In Thierry Mugler Couture from fall 1997Photo: Glen Luchford
Miley Cyrus fans, set your calendar alerts: The singer is releasing her new album, Something Beautiful, on May 30th. Her ninth studio album will feature 13 original new tracks—as well as a visual film directed by Cyrus, Jacob Bixenman, and Brendan Walter, with additional cinematography by Benoît Debie.
Working with her longtime stylist Bradley Kenneth, Cyrus’s forthcoming visual album will also usher in a new fashion era for the superstar, who has always used clothing as a visual extension of her music. This time around, they wanted to fuse a classic and contemporary aesthetic. “The fashion direction is always inspired by Miley and the music,” Kenneth tells Vogue. “This era has a richness and depth that feels both modern and timeless. The looks reflect that same energy. For me, it was about translating the music through the styling into something visual and elevated.”
Kenneth says the fashion moodboarding for the visual album began back when Cyrus was still in the recording studio. “I’ll sometimes go with her, just to listen while she’s recording, and that’s when I start imagining and dreaming up the looks,” he says. Something Beautiful had a clear cinematic focus, so Cyrus and Kenneth then zeroed in on archival fashions—pulling vintage designs from labels such as Thierry Mugler, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Bob Mackie to play up the album’s ethereal and otherworldly feel.
“The looks in this project span such a wide range of fashion history,” says Kenneth. “We pulled from designers who’ve been part of Miley’s style story throughout the decade I’ve been working closely with her. Whether it’s Mackie’s drama or Mugler’s powerful silhouettes, these influences have always been there, just evolving with her.”
A special component of the project was working with the team at Mugler: Cyrus and Kenneth pulled a variety of archival looks from the iconic French designer. “We actually hold the record for the largest collection of Mugler archives ever sent to a single individual, which is still surreal to say,” says Kenneth. On the album cover, for one, Cyrus sports Thierry Mugler’s “Spider” look from his spring 1997 couture “Les Insects” collection. “Manfred was inspired by the way morning dew glistens on a spiderweb,” says Kenneth. “It’s a piece that marries fragility and strength in such a beautiful way, which felt perfect for this project.”
Other Mugler looks in the film include vampy, dark-yet-romantic looks from his fall 1998 collection. “These iconic pieces play a major role in the visual storytelling of the film and album packaging, offering a rare window into fashion history,” says Kenneth. “The theatricality of Mugler’s runway shows the drama, the power, and the glamour felt like the perfect match for the scale and emotion of this film.”
It’s not just priceless throwback pieces, either: Cyrus sports custom creations in the film, too. In addition to looks by Alaïa, the singer wears a custom Alexander McQueen dress designed by Seán McGirr in a Hollywood Walk of Fame-theme scene. “[It was] inspired by the raw spirit of one of Lee McQueen’s tattered Savage Beauty designs,” says Kenneth. “Every look was a true labor of love, with each detail carefully considered.”
While getting to play dress up in some of the most prestigious designer archives in the world was certainly a highlight for both Cyrus and Kenneth, the stylist says his favorite part of outfitting the project was seeing all of the vintage gems revived in a whole new way. “What stands out most is seeing the clothes come to life on Miley. It’s always the most fulfilling part, watching her embody these pieces in a way that’s powerful and entirely her,” says Kenneth. “Miley isn’t just wearing fashion history—she’s giving it new life. These looks transcend trends, and their impact will continue to inspire and shape the future, much like Miley herself.”
As for what you can expect once Cyrus debuts the film and (hopefully) takes some live performances to the stage? Well, there will certainly be many more fabulous fashions to come. “You can expect to keep being completely gagged,” Kenneth says of the era ahead. “Trust me!”
This article was originally published on Vogue.com.
