Olivia Rodrigo Debuts Dissolving Dress on Unraveled Tour Opener in Hartford

Olivia Rodrigo wore a gown that melted away during her performance at the first show of her Unraveled Tour in Hartford, Connecticut, on Sept. 25. Water hit the baby blue dress and dissolved it, revealing a red corset underneath. She performed "The Cure" as this happened.

According to Inkl, designer Hussein Chalayan said that the outer garment was made from a "special paper-like material that dissolves when it comes into contact with water, revealing a contrasting colour lace and tulle corseted dress underneath." Chalayan wanted to keep the outer dress "very simple and pure, so that the reveal would be more powerful."

Getting the water effect timed right created challenges during development. "Olivia also has to be able to sing while under the water," Chalayan said. "There has therefore been a lot of back and forth and testing to get the timing and dissolution to happen in the right way."

Chalayan debuted dissolving dresses on the catwalk ten years ago. Rodrigo helped with developing this costume, and she approved every step. The dissolving dress mirrors her video for "The Cure." In it, she unravels as red yarn streams from her body.

The 23-year-old pop star is very particular about her stage wardrobe and makeup. During her Guts World Tour in 2024 and 2025, she told People magazine that lipstick selection is critical for her performances.

"The lipstick is very important. It has to be really thick on your lips, because if it moves a little, it'll get on your microphone and then it'll be all over your face by the end of the show," she said. "So the lipstick is very, very important. You have to have a very strong one." A makeup artist named Karissa travels with her to all performances.

You can find all of her upcoming tour dates on her official website.