The New Visual Album by Miley Cyrus Is a Fashion Archive Fantasy

Fans of Miley, mark your calendars—Something Beautiful, Miley Cyrus' eighth studio album, will be released on May 30th. However, this is a complete visual experience rather than merely a sound drop. In addition to 13 brand-new songs, the album will have a gorgeous film that was co-directed by Cyrus, Jacob Bixenman, and Brendan Walter, with Benoît Debie providing additional cinematography.

Cyrus, who is renowned for using clothing as a potent storytelling device, is embarking on a new fashion journey. This new age, which she created in close collaboration with her longstanding stylist Bradley Kenneth, combines daring modernity with classic elegance. Kenneth tells Vogue, "Miley and the music constantly drive the fashion approach." "There is a depth and richness to this age that seems both contemporary and timeless. That same intensity is reflected in the appearance.

Early in the creative process, in the recording studio, the visual album's fashion started to take shape. Inspired by the sound itself, Kenneth would frequently sit in when Cyrus recorded. In order to create a dreamlike, ethereal tone, the team, which had a cinematic vision at its heart, drew heavily on historical fashion, acquiring legendary vintage pieces from designers like Bob Mackie, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Thierry Mugler.

According to Kenneth, "these styles span decades of fashion history." We went back to the designers who have influenced Miley's look over the years. These allusions are a part of her continuous fashion narrative, from Mackie's drama to Mugler's dominant forms.

Among the most notable instances? Cyrus is depicted on the record cover wearing Mugler's famous "Spider" ensemble from the Spring 1997 couture collection "Les Insects." "Manfred [Mugler] was inspired by the way morning dew glows on a spiderweb," Kenneth says. It is a work that embodies both strength and fragility, which is just what we intended to portray.

As a bizarre milestone for the team, the endeavor even broke records: Cyrus received the largest cargo of Mugler archives ever given to a single person. Dark, passionate designs from the Fall 1998 collection, which emphasizes theatrical storytelling, power, and high elegance, are among the other Mugler looks that appear in the movie.

Something Beautiful has original designs made just for the movie in addition to vintage items. In a stunning setting reminiscent of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Cyrus is dressed in Alaïa items and a special Alexander McQueen outfit designed by Seán McGirr. The style evokes the unadulterated passion of Lee McQueen's notorious "Savage Beauty" appearance.

Kenneth found that seeing Cyrus bring the clothes to life was just as magical as the clothes themselves. "Watching Miley wear these classic items in a way that is all her own is the most satisfying aspect," he says. She is recreating fashion history rather than merely paying tribute to it. These styles go beyond fads. Like Miley, their influence will endure.

What comes next, then? As Miley takes the stage with Something Beautiful, expect even more stunning appearances. Kenneth assures them that they will continue to be gagged totally. "Believe me!"