting a phase fans remember instantly. The oversized hoodies, the thigh-high boots, the look that followed her everywhere in 2018. What many saw as a fashion statement was, for her, something far more personal. In a recent video, the singer explained that the clothes were never about trends. They were about survival during one of the most emotionally exhausting periods of her life.

In a new episode of Vogue’s Life in Looks series, Grande spoke openly while revisiting past outfits. When a 2018 photo appeared on screen, she did not sugarcoat the moment. “This was a very strange time in my life,” she said, before explaining what drove that now iconic uniform.

Why did the oversized look become Ariana Grande's armor?

According to Vogue, the segment allowed Grande to unpack the emotional weight behind her style choices. “I was processing a lot, and I always wanted to hide away in something really cozy,” she explained. Comfort came first because, as she put it, “I genuinely, at the time, did not have the mental energy to consider clothing.”

Still, there was one detail she held onto. “But I remember that the boots still made me feel c–t,” Grande said. “So the easiest thing for me was to throw on a sweatshirt and a c—y boot and that was how it happened.”

The look became a staple almost overnight. Fans copied it. Fashion columns analyzed it. Grande, meanwhile, was simply trying to get through the day. She described the period again in the video, repeating, “This was a very strange time in my life,” underscoring how heavy those months felt.

Grief after the loss of Mac Miller

That same year brought another devastating blow. In September 2018, Grande’s former boyfriend, rapper Mac Miller, died of an accidental overdose at the age of 26. The loss deepened an already painful chapter.

In a 2019 interview for Vogue’s August cover story, Grande described the grief in raw terms. “By no means was what we had perfect, but, like, f—,” she said. “He was the best person ever, and he didn’t deserve the demons he had.”

She also spoke about how the loss changed her. “I was the glue for such a long time, and I found myself becoming… less and less sticky. The pieces just started to float away.”

Looking back now, the hoodies tell a clearer story. They were not just clothes. They were a quiet shield during a time when getting dressed was the last thing on her mind.


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