- Billie Eilish says she developed body image issues after a preteen obsession with Brandy Melville.
- Brandy Melville is a fast-fashion clothing retailer known for its “one size fits most” sizing policy.
- A 2021 Business Insider investigation exposed allegations of discrimination and sexual exploitation at the retailer.
Billie Eilish says she developed body image issues as a tween because of her obsession with the one-size clothing brand Brandy Melville.
In an interview with Complex published on Thursday, the singer opened up about how the fast-fashion brand heavily impacted the way she viewed her body.
The “What Was I Made For?” singer said that all she wore as a child were fairy dresses and skirts, even though she’s now known for her baggy streetwear style.
“I never wore pants or shorts when I was a little kid,” Eilish told Complex. “But when I got to be about 11, I got obsessed with this brand called Brandy Melville. And they only sold clothes in one size. I was chubbier and I was obsessed with these clothes, but I’d buy a shirt and it wouldn’t fit me. That’s when my body problems started. I was around the age of 10 or 11.”
She shared that she went through puberty early and that she “wasn’t slim.” Not only that, being in ballet further exacerbated her body image issues, she said.
“I was wearing all these baggy clothes, and it was my style, but at the same time, it was how I could feel comfortable in my body and not feel tied to how my body looks. I didn’t want my body to be part of my outfit. I wanted my outfit to be my outfit, and my body happens to be inside it,” Eilish said.
Brandy Melville is a popular clothing brand known for selling basics like crop tops and mini skirts, and its “one size fits most” sizing policy.
In 2021, the brand came under fire for claims regarding a toxic and exploitative workplace culture. Several Brandy Melville employees told Business Insider’s Kate Taylor that the company’s top execs frequently discriminated against non-white employees, crossed professional boundaries with its young retail employees, and made sexist and antisemitic jokes. Brandy Melville did not offer any comment to BI in 2021 in response to the allegations.
In December 2022, the owners of Brandy Melville agreed to pay $1.45 million to settle claims from former workers that the retailer had violated California labor laws by forcing them to work “off the clock” and without breaks. However, they denied all wrongdoing in the court documents.
In July, Brandy Melville opened a sister store — named St. George — in Santa Monica, California, where some items are now available in a “medium” size, The Cut reported.
Representatives for Eilish and Brandy Melville did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours.
