Pop star Charli XCX has partnered with Vinted to wear secondhand looks throughout her current Music, Fashion, Film tour, the company revealed Tuesday. This collaboration marks a significant shift in how modern stardom intersects with circular fashion, transforming secondhand clothing into a core pillar of contemporary style.
The Evolution of a Sartorial Philosophy
Charlotte Emma Aitchison, known professionally as Charli XCX, began her career posting songs on Myspace in 2008 before entering the London rave scene. Signing a recording contract with Asylum Records in 2010, she released a series of singles and mixtapes in the early 2010s that laid the groundwork for her distinctive aesthetic. By 2014, she was featured on Iggy Azalea’s single Fancy, which became her most streamed song and one of the year’s best-selling singles worldwide. The same year, she released Boom Clap, which became her first solo top-ten single in the US. Her second album, Sucker (2014), spawned the singles Break the Rules and Doing It featuring Rita Ora.
In 2015, Charli XCX began working alongside producers associated with the UK collective PC Music, developing a more experimental sound and image. She released the EP Vroom Vroom in 2016 and the mixtapes Number 1 Angel and Pop 2 in 2017. Her third album, Charli (2019), produced the hit single 1999 with Troye Sivan. Her fourth album, How I’m Feeling Now (2020), was made during the COVID-19 lockdowns and received critical acclaim. Throughout this period, she has consistently incorporated pre-loved pieces into her red-carpet and concert appearances. Charli XCX views secondhand fashion as a core part of her personal sartorial philosophy, a stance that has remained constant since her early days in the industry.
The story begins with an artist who understands that clothes can have more than one life. She told WWD exclusively that she loves this idea. The Saint Laurent dress had a huge moment on stage in Paris, then came with her to her wedding after party. She asked why a dress should only get one night. This sentiment drives the current partnership where older pieces are mixed with newer styles to feel more personal and do something unexpected. Her influence extends to cultural phenomena like Brat Summer, which has shaped both music and aesthetic trends. The album sparked a cultural phenomenon dubbed Brat Summer, which served as an inspiration for Aidan Zamiri’s film The Moment (2026) that she co-produced and starred in.
Sourcing the Archive with Stylist Chris Horan
Alongside Charli’s longtime stylist Chris Horan, the singer has incorporated a slew of vintage and preloved pieces sourced from Vinted sellers for her touring wardrobe. What unfolded on stage was not just performance, but a curated history; she wore an archival Versace dress that had been previously worn by another artist. This approach challenges the traditional retail model where newness is equated with value. For those involved, including Horan and Charli, the process involves scouring platforms like Vinted to find specific items that fit her experimental sound and image. The numbers behind this shift are significant; while specific sales figures for the tour partnership were not disclosed, the strategy aligns with broader industry trends where major artists are increasingly bypassing fast-fashion retailers in favor of circular economy platforms.
Charli XCX’s distinctive aesthetic has impacted modern fashion trends by validating secondhand wear as high art. She said that her personal style is about finding pieces that feel authentic, rather than buying into a trend. At its heart, this is about rejecting the disposability of fast fashion. The singer has stated that she wants to show that you can look incredible without contributing to waste. This narrative arc mirrors her own career trajectory: starting with Myspace uploads and evolving into a Grammy-winning artist whose albums win Best Dance/Electronic Album awards while promoting sustainability.
The Meaning of the Partnership Now
Charli XCX’s partnership with Vinted signifies a new era where celebrity influence is used to normalize thrifting among younger generations. The cultural phenomenon dubbed Brat Summer served as an inspiration for Aidan Zamiri’s film The Moment (2026) that she co-produced and starred in, further cementing her role as a trendsetter who values longevity over fleeting moments. Her seventh and eighth albums Wuthering Heights and Music, Fashion, Film were released in 2026; the former also served as the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The tour supporting this era emphasizes sustainability through clothing choices.
Judgement on this shift is largely positive within the fashion community, viewing it as a necessary evolution for artists who wish to maintain relevance without compromising their values. Charli XCX’s influence means that when fans see her on stage in a vintage Vinted find, they are encouraged to look at their own wardrobes differently. It changes the conversation from “what is new” to “what has history.” As she prepares for future performances, including a show in Las Vegas, the message remains clear: fashion is about the story of the garment, not just its price tag or release date.
The British pop singer’s Music, Fashion, Film Tour is scheduled to draw to an end at a show in Las Vegas on Friday. She said in her post that she’s resting in order to play in Las Vegas. While recent cancellations due to illness have paused specific dates, the underlying message of sustainable style persists. Charli XCX’s legacy is being written not just in hit singles like 1999 or Apple, but in how she teaches a generation to value the past while building the future.
Sources
- Vinted Partners With Charli XCX for ‘Music, Fashion, Film’ Tour
- Charli XCX
- Why Charli XCX canceled her Glendale tour stop
Photo: Elena Ternovaja (CC BY-SA 3.0)
