Raye is a power house in British music, having just received an astonishing seven BRIT Awards nominations, breaking the previous record held by prominent performers such as Robbie Williams, Craig David, and the Gorillaz. These nominations include coveted categories like Album and Artist of the Year, demonstrating Raye’s value in the contemporary music landscape. 

 Raye’s musical career began in 2014 with the publication of her debut EP, a brave decision after leaving the Brit School owing to a perceived lack of enthusiasm for pop music. Instead of complying to expectations, she went on a series of collaborations with industry heavyweights including Charli XCX, Jax Jones and Jonas Blue. Notably, she ventured into song writing, contributing her talents to Little Mix, and Beyonce. 

 Last summer, she made news by openly criticising her previous record label, Polydor, of limiting her artistic expression and delaying her from releasing an album for seven years. Despite six platinum songs and 2.7 billion streams, Raye found herself at odds with the label’s rigid policies.

Raye detailed her problems in a series of powerful tweets, which went viral and eventually led to her release from the contract. This liberation allowed her to release her first number-one hit as an independent artist, “Escapism.” Raye finally reveals her experience of ‘creative suffocation’ on her long-awaited first album. 

Brit Awards 2017 & 2018

_{Image Credits: PA}

Raye spent her early career navigating the industry landscape, conforming to specific expectations that dictated her image. The pressure to produce successful music and conform to a preconceived mould likely influenced her visual identity. Her fashion choices were at times in line with industry conventions but lacked the boldness and honesty that now define her emancipated style. 

Raye’s fashion during this period may have had a more conventional and mainstream appeal, sticking to the predefined aesthetics favoured by industry supervisors. Such limits influenced not just her musical production, but also the visual narrative she portrayed to the public. 

Bold, Honest, Fearless: The Independent Raye

Raye is now an independent artist who is determined to pursue her creative vision. She refuses to be limited by genre and is unwavering in her dedication to authenticity. Her recent single releases, including a Prada, and Black Mascara, demonstrate her bold approach to music. 

Raye’s determination to be authentic to herself is evident in both her music and her evolving fashion sense. Her transition from being confined within the music industry, to artistic liberation undoubtedly inspired her style, which manifests as a fearless and true expression of self. Her reluctance to conform echoes in her music and, by extension, in her wardrobe choices, marking a remarkable progression in both her talent and personal style. 

Brit Awards 2021 & 2022

_{Image Credits:https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fashion/photo-gallery/48709114/image/48709475/Raye-at-BRIT-Awards-2022}

The previously muted palette gets transformed to bright colours, and conventional silhouettes make way for experimental and innovative designs. Raye’s style is a celebration of originality, a visual depiction of her genuine creativity and boldness. 

Raye’s latest public appearances feature an eclectic mix of styles, ranging from edgy and experimental to flawlessly stylish. This range of dress represents not only her many musical influences, but also her refusal to be constrained by industry standards. The change is more than simply attire; it’s a complete reinvention of her artistic personality. 

Raye’s choice of a pink off-the-shoulder Etro gown with opera gloves for the 2021 Brit Awards reinforces her reputation as a bold fashion powerhouse. This ensemble exudes classic glamour while still having a contemporary edge, perfectly capturing Raye’s bold and eclectic style growth. The off-the-shoulder design exudes sensuality, while the vibrant pink colour celebrates femininity and confidence. When combined with the opera gloves, the whole image outlines a balance of old-world beauty and modern sophistication. 

Raye’s choice to wear an orange metallic dress from Versace’s Spring/Summer 2022 collection demonstrates her daring and avant-garde attitude to fashion. The vibrant colour, along with the metallic sheen, not only draws the eye of viewers but also conveys her confidence. The metallic finish gives a futuristic touch that complements Raye’s current state of artistic independence. By choosing such a statement piece, Raye deviates from more traditional trends, embracing the boldness that the fashion world has to offer. 

Brit Awards 2024

_{Image Credits: Matt Crossick @ Shutterstock}

Raye’s outfit choice for the significant occasion made a refined and timeless statement in a year that saw her triumphantly receive seven BRIT Awards nominations. The decision to wear a cream classic dress emphasised her artistic growth while also reflecting a renewed sense of regal grace. 

The cream-colored gown represents a break from the vivid and vibrant colours that may have characterised her recent fashion progression. Instead, Raye chose a more subdued and classic palette, indicating a sophisticated and timeless approach to her red-carpet appearance. 

_{Written By Gabriella Neocleous}

The post Raye’s Impact And Influence – How Her Fashion Sense Has Evolved Throughout The Years appeared first on Voir Fashion.

With the BRIT Awards’ official Instagram apprehensively teasing our excitement these last few months by slowly releasing nominees and performances; we can only be buzzed that we can now toss our opinions into the pot. We sure know who we’ll be using our votes on, who will you be voting for this year?

The 2023 BRIT Awards aim to celebrate the best British musical achievements of the previous year in categories including Song of the Year, Artist of the Year and Best New Artist. Additionally, this year, control has been handed over to the music fanatics of our generation with four public determined award-winning genre-specific categories:

• Best Rock/Alternative Act
• Best Pop/R&B Act
• Best Dance Act
• Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act
  

The nominees have been public knowledge since January 12th, but just in case you
managed to miss the online debuts, here are all of the artists up for nomination this February.

Best Rock/ Alternative Act

The nominees for Best Rock/Alternative Act promoted by Absolute Radio include none other than The 1975, whose UK leg of their At Their Very Best tour is a meta visionary of performative prodigy and is well underway this January – taking TikTok and the nations’ beanie-wearing-menthol-smoking-indie-aficiandos by storm.

Five-time BRIT Award-winning band, Arctic Monkeys, who are set to embark on their UK and Ireland 2023 tour this May with new album, The Car, due to release on the 21st of October.

Illustrious rock duo to introduce Rock/Alternative category to the MOBO Awards in 2020, The Nova Twins. Consisting of innovative, progressive and creative minded Amy Love and Georgia South and the real audacious charmingly easy-going Tom Grennan with tunes to sedate the indie-pop craving we know we have.

And Wet Leg who have recently catapulted into fame with an insurgence of musical familiarity on TikTok.

Best Pop/ R&B Act

As promoted by Capital radio, the nominees for Best Pop/R&B Act are gospel/pop artist Cat Burns who rose to prominence with her 2020 single ‘Go’, which gained popularity last year due to its involvement with a social media video trend.

Prolific pop personality Charli XCX who recently guest performed for The 1975 at their Manchester show earlier this January, cultivating laudatory fan-uproar and is set to perform in this Aprils’ Coachella festival.

One of 2022’s female artists of note, Dua Lipa, is nominated for the category as a repeat generator of dance-worthy tunes.

Love on Tour took audiences by storm last year with none other than the positively ostentatious, Harry Styles, taking to the stage on his vivaciously ornate world-tour, deeming him nomination worthy.

Finally, Sam Smith takes the stage as an emotive conveyor of lyrical expression in this year’s category.

Best Dance Act

The nominees for Best Dance Act promoted by KISS FM are the unrivalled Voice UK semi-finalist, Becky Hill, with her wicked lyrical talents.

DJ Simon Green, better known as Bonobo – entering an upbeat exploration of jazz and world music.

The unparalleled, Calvin Harris, is without a doubt a contender for this year’s Best Dance Act with his paramount talents within the field.

Confirmed festival English DJ, Eliza Rose, is a standout for this category with her social media pertinence on TikTok as a curator of trend-worthy beats.

Finally for this category, with his recent rise to congruity within the scene, Fred again.. – taught by germane ambient music contributor Brain Eno – has certainly learnt his place within the folds.

Best Hip Hop/ Grime/ Rap Act

As promoted by Capital Xtra the nominees for Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act 2023 are as follows with his solo breakthrough tune ‘Straight Rhymez’, harbouring over 26 million views, 24-year-old rapper, Aitch, has caught our eye.

Carrying on with an alphabetical motif we also bring Central Cee to the table as a contender because of his rise in interest this recent year following his single ‘Doja’.

Another nominee of note would be social-conscious rapper and lyrical genius, Dave, who took the UK by storm when he headlined Reading and Leeds Festival as the youngest-ever solo headliner, at just 24-years old.

2018 BRIT nominee, Loyle Carter, has been reinstated this year as an option for the public vote, with his 2022 album hugo proving to elicit a vibe unmatched.

We end our nominees on none other than Kingstons’ own, Stormzy, with controversial lyrics of British pertinence (shout out to Boris) and a November album release, it only makes sense that we see him on our screens this February for the BRITs.

This illustrative display of musical contesting will air on Saturday 11th February. So make sure to tune in to see if your votes made a difference.

_{Words By: Hannah Doherty}

_{Header Image: @charlixcx}

The post Your Votes Can Still Count: Have Your Say In This Year’s BRIT Awards appeared first on Voir Fashion.

TAYLOR SWIFT

Taylor Swift might have just acquired legend status at this point. The fact that she is still winning awards at 31, and not just any award, but global icon, is simply legendary. Through her speech, she makes it clear that she has nothing left to prove and redirects the conversation to uplift new emerging artists instead on her success, like a global icon would. Her outfit, however, starts a different kind of conversation that appears as quite confusing for us all: hair and makeup remind us of the “Red” era, whereas the outfit clearly belongs to “1989”. The white, sequined MIU MIU two-piece as well as her signature red lipstick must have some kind of correlation to the new music she’s re-recording. Even though she is staying in her territory and she’s not really serving us anything new or exciting, it is very on-brand with her image to pull-off that outfit, and she certainly did. In a way she’s leaving space for new artists to gain the spotlight, but at the same her undiscussed work ethic still manages to impress the jury, even after being the first and youngest woman to win a BRIT award.

DUA LIPA

Dua Lipa is the moment. There is no doubt about that. The way she reinvents herself in every performance whilst still being on-brand with her persona is impressive to say the least. Her stage presence evolution throughout the years has been undeniably that of an icon deserving two of the biggest awards of the night. Her looks gave homage to the star Amy Winehouse, with a nostalgic, pop look paired with a long curtain fringe and a beehive hairstyle. She chose to honor the most revolutionary and iconic British Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, which she ardently loves working with, that is very 90’s romance inspired. The asymmetrical draped couture corseted dress fits her to perfection, and the plateau heels add a punk, sexy vibe to the outfit.

To perform on stage she wore a white blouse with a mini skirt, resembling the traditional kilt of the British flag pattern, giving homage to the country she chose to live in.

HARRY STYLES

Harry Styles won the best single of the year, and even though he typically always champions the best-dressed guest list, this outfit was interesting, to say the least. Only he could pull off a groovy Gucci suit with large lapels and a flared pant, with a geometric print that would have fitted better on the wall of a house made in the 70’s. He ditched the Oxford shoes and showed up to the event with sneakers.

GRIFF

The British singer Griff, might have pulled off one of the most iconic looks of the season. She wore a dress she handmade herself, which is so intricate and detailed that we cannot even imagine the effort that it took for her to pull it together, and the audacity to show up with one of her creations. Nonetheless, it is a cute moment, it fits her aesthetic, and the detailing is impeccable. It looks like a vintage Iris Van Herpen sculpture, if she ever did vintage.

BILLIE PORTER

There is always something magical, theatrical and dramatic coming out of Billy’s looks that we are always obsessed with. Wearing a ThreeASFOUR outfit and Rick Owens platform heels in a style that only he could pull off, Billy never fails to surprise us. His attitude is channeling ultimate glamour in a lacy gown as he appears on the red carpet.

ARLO PARKS

The twenty year old groundbreaking artist was nominated for three awards, and her outfit deeply reflects her hip-hop and soul influences. She has a style that is emotively unique, and it’s pretty crazy to see all these new emerging artists dominating the award ceremony, and in a good way. She wears a sharp maroon suit, showcasing her bold and distinctive fashion sense to the public.

MNEK

British singer MNEK definitely made quite an entrance to the red carpet. Dressed in Robert Wun, a fashion designer that has definitely conquered our admiration this year, he wore a sported powdery blue take on an avant-garde blazer with pleats on pleats, and we’re here for it.

MABEL

This year’s references to the Marilyn Monroe aesthetic are many, and Mabel pulls it off exquisitely. This Tony ward neon green gown hugs her body like second skin, and the accessories are spot on.

LITTLE MIX

This year’s breakthroughs at the BRITs have been many, and the Little Mix make history by being the first all-female band to win an award! It has also been their first time for Leigh-Anne and Perrie to publicly display their pregnancy on camera, and the outfits are heavenly. Their matching white gowns by Margiela and Westwood make them truly look divine.

MAYA JAMA

Presenter Maya Jama exudes power in her black mini dress by the brand AREA with sexy silver chain detailing, paired with a Bulgari diamond necklace.

RINA SAWAYAMA

The singer Rina pulls out a lilac gown from the Balmain archives and leaves everyone mesmerized. We love to see this moment happen, and we certainly didn’t expect so much extravaganza!

CELESTE

Singer Celeste hit the red carpet with a black shaggy dress and red pointed-toe heels, and she let her personality truly shine!

RAYE

Raye shows off her figure in a stunning pink thigh-split gown which is definitely one of our favourites. It’s daring, on trend and very eye-popping, and the corset-style top is one we’ll certainly see more of in the future

GRACEY

Gracey pulls off a satin green draped dress, with stunning GCDS accessories. She made quite the entrance thanks to her TikTok video for her outfit, and we’re here for it!

Words By Tommaso Donatti

The post From Harry Styles To Griff , Here Are The BRITs’ Best Dressed appeared first on Voir Fashion.

The Brit Awards 2021 kicked off last night and we saw some of the influential musicians walk the red carpet. After the last year spent mostly in confinement with only nostalgic flashbacks to scrutinize, we were expecting some ultra-glam – colourful moments from the A-listers of Britain, and they didn’t disappoint.

Dua Lipa

Describing her first red carpet look, Dua Lipa said: “I wanted to make it very British, quite London, have some fun with it,” and she nailed it. The towering beehive reminds us of the legendary Amy Winehouse and her soft, girly blush work perfectly together. Get the look with the Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic or the Nars Orgasm.

£ 24.90

NARS Blush Orgasm

Read article Shop

£ 30

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek To Chic

Read article Shop

Griff

Griff’s first Brit’s look is powerful. The jewel-embellished bubble braid and cat-eye create make an unforgettable duo (and one that has become a go-to for the star).

However, her second look has to be the most jaw-dropping of the night. With a veil of crystal baubles, poker-straight hair, two tears sliding down her face and purple pigment airbrushed onto her forehead – there is a lot of unpack here. She is certainly not one to do things by halves.

£ 27

Huda Beauty Obsession Pastel Eyeshadow Palette Lilac

Read article Shop

£ 4.75

Kitsch Hair Coils

Read article Shop

£ 17

KVD Beauty Dagger Tattoo Liner

Read article Shop

£ 5.95

Sample Loose Pigment

Read article Shop

Mabel

Mabel opted for a more 90’s glam to enhance her natural beauty using products from KVD Beauty. The look was finished with a gorgeous tight-curl updo.

£ 18

KVD Vegan Beauty Tattoo Liner Trooper Black

Read article Shop

£ 38.25

KVD Beauty Lolita Por Vida Eyeshadow Palette

Read article Shop

Raye

We LOVED Raye’s glam. She is certainly channeling her inner Marilyn Monroe with those bouncy curls and the statement red lip. Her makeup artist Olly Fisk detailed the products he used to create this masterpiece on his Instagram, which includes the Armani beauty LipMaestro Liquid Lip and an Iconic London eye shadow palette.

£ 25.60

Armani Lip Maestro Venezia

Read article Shop

£ 45

ICONIC London Loose Pigment Palette

Read article Shop

MNEK

Singer Mnek looked unbelievable as he matched metallic blue eyeshadow to his oversized suit. His makeup artist Moomal Moghul used all Fenty Beauty products, and his flawless skin and bleached eyebrows are making him a standout at the star-studded event. Shop the Pro Filt’r foundation for the base and Highlighter Duo in Killawatt Foil to copy the shimmery eye.

£ 36

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

Read article Shop

£ 28

Fenty Highlighter Duo Kilowatt Foil

Read article Shop

Rina Sawayama

Just because Rina Sawayamas’ dress was flamboyant, doesn’t mean her beauty took the back seat. We love the natural base paired with the double-winged eyeliner using black and pearlescent liner. You can find all products used by her makeup artist at Makeup Forever. Her understated slicked-back wet hair finishes the look off, giving us all the right mermaid vibes.

£ 19

Makeup Forever Aqua XL Ink Liner

Read article Shop

£ 34

Makeup Forever Ultra HD Foundation

Read article Shop

Gracey

Bang on the colorful eye makeup trend, Gracey’s green jewel-encrusted liner is a mixture of creative AND chic.

£ 5

BH Cosmetics Decorative Face & Body Jewels Pearly

Read article Shop

£ 11.50

Glisten Cosmetics Apple Wet Liner

Read article Shop

£ 25

Huda Beauty Obsessions Precious Stones Eyeshadow Palette Emerald

Read article Shop

^{Words By Rosina Findlay}

The post Beauty At The BRITs – Voir’s Favourite Hair And Make-Up Of The Night appeared first on Voir Fashion.

It’s time to get your Spotify playlists in order and keep an ear out for the radio – the BRIT Awards are back! The awards ceremony was delayed from its usual date of February to May 11^th, due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Returning host, Jack Whitehall, will be presenting the show for the fourth year running.

Leading the pack with three nominations each are Dua Lipa, Arlo Parks, Celeste, Young T & Bugsey, and Joel Corry – a prompt turnaround from 2020’s male domination of the show’s categories.

Last year, the BRIT Awards were embroiled in controversy over the lack of female nominees – an error which highlighted the prominent lack of support for women in the industry. This year, the organisers of the awards have gone above and beyond to address the concerns surrounding all areas of inclusivity; for the first time in history, four out of five of the nominees for the British Album category are women, and over half of the nominees in key categories are non-white artists.

The 2021 ceremony also made headlines earlier this year, when the British Phonographic Industry amended the rules with regards to the eligibility criteria. With the new rules in place, artists who have been a resident in the UK for more than five years can now qualify for the main prizes. The change was brought to fruition when Japanese-British artist Rina Sawayama was told she could not compete for prizes last year under the Mercury Prize or the BRIT Awards – despite having been a resident in the UK for twenty-six years. Sawayama won her case to be included, and has since been nominated for the BRIT’s 2021 Rising Star Award.

Nevertheless, critics have still been vocal on other areas of the show that lack inclusion. Three-time BRIT Award-winning artist Sam Smith has previously condemned the awards for the use of gendered categories altogether. After coming out as non-binary last year, Smith said they felt the BRITS left little room for people who did not identify as either male or female. In a now-deleted Instagram post, the singer commented:

“One of my earliest achievements was winning Critics’ Choice in 2014… Music for me has always been about unification not division. I look forward to a time where awards shows can be reflective of the society we live in. Let’s celebrate everybody regardless of gender, race, age, ability, sexuality, and class.”

Sam Smith

A spokesperson from the awards show has since said in a statement that the BRIT Awards are still deciding on the direction needed to be inclusive of all genders in their nomination system.

The international categories for Best Male Solo Artist and Best Group, in comparison, have been praised for their diversity. Male solo artists include Nigerian musician Burna Boy, Australia’s Tame Impala, and Canada’s The Weeknd, while the groups category has opened its doors for the first time to K-Pop with a nomination for boyband BTS. However, it should be noted that American artists still dominate the Female Solo Artist category.

The first performers for the event were announced just before the nominees, with global pop star Dua Lipa and 2021 Rising Star Award-winner Griff kicking off the line-up. They will be performing at the event on May 11^th, although the venue has yet to be confirmed. You can keep up to date with upcoming news on the show here.

See the full list of nominees below!

BRIT AWARDS 2021: THE NOMINEES

2021 Female Solo Artist (in association with Amazon Music):

Arlo Parks

Celeste

Dua Lipa

Jessie Ware

Lianne La Havas

2021 Male Solo Artist (in association with Amazon Music):

AJ Tracey

Headie One

J Hus

Joel Corry

Yungblud

2021 British Group:

Bicep

Biffy Clyro

Little Mix

The 1975

Young T & Bugsey

Breakthrough Act:

Arlo Parks

Bicep

Celeste

Joel Corry

Young T & Bugsey

2021 Mastercard Album of the Year:

Arlo Parks – ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’

Celeste – ‘Not Your Muse’

Dua Lipa – ‘Future Nostalgia’

J Hus – ‘Big Conspiracy’

Jessie Ware – ‘What’s Your Pleasure?’

2021 British Single (with Mastercard):

220 Kid & GRACEY – ‘Don’t Need Love’

Aitch & AJ Tracey feat. Tay Keith – ‘Rain’

Dua Lipa – ‘Physical’

Harry Styles – ‘Watermelon Sugar’

Headie One feat. AJ Tracey & Stormzy – ‘Ain’t It Different’

Joel Corry feat MNEK – ‘Head & Heart’

Nathan Dawe feat. KSI – ‘Lighter’

Regard & RAYE – ‘Secrets’

S1MBA feat. DTG – ‘Rover’

Young T & Bugsey feat. Headie One – ‘Don’t Rush’

2021 International Female Solo Artist:

Ariana Grande

Billie Eilish

Cardi B

Miley Cyrus

Taylor Swift

2021 International Male Solo Artist:

Bruce Springsteen

Burna Boy

Childish Gambino

Tame Impala

The Weeknd

2021 International Group:

BTS

Fontaines D.C.

Foo Fighters

Haim

Run The Jewels

2021 Rising Star Award:

Griff – WINNER

Pa Salieu

Rina Sawayama

Words by Charlie Colville

The post And the Nominees Are… The BRIT Awards 2021 appeared first on Voir Fashion.

From two-piece suits to thigh-high slits, monotones to every tone and a whole Hershey bar dress these are the top picks of the best red carpet looks from last nights Brit Awards 2020 from your favourite entertainers.

Words by Precious NjokiGraphics by Séverine Denis-Lessard

, , , ,

The post The Best of The Brits 2020 appeared first on Voir Fashion.