6 of the most stylish music videos of 2023

Another year, another incredible pool of talented folks working hard behind the scenes to create the visuals that have not only elevated your favourite artists’ music but built whole worlds around it. It’s all very well having a well-shot, well-choreographed music video, but what about the looks? Fashion matters. A badly styled popstar can, let’s face it, drag the whole thing down. Just imagine – if Christina Aguilera hadn’t worn those leather chaps and that striped bikini in “Dirrty”, what would we have worn to all those Halloween parties? Would Marine Serre’s moonprint be quite so ubiquitous if Beyoncé hadn’t donned her catsuit in the “Black is King” video?

Once again, we’re partnering with the UK Music Video Awards to present their Best Styling category and so have been doing some serious thinking about music video fashion. Their 2023 edition is due to take place in London next month and, if past years are anything to go by, it’ll be a who’s who of industry talent. Across the awards, Harry Styles and Mette have been nominated for a whopping six awards each; while SZA, Kelela and Steve Lacy are up against one another for Best R&B, Soul Video International; and J Hus and Stormzy are competing for Best Hip-Hop, Grime and Rap Video.

Winners for all categories will be announced at the ceremony on 26 October – keep a close eye on the i-D Instagram on the night for all the winners and highlights. Without further ado though, here are the nominees for Best Styling in a music video:

Yves Tumor, “Echolalia”

In the Jordan Hemmingway-directed, attitude-drenched video for “Echolalia” – from Yves Tumor’s latest album Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) – stylists Nick Royal and Peri Rosenzweig went all out with the studded leather for our protagonist. Other characters (also played by Yves) wear spiked helmets and punk badges – like a borrower army off to a fetish club.

Troye Sivan, “Rush”

With perhaps the most iconic opening shot of the lot, the video for Troye’s “Rush” centres on tank tops and adidas trackies but manages to also pack in looks by GmbH, EMEERREE, DSQUARED2 (those leather chaps!) and Luis De Javier. Future fashion historians will look back upon this euphoric Larissa Bechtold-styled dance party as a valued resource.

The Blaze, “Madly – The Poem”

Costume designer Maud Dupuy captured British rave culture perfectly in The Blaze’s self-directed slow-mo video, documenting a smattering of different subcultures. On Instagram, Maud described the project as having involved, “an almost 100-page moodboard, 90% vintage or second hand, a lot of wet, dirty and muddy clothes”. Not your average then.

Fatoumata Diawara ft Damon Albarn, “Nsera”

Paris-based stylist and designer Dabby Naval embraced colour in a serious way for this, taken from Fatoumata Diawara’s album, London KO. The video uses a blend of traditional and modern DIY looks across a vibrant non-stop journey directed by Gregory Ohrel.

Jords, “Mobay/ Stay Close”

Stylist Jodie-Simone Howe threw back to the late 70s spectacularly here as we follow a series of interactions had at a Nine night – a Jamaican practise that acts as a wake, nine days after the death of a loved one. It might not surprise you to learn that Jodie-Simone has had practice, having previously worked on Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series.

Audrey Nuna “Locket”

​​Audrey’s look alone is enough to qualify for inclusion here. The earmuffs, oversized shirt and Merrells were presumably painstakingly picked out by stylist Florie Vitse (worth it) while the extras served up fashion goth, micro influencer, and serious art gallery woman respectively. Until they’re all sucked into Audrey’s locket, of course.

Tickets for the UK MVAs are available here and you can check out all of the nominees here.