Halle Bailey is getting ready for the release of one of the most anticipated movies of the year. The Little Mermaid has been a long time coming for the actor, who first auditioned for the role when she was 18 years old. In anticipation of the film’s May 26 release, the 23-year-old has been paying homage to her role as Ariel through fashion. After appearing as the beloved mermaid on the covers of V Magazine and The Face, the actor has brought mermaid-inspired style to her public appearances.
Her stylist, Nichole Goodman, is the talent behind Bailey’s recent mermaid-inspired looks. Not only is each look carefully curated as a reference to the Disney reboot, but “mermaidcore” is also one of the major fashion trends of Summer 2023.
On TikTok, the aesthetic is a favorite among fashion lovers. The “mermaidcore” hashtag currently has over 190 million views. Think iridescent dresses, lace-up corsets, pearls, shell-inspired accessories, sheer fabric, ruffles, pastels and the color blue.
@itgirllifeguide What do y’all think about this trend? #mermaidcoreaesthetic #mermaidcore #mermaidcorefashion
The aesthetic has recently inspired designers such as Bluemarine, Jeofroi and Victoria Beckham and have incorporated ocean-inspired designs in their collections. The trend isn’t anything new. The silhouette of the mermaid was created by the French designer Marcel Rochas in the 1930s. It was popularized by Jean Patou, whose gowns appeared in a 1933 issue of Vogue, according to FASHION magazine.
It isn’t surprising that Bailey would choose to promote her role through fashion. Zoe Kravitz sported cat-inspired looks on the red carpet while promoting Batman, a movie in which she played Catwoman. Zendaya is also known to match her outfits to the film she is currently promoting.
We’ve compiled Bailey’s best mermaid-inspired looks ahead of The Little Mermaid’s theatrical release.
She wore a seashell-inspired gown at the L.A. premiere.
For the Los Angeles premiere of The Little Mermaid, Bailey wore a custom-designed gown by Valdrin Sahiti. She stepped out on the red carpet in a dress inspired by seashells and glimmering in a bluish-silver color reminiscent of the ocean. Valdrin Sahiti’s Resort 2023 collection pays homage to the underwater world.
She wore an ocean-blue gown to perform on American Idol.
Bailey performed one of the movie’s lead singles, “Part of Your World,” during American Idol’s Disney Night. Michael Fausto designed the custom-made gown, which featured deep blue Italian silk and cascading fabric. The “Aphrodite Gown” was inspired by mermaids and is reminiscent of the scene during which Ariel sings on the rocks while waves crash behind her.
She wore a sheer cutout dress at the Mexico premiere.
Bailey stepped out in a sheer light blue gown with fish scales-inspired cutouts for the Mexico premiere of The Little Mermaid. Designed by Georges Chakra, it features a plunging halter neckline and an assortment of white pearls.
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Bailey wore a white and silver mermaid gown with a matching headpiece at the U.K. premiere.
The actor paid homage to mermaids by wearing a white Miss Sohee gown with crystal details reminiscent of a seashell. The dress features sheer backless details and bra cups adorned with tulle as a nod to Ariel’s seashell bra. To match, she wore a headpiece covered in crystals.
She channeled classic Disney princess fashion at the Australian premiere.
The 23-year-old wore another gown designed by Miss Sohee during the Sydney premiere. This time, her gown paid homage to classic Disney princess fashion. The baby blue dress included a chiffon train reminiscent of mermaids, and the scalloped bustier part of the dress was adorned with beads and crystals. She wore frosty blue eye shadow to match.
She paid homage to Ariel during press junkets.
Bailey didn’t just reference her role as Ariel on the red carpet; she brought mermaid-inspired fashion to press junkets. In an interview with Shadow And Act, she wore another custom-made look designed by Michael Fausto. She wore the ‘La Sirena Bustier & Pant’ from the label’s Chapter VI Collection. The bustier features siren figures, gemstone jewelry, natural conch shells, sequins and pearlMermaids inspired the designers in Greek mythology and took on Italian baroque artisanship.
She dressed as a mermaid princess at the Oscars.
Bailey wore a frosted blue gown designed by Dolce & Gabbana on the 2023 Oscars red carpet. The strapless design was made of sheer tulle and featured a corset. Bailey wore a diamond necklace by De Beers to compliment the gown.
She wore a deep sparkling blue gown at the MusiCares' 2023 Persons Of The Year Gala.
The actor and singer wore a crystallized blue ombré couture dress by Jean-Louis Sabajic for the event. The gown is from the fashion label’s latest underwater-inspired collection. Bailey attended the event alongside her sister. According to the Recording Academy, they performed The Supremes’ song “Baby Love” to honor Motown legends Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson.
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Her Met Gala gown was an ode to mermaidcore.
Bailey channeled mermaid fashion at the Met Gala, where she wore a gown designed by Gucci. The see-through lace, embellished sequins and ruffled cape are elements reminiscent of the underwater world and are found in several looks inspired by mermaidcore.
She stayed on theme at the Met Gala after-party.
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Bailey shined in a dress designed by Georges Hobeika at the after-party. The dress featured metallic stripes reminiscent of seashells, while her plunging halter top meshed sheer fabric and crystals.
