Bella Poarch Brings Her Darkly Sweet Style to Fashion

Revisiting her fashion week diary, the Filipino American singer shares how comfort, contrast, and individuality shape her wardrobe.

Bella Poarch isn’t new to the fashion weekFashion WeekA series of seasonal events where designers debut their latest collections, setting the tone for upcoming fashion trends and showcasing creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation across the global fashion industry.Go to Fashion Week Glossary circuit. After she released her first single with Warner Records in 2021, which quickly climbed to the top of global streaming charts, the Filipino American musician was spotted at the Spring 2022 shows of Miu Miu and Valentino in Paris, and later walked the runway for Boss in Milan. 

This season, Bella touched down in New York City to attend the Spring 2027 shows and visited a few local spots, all in the week before her debut album Picnic at the Cemetery made its long-awaited release.

Between fittings with Vogue Philippines last year, Bella described the album as dark and sweet, a duality she embodies through her style. As a performer, she believes that comfortable clothes can still push us out of our comfort zone, so when it came to creating her NYFW outfits, she opted for soft and smooth garments defined by crisp cuts and precise yet fluid tailoring.

“Honestly, getting ready for the shows is half the fun!” she says. From choosing her accessoriesAccessoriesThe finishing pieces of an outfit, including bags, belts, scarves, hats, eyewear, and jewelry. Accessories can elevate a simple look or define it entirely, and fashion editors often treat themGo to Accessories Glossary to coming up with hair and makeup looks, it was an experience that brought her joy as she headed into the presentations of three New York–based designers.

Arriving at the Chinatown alley-turned-runwayRunwayThe platform or catwalk on which models present a designer's collection to an audience of editors, buyers, and guests. Runway shows establish the creative statement of a season, and Vogue'sGo to Runway Glossary for Kim Shui, a brand that seeks to reenvision the contemporary American woman, Bella wore a white feathered blazer with matching trousers, paired with custom upcycled jewelry made from an old Raspberry Pi circuit board. “Love adding a little touch of tech when I can,” she comments. The day was made doubly special by the chance to speak with Shui post-show and catch up with fellow singer Kenia Os.

Inside the Petzel Gallery for “Ray of Light” by Prabal Gurung, a modern luxury brand committed to domestic production and supporting communities in Nepal (where Gurung was raised), Bella donned a cream midi dress with sheer opera gloves and her favorite heels (“I’ve been obsessed with pointy shoes lately”) to gently contrast her soft gothic glam. 

Then, she attended Grace Ling’s “Oddities” at Hudson Yards, a show she describes as beautiful and ethereal, in a sheer ombre two-piece that felt smooth “like butter,” with a simple dewy makeup look. She also carried the brand’s 3D-printed Butt Bag, an eccentric minaudiére that captures the witty spirit and sculptural designs that Grace Ling is recognized for.

Based in the US but with roots in China, New Delhi, and Singapore respectively, these designers’ journeys seems to mirror Bella’s own, as she grew up in the Philippines before moving abroad with her adoptive family and pursuing a career in music.

On what she loved about viewing the collections, Bella says, “Getting to see the little details up close, because you can really appreciate how much thought and creativity goes into every piece. As someone who also loves adding little details in my art, I find that really inspiring.”

As the pop artist spent her downtime shopping at Dover Street Market and taking the subway to various food spots, among them a Filipino restaurant called Naks (“which has great pancit and tortang talong”) and one of her favorite traditional matcha places Sorate, she also enjoyed observing the city’s street styleStreet StyleFashion captured outside of runway shows and studios, reflecting how people really dress in their everyday lives and around fashion weeks. Street style photography documents emerging trends and personal creativity,Go to Street Style Glossary, where detail felt intentional.

“I feel like New York has a lot of options that suit my style more than most other places,” she admits, something she attributes to the individuality that New Yorkers possess. For her, the city feels like a second home where she can walk around, blend in, and be herself without feeling the need to hide. “Everyone’s just doing their own thing, and I find that really refreshing.”

En route to her next destination, London, to promote her album and scout the venues of her first headlining tour (which begins in the US next January and heads to the UK and Europe in March), Bella left NYFW inspired and proud of what AAPI designers continue to accomplish.

“Every year, I feel like I see designers step up their game and continue to grow, and it’s incredible to witness that evolution,” she expresses. “I’m already looking forward to attending even more fashion shows next year!”

With her own evolution well underway, having gone from a viral hit in 2021 to a 12-track album that both deepens and expands its world five years later, Bella prepares for what will soon be a life on the road, bringing her darkly sweet style and sound to audiences in the cinematic way it was meant to be experienced.

Below, see Bella Poarch’s photo diary of NYFW SS27.