Research into Costume and Styling in Minimalist Music Videos

Costume and styling in music videos often create a debate between expression and distraction. On one side, some music videos use bold, fashionable, or dramatic outfits to create visual attraction and build a strong identity. This works well in genres that focus on glamour, confidence, or performance. However, in emotional and minimalist music videos, heavy styling can weaken the emotional message because it shifts the audience’s attention away from the character’s feelings and towards appearance. In these types of videos, costume is not meant to impress but to disappear into the emotion. Simple clothing allows the audience to focus on expressions, body language, and atmosphere instead of fashion. Since Everything I Wanted is about vulnerability and internal emotion, complex or stylish outfits would visually contradict the honesty of the song. Minimalist costume supports realism, making the character feel genuine and emotionally relatable.

Minimalist styling also strengthens the idea of emotional authenticity. When characters wear everyday clothing in neutral colours, the audience is more likely to believe what they are feeling. It removes the sense of performance and replaces it with emotional realism. In the music video Liability by Lorde, the costume is extremely simple and plain, which reinforces isolation and emotional exposure. There is no attempt to beautify or dramatize her appearance. Instead, the simplicity of clothing reflects the emotional honesty of the song and allows vulnerability to take centre stage. This shows that minimal costume does not reduce impact; it actually increases emotional power by keeping the focus on feeling rather than image.

Another strong example comes from the film The Florida Project (2017), where costume is used in a very naturalistic way. The characters wear ordinary, realistic clothing that reflects their environment and emotional state. Nothing feels styled for visual appeal. This makes the emotions feel raw and believable. The audience connects to the characters because they look real, not constructed. This supports the idea that simplicity in costume increases emotional credibility and viewer empathy.


This research proves that costume in emotional and minimalist music videos is not about fashion but about emotional honesty. While dramatic styling can attract attention, it risks overpowering the emotional message. Simple clothing, neutral colours, and realistic textures create a quiet visual environment where emotion becomes the main focus. For Everything I Wanted, this approach is essential because the song’s strength lies in sincerity and vulnerability. Choosing minimalist styling ensures that my video feels emotionally truthful rather than visually performative, making my costume choices academically justified and artistically aligned with professional emotional media practices

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