What Every Track on Lorde's "Virgin" Would Wear

COVER IMAGE CREDITS: LORDE’s Album Cover for “Virgin”

When I heard “Virgin”, I knew I had to write about it. Every track on this album is perfection in my eyes down to a t, and though I had tried to be unbiased in my favorite songs, you’ll probably be able to tell throughout my descriptions of the outfits. I highly recommend that you listen to the album and read along to fully immerse yourself in the deeply personal connection Lorde has created in this mural of an album.

Track 1: Hammer

Without going too fangirl about this song, essentially, it’s the perfect opener for the album. The synths remind me of what it feels like driving up to the New Hampshire mountains, getting ready to hike. With a line like “some days I’m a woman, some days I’m a man”, I think if this song were a person, they would be the embodiment of a “granola” archetype. Androgynous and jorts lover, Hammer would have a bountiful collection of Patagonia in their closet, with the staple being that green quarter zip we see. It’s only fair that a turquoise earring stack would be included as well, to pay homage to the colors of Virgin. “I’ve sent you a postcard from the edge.”

Track 2: What Was That

A cinematic night out, walking through the streets of your college town with a smoky eye smeared down your face after shotgunning one too many drinks at the party. It’s 1 AM, and your friends aren’t ready to leave, but you just saw your October situationship with another girl, and suddenly everything has gone blurry with blue, red, and yellow lights smearing together. You somehow find an acquaintance smoking a cigarette on the stoop of the dilapidated white house with bass still booming, and sit down next to them in understanding silence. (Not speaking from experience) What Was That (the outfit) is heavily inspired by the movie “Thirteen” starring Evan Rachel Wood. The converse would be much more beat up if a college student were the one actually wearing them, and I think she’d wear her staple necklace everywhere she goes for good luck. “In the blue light, I can make it alright.”

Track 3: Shapeshifter

In their 20s, living in the heart of New York City, working a corporate 9-5, but still living the party life on Friday and Saturday nights (sometimes Tuesdays, too) is Shapeshifter in essence. Walking through the streets with their wired headphones (listening to Virgin of course) and black Mary Janes from their shoebox apartment, they’d be the true example of models off duty. They would let their emotions come through just enough at the club, “giving nothing personal, so I’m not affected.”

Track 4: Man of the Year

Starting gentle and lazy, this is how I’d imagine Man of the Year to dress. These ultra-cropped shirts I’ve been seeing more and more people wearing are probably my favorite style at the moment, and I think MOTY would have it as a statement piece. A collared ultra-cropped long-sleeved and black bra for the top. I didn’t miss the meaning of the song all in all, though, so I also think this outfit could be easily changed around to be androgynous as well, with low-rise baggy jeans sealing the deal. How would you wear long hair with this? I was thinking of braids into a tight bun. “I didn’t think he’d appear, let’s hear it for the man of the year.”

Track 5: Favourite Daughter

Ok, I’m biased. This is my heart song. If Favorite Daughter were a person, I think she’d constantly be trying to prove herself to not just her family, but everyone around her. She’d attend fancy events, wearing expensive dresses and jewelry, hoping that someone would congratulate or notice her accomplishments and how much she’s been doing. Silver jewelry to me represents some sort of innocence, which is why it’s such a focal point of this outfit. In my head, this outfit is being worn to a corporate outing like in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, with FD hoping to be the star of the show in anyone's eyes, but eventually leaving the event early to go home to make a mocktail. “But I keep dancing until I get sick. Why’d you have to dream so big?”

Track 6: Current Affairs

Something about the sample Lorde used in this song makes me think that Current Affairs would be the kind to wear a jersey of a sports team they secretly know nothing about, but want to look cool. Can’t say I’ve never done it! I think silver earrings would also be a staple with this song as an outfit, along with the jorts we saw Hammer wearing, because we are a sustainable album, of course, rewearing and thrifting our clothes. Wanting to fit in yet simultaneously always being misunderstood, you might not like their style, but I think CA would fit right in with this vibe. “You’re in the light, then you’re in the dark.”

Track 7: Clearblue

Though the name of the song suggests something much more adult, the actual feel and emptiness of the song gave me more of a teenage girl feel. Finding out something that could change her entire life unexpectedly is how I see Clearblue, in a loving way that sees her more as an innocent figure than somebody who’s sinned. “I'll try letting the answer be part of the dance as I trip and I stumble.”

Track 8: GRWM

With the chorus essentially giving me part of this outfit, “a grown woman in a baby tee,” we bring back the black bag from Shapeshifter and introduce a Virgin-branded baby tee and ripped denim skirt. The synths in this song sound like walking with something heavy on your chest or mind, a feeling we women over 18 know too well. The gold jewelry to me represents a sort of maturity, balancing out the baby tee aspect and still embracing youth. 

Track 9: Broken Glass

“Mystique is dead. Last year was bad.” If this song were an outfit, I knew she would be wearing a flowy white skirt, coming back from something she never thought she would or could. Broken Glass is a beautiful, vulnerable song about loving yourself and your body, and I think this outfit is basic, but complex enough to encapsulate the feeling of recovery. With gold jewelry popping back up to showcase that maturity and love to the converse that have been worn 10 times too many, this outfit is casual and one step closer to loving the one wearing it. I also threw in the black cami we saw with What Was That, because the reusing of a going-out top into something more classy and mature speaks to the nature of growing up.

Track 10: If She Could See Me Now

Hear me out. You might be thinking, “WHAT is this girl thinking?” but I had an intensive thought process behind this, I promise! I may be biased, because this song is on my running playlist, with the back-and-forth drums sounding like a page flipping every step I take, which is why this outfit is more activewear. I have always wanted to be someone that people look at and wish they could be, and running has been something that makes me feel like I could be that, so as personal as this is, I think this song would be a runner, ready to stand up to anything that comes their way. Though the Nikes may not be the perfect running shoe… It’s stylish at least. If She Could See Me Now speaks to me as a cry as if to say, “Look at me! Look how far I’ve come!”. “Oh God, if she could see me now.”

Track 11: David

Simple, but something about it would make you take a second look on the way out of a bustling city. Chunky shoes that don’t really go with the outfit, thrown on in an attempt to create something more than what they feel. Silver jewelry discombobulates the outfit, not matching the washed-out vibe and instead calling attention to that one bare ring finger that isn’t decked out like the others. David, as the closing track, is the feeling of a gasp for fresh air taken too late, becoming submerged under chlorine once again. “I don’t belong to anyone.”