Inside Tyla’s Iconic Coachella 2025 Fashion Moments

How Tyla’s instantly iconic Coachella looks set trends—exploring her bold style, creative process, and festival fashion revolution.

By Medha deb
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Inside Tyla’s Fashion Journey at Coachella 2025

After clinching a Grammy for her viral hit “Water”, Tyla’s Coachella debut hit the festival’s scorching desert stage with boundary-pushing style moments and instantly unforgettable looks. The South African singer’s two headline performances redefined festival fashion, setting new trends for fans and celebrities alike. Her approach—mixing signature style, pre-show rituals, and creative collaborations—celebrates both confidence and authenticity. Here, we break down Tyla’s festival weekend, every outfit, the designers behind the magic, her backstage process, and her lasting influence on Coachella style.

Tyla’s Festival Style Philosophy: Mood as Muse

Tyla’s approach to stagewear is rooted in instinct and ritual. “I always go with whatever works with my body and the vibe I’m on,” she told Cosmo. For her landmark Coachella performance, Tyla channelled early-2000s glamour—both in her setlist and her wardrobe. Her ethos: clothes should match mood, fit the moment, and feel natural yet show-stopping.

  • Performance Looks reflect mood—dynamic choices driven by emotion, not rigid planning.
  • Style rituals blend tradition and spontaneity, from listening to energy-boosting music to pre-show prayer and warm-ups.
  • Signature Pieces are extensions of her persona: sultry, precise, playful.

A Breakdown of Tyla’s Coachella Outfits: Night 1 Highlights

Tyla’s first night ensemble drew direct inspiration from high-fashion archives and music history. Her look melded retro references with personal touches, making it both nostalgic and fresh.

  • Archival Dolce & Gabbana: She donned red brocade briefs with fringe, a cropped tank, and a vintage gold crystal bra, originally shown at Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2000 RTW runway in Milan. This statement bra echoed the iconic look worn by Aaliyah at the dawn of the millennium.
  • Pandora Jewelry: Tyla stacked chunky bangles, pavé rings, and oversized hoop earrings adorned with tiger tooth-like charms. Her pieces celebrated her recent role as a Pandora brand ambassador.
  • Tiger Balloon Prop: Her towering tiger balloon on stage was a playful nod to her fanbase, the “Tygers,” adding both whimsy and symbolic flair.
  • Shoes and Hosiery: Ripped fishnet stockings and lace-up boots ground the look in festival grit and attitude.

Tyla’s first setlist amplified the Y2K theme. Covers like Aaliyah’s “Rock the Boat” and her own “On My Body” collab with Becky G blended sultry vocals with vintage stage glamour, cementing Tyla’s fashion-storytelling legacy.

Jewelry: Tyla’s Partnership With Pandora

As Pandora’s global ambassador, Tyla curated jewelry looks that embodied her island-inflected, “early aughts” spirit.

  • Featured Pieces: Infinite 14k White Gold Double Lab-grown Diamond Drop Earrings, multiple Organically Shaped Bangles, Timeless Pavé Rings, and the ME Shark Tooth Mini Dangle Charm.

Tyla’s jewelry stacked seamlessly with each outfit, transforming accessories into part of her stagecraft — a tactile representation of her musical persona.

Backstage Rituals & Creative Process

Tyla’s pre-show routine, as shared with Cosmo, is lively and intentional. The process blends high energy, faith, and a dose of celebrity relatability.

  • Group prep: She surrounds herself with friends—laughing, dancing, and blasting the music that lifts her spirits.
  • Private focus: Before heading on stage, she finds a quiet moment to pray and do vocal warm-ups.
  • Celebration: After the adrenaline rush fades, she calls her mom—a ritual emphasizing both professional triumph and personal grounding.

Fashion as Extension: Tyla and Her Stylist Team

Stylist Ron Hartleben leads the charge for Tyla’s most iconic fashion moments. A philosophy of intentionality guides his work: clothes should feel like extensions of Tyla—sexy, restricted only by creativity, and often sourced from unexpected designers.

  • Previous Highlights:
    • Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture “strung-together” dress, worn at Billboard Women in Music
    • Balmain sand dress at the Met Gala, hand-molded and team-installed
    • Custom A’kai Littlejohn ensemble
    • Tom Ford-era Gucci dress
    • Signature looks from rising designers like Riu

This collaborative, exploratory approach produces “perfect diva” moments—mixing heritage, innovation, and Tyla’s own vibrant personality.

Daytime Glamour: Post-Performance Pool Party

After her show, Tyla attended the Pandora Charm House pool party, sporting a look that riffed on 2000s denim chic.

  • Outfit Details: Coperni bra top and unbuttoned Courrèges skirt, layered with Pandora necklaces and Cuban chains.
  • Even in near 100-degree desert heat, she maintained a cool, self-assured attitude, setting herself apart from the crowd.

The choice of denim and stacked jewelry provided another nod to early-aughts pop culture, reinforcing Tyla as a master of sartorial nostalgia.

Weekend Two: Festival Uniform and Fan Speculation

Tyla’s second Coachella appearance sparked heavy internet buzz. Her green mesh bra and fringe micro shorts were widely likened to Britney Spears’ legendary 2001 MTV VMA look. Fans speculated online about deliberate homage, comparing details like:

ElementTyla (2025)Britney Spears (2001)
BraGreen printed mesh underwire braGreen chiffon bra
ShortsDenim micro shorts, folded down for lower riseShort-shorts with scarves & fringe
EmbellishmentsBeaded fringe, feather tassels, safety pinsScarves, heavy fringe
JewelrySilver body chain-necklace with water droplet gemsMinimal jewelry (focus on costumes)

Despite similarities, Tyla clarified via social media, “Love her but I just thought the outfit was fly…no inspo.” Her stylists, Lee Trigg and Ron Hartleben, haven’t officially commented, reinforcing her claims that the choices were spontaneous and personal.

Tyla’s Style Impact: From Viral Sensation to Festival Icon

Just under two years since “Water” exploded into an overnight hit, Tyla’s set at Coachella 2025 marked a career full-circle. Closing her set with the signature song—performed in a bubble bath—in front of the globe’s biggest festival crowd was both surreal and emblematic of her rapid rise.

  • Trendsetting Influence: Fans and fellow musicians now look to Tyla’s festival wardrobes for cues on high-impact, crowd-ready style.
  • Signature Looks: From sculpted couture to vintage denim, Tyla’s looks are dissected and emulated worldwide.
  • Cultural Crossover: Early-2000s references, Y2K elements, and heritage runway pieces abound in her closets—as do nods to her South African roots.

Festival Fashion Trends: Lessons From Tyla’s Coachella

Tyla’s choices set several festival trends for Coachella 2025 and beyond.

  • Vintage Runway Fever: Expect more archival designer pieces to dominate festival style.
  • Jewelry Maximalism: Statement necklaces, stacked rings, and themed bangles bring personality to even the simplest ensemble.
  • Mixing Street and Couture: Torn hosiery, distressed denim, and luxury bras create accessible looks with high-fashion credentials.
  • Sartorial Storytelling: Clothing as narrative—Tyla’s use of props, references, and personal detail inspires fans to weave their own style stories.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who designed Tyla’s main Coachella 2025 performance outfits?

A: Tyla’s first main stage look featured vintage Dolce & Gabbana from their Spring 2000 Ready to Wear collection, styled with Pandora jewelry as she serves as a global brand ambassador. Later looks included pieces from Coperni and Courrèges, as well as custom designs brought in by her team of stylists.

Q: Did Tyla’s second weekend Coachella outfit reference Britney Spears?

A: While the hems, color, and embellishments drew comparisons to Britney Spears’s 2001 MTV VMA look, Tyla confirmed on social media that it was unintentional—simply chosen for comfort and style. Her stylists have not commented on deliberate inspiration.

Q: What role does jewelry play in Tyla’s stage presence?

A: Jewelry is integral to Tyla’s festival identity, functioning as both accessory and storytelling device. Her partnership with Pandora allowed her to curate statement stacks, bangle clusters, and tiger-tooth charms reflecting her style and connection to her fanbase.

Q: How does Tyla prepare for big performances?

A: Tyla’s prep involves music, laughter, and close friends backstage, followed by focused moments for prayer and warm-ups. After the adrenaline fades, she calls her mom to share in the celebration.

Q: Which recent Tyla looks are most talked about beyond Coachella?

A: The Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture by Ludovic de Saint Sernin dress at Billboard Women in Music, the Balmain sand-molded gown at the Met Gala, and a custom A’kai Littlejohn piece have all contributed to her ongoing reputation as a fearless fashion innovator.

Key Style Takeaways from Tyla’s Coachella 2025

  • Be bold with archival references—don’t be afraid to source inspiration from previous eras and pop icons.
  • Layer jewelry for impact—stack rings, bangles, necklaces, and mix metals or motifs to express personal style.
  • Mix materials and moods—combine streetwear with couture, playful props with serious fashion, to showcase authenticity.
  • Celebrate the moment—let current moods, music, and energy inform fashion choices for a look that always feels real and unique.

Conclusion

Tyla’s Coachella 2025 looks capture the new spirit of festival fashion—fearless, heritage-infused, unapologetically personal. Her style is a masterclass in mixing nostalgia with innovation, reflecting a global shift toward authenticity in pop culture and fashion. As Tyla continues to inspire fans and shape trends, her Coachella performances will remain a blueprint for creativity, self-expression, and star-level festival glam.

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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