Ariana Grande Reflects on Wearing Oversize Hoodies in 2018 as a Way to Cope and Find Comfort

Ariana Grande.
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Gotham/GC Images; Michael Kovac/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Ariana Grande looked back at her most iconic fashion moments for Vogue‘s Life in Looks series
• Of her 2018 style, the star said she wore oversize clothing to “hide away” during a “strange time” in her life
• In 2018, Grande’s ex-boyfriend Mac Miller died after an accidental drug overdose. The year prior, there was a deadly bombing at her concert in Manchester, England

Ariana Grande recently reflected on her past fashion choices in a new installment of Vogue‘s Life in Looks series. The 32-year-old singer and actress revisited some of the most memorable styles from her career.

When presented with a 2018 photo showcasing her signature oversized sweatshirt and tall boots, Grande remarked, “This was a very strange time in my life.” She elaborated, stating, “I was processing a lot, and I always wanted to hide away in something really cozy. But I remember that the boots still made me feel c–t. I genuinely, at the time, did not have the mental energy to consider clothing. So the easiest thing for me was to throw on a sweatshirt and a c—y boot and that was how it happened.”

During this period, the Wicked star faced significant challenges. Following the bombing at her concert in Manchester on May 22, 2017, which resulted in 22 fatalities and over 500 injuries, Grande has openly discussed her struggles with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. In response to the tragedy, she suspended her tour but returned to Manchester less than two weeks later for a benefit concert featuring several notable artists, including Pharrell Williams, Miley Cyrus, and Justin Bieber, among others.

Ariana Grande.

Gotham/GC Images

In a heartfelt letter to fans shared in November 2018, Grande expressed that the bombing “will leave me speechless and filled with questions for the rest of my life.”

In addition to the bombing, Grande endured the loss of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller, who died from an accidental overdose in September 2018 at the age of 26. Reflecting on her grief in a 2019 interview with Vogue, she described it as “all-consuming.” She stated, “By no means was what we had perfect, but, like, f—. He was the best person ever, and he didn’t deserve the demons he had. 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.”

During the same interview, Grande defended herself against online accusations that she was to blame for Miller’s death, stating, “People don’t see any of the real stuff that happens, so they are loud about what they think happened. They didn’t see the years of work and fighting and trying, or the love and exhaustion.”

A month after Miller’s passing, Grande and her then-fiancé Pete Davidson announced their split. The couple began dating in May 2018, became engaged shortly thereafter, and ended their engagement in October of the same year.