Jade Thirlwall and the BRIT red carpet: what fashion‑minded fans and stylists should take from a night of hits and misses

Riley Calderon

Published: March 2, 2026 1:09 AM ET

Jade Thirlwall and the BRIT red carpet: what fashion‑minded fans and stylists should take from a night of hits and misses

For dedicated pop-fashion followers and working stylists, the BRIT Awards red carpet in Manchester was less about a single triumph and more a catalogue of choices that will shape conversations and bookings. jade thirlwall’s multi-layered Off-White look joined a sequence of outfits that divided opinion — and that split is the useful shorthand for anyone tracking careers, brand collaborations and risk-taking on major music nights.

Jade Thirlwall: what her choices signal to fans and stylists

Here’s the part that matters: Jade Thirlwall leaned into a visible alignment with designers and a deliberate persona move. She is nominated for Artist of the Year and Best Pop Act, and this year chose a custom Off-White design created by IB Kamara and his team. The look was described as multi-layered — a catsuit, skirt and a bomber jacket, plus boots and a matching bag in the same print — built so she could remove layers for the after-party. IB and his team completed the custom piece on a quick, one-month turnaround and exchanged ideas by email while shaping a modern take on a red‑carpet gown.

Event details and personality-forward styling across the carpet

The red carpet delivered extremes. Tallia Storm, 27, wore a skin-tight plunging catsuit with a cartoon-inspired print that drew criticism for missing the mark on the BRITs’ biggest night. Fleur East, identified as the Strictly It Takes Two host, stepped out in a brown satin co-ord featuring dramatic white collar and sleeve detailing; observers noted parts of that outfit looked tight in places that could make sitting uncomfortable for the Sax singer. Spanish singer Rosalia, 33, turned heads with a feathered strapless gown that was likened to a tussle with swans and showed her toned midriff as she posed. RuPaul’s Drag Queen Marmalade opted for a metallic silver tasseled dress topped with a sequined-branch headpiece. Former Love Island star and influencer Molly Marsh was also listed among the night’s worst-dressed entries. One of the early arrivals, host Sian Welby, 39, chose an autumnal rust-coloured mini dress with a strapless corset bodice, ruffled skirt, platform champagne heels and a chunky pearl necklace, presenting a leggy look that still landed unevenly for some viewers.

Two-year arc and recent wardrobe references

For context on styling evolution: last year’s BRITs marked a milestone for Jade Thirlwall as her first performance as a solo artist, when she wore a frothy Regency-inspired baby-blue denim dress by Glen Martens for Diesel that evoked her 'Angel of my Dreams' video and earned her space on many best-dressed lists. That contrast — last year’s acclaim versus this year’s mixed reactions — frames how quickly perceptions can pivot on a single red carpet.

Design collaboration, creative confidence and the practical choices behind looks

Thirlwall has described fashion as an engine for confidence: loud looks help her adopt a pop-star persona and make her feel braver; she has said wearing something safe and 'normal' would make her more nervous. She works with stylists Zach and Jamie, and has emphasized that moving from a girl-group era to a solo career opened more doors with designers, since group loaning can be complicated. She has recalled being nervous at her first Off-White show but finding the environment welcoming. Influences she cites include Diana Ross’s glamour, 2000s icons such as Dennis Rodman and Gwen Stefani, and musical-theatre references woven into her That’s Showbiz Baby tour wardrobe choices.

Quick Q&A for fans and stylists

Q: Why did jade thirlwall choose a layered Off-White look this year? A: The design was intended to be multi-layered so pieces could be removed for warmth and for the after-party, and was created on a fast, one-month schedule by IB Kamara and his team.
Q: Which carpet moments stood out as controversial? A: Tallia Storm’s cartoon-print catsuit, Fleur East’s brown satin co-ord with white collar detailing, Rosalia’s feathered strapless gown, RuPaul’s Drag Queen Marmalade’s metallic tasseled ensemble, and the inclusion of Molly Marsh on worst-dressed lists all sparked debate.
Q: What should stylists take from the mix? A: Visibility and narrative matter: designers, quick turnarounds, practical elements, and artist identity can sharpen or complicate a look’s reception.

It’s easy to overlook that red-carpet reaction doesn’t always track long-term career impact; immediate chatter can fade while a well-timed collaboration or a memorable performance has more lasting effect. A brief aside: fashion choices at award shows often serve dual purposes — they are both practical and promotional, and that tension showed clearly on this carpet.