Sam Smith’s costume designer explains meaning behind their bizarre outfit at the BRITs
Sam Smith was the talk of this weekend's BRIT Awards, between their electrifying performance of 'Unholy' with Kim Petras and, of course, their red carpet look.
The Grammy winner strolled - or perhaps waddled - up to the red carpet in London's O2 Arena wearing an inflatable latex outfit that ballooned at their shoulders and thighs.
Sam's look got a major response from music fans who had been tuned in to the award ceremony - though not everyone was a fan.
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Now, the fashion designer behind Sam's outfit has spoken out to explain the concept behind the outfit - and it makes total sense.
London-based fashion label Harri, founded by London College of Fashion MA Fashion graduate Harikrishnan Keezhathil Surendran Pillai, is behind Sam's latex look.
Detailing the thought process behind the design, Pillai told Women's Wear Daily: “Sam was having a lot of hate comments recently after ‘Unholy’ about their body image.
"This is my take on celebrating his natural form and the beauty of being one’s self.
“I wanted to create an image which people have never seen Sam in."
Although the designer went on to admit that he would 'never sell those rubber trousers', he added: 'People love it.”
And that's definitely up for debate, seeing as people had wildly different reactions to Sam's outfit.
While some people completely got it and loved Sam's defiant, fierce, confident look, others took it as an opportunity to tear into the 'I'm Not Here to Make Friends' singer.
"Sam Smith is dressed for the funeral of the Chinese spy balloon," tweeted one troll.
"I love Sam Smith but this outfit reminds me of me as a kid putting arm floats on all four limbs expecting to be able to walk on water like a water strider," commented a second.
Defending the performer, other fans pointed out that Sam was by no means the first talented artist to cause a scene with unusual outfits.
Tweeting a photo of David Bowie wearing a similar outfit during his Ziggy Stardust era, one person sarcastically wrote: "Ha ha look at Sam Smith, can't believe the silly clothes, wots the world coming to - this generation, eh?"
And I truly couldn't have put it better myself.
Dressing to cause a scene or spark a conversation is nothing new - some of the greatest artists in the world have done it at one point or another - but for some reason, when Sam does it, there's a problem.
In the build up to their latest album, Gloria, Sam has been trying out a new sex-positive aesthetic, which has sparked heavy backlash and debate.
For the most part, Sam has been brushing off the hate like a champ, minding their business and focusing on their new music - but sometimes the only way to shut people up is to shock them.
Let's hope this method works for Sam.
Ali Condon