Kelsea Ballerini performs during 2016 CMA Festival - Day 1 at Nissan Stadium on June 9, 2016 in Nashville, Tenn.
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At her Friday night (Dec. 2) sold-out Irving Plaza show, Kelsea Ballerini wore a custom Nicole Miller design to honor the city that never sleeps.
The country singer donned a black romper with sexy sheer cutouts and bright neon accents that looked like LED lights—perfectly complementing Ballerini’s light-up microphone and illuminated drum sticks (when she played the drums, naturally).
“I really wanted the wardrobe to reflect the music on my album, ‘The First Time,’ which is youthful, fun, flirty and bright,” Ballerini said exclusively to Billboard. “My stylist was able to put together a custom wardrobe where it’s all sparkly and bright colors, but still incorporates pieces that I love, like short shorts, rompers, and big boots,” she said. “It reflects the music I love to make, which is the beautiful thing about fashion.”
The Nicole Miller romper is featured in Ballerini’s upcoming video for “Yeah, Boy,” off her debut album. Stylist Krista Roser sent an image board to the eponymous designer with the overall vibe they wanted for the video, and they chose the flirty, sexy spaghetti-strap one-piece design.
“Kelsea and I thought it would be a fun teaser for the video that will be coming out soon,” Roser said exclusively to Billboard. “Also, Nicole Miller is such a New York brand, so it was only fitting for it to be worn in New York.”
Miller has been extremely supportive of the country sweetheart over the last couple years, dressing her for the red carpet and shows. “The women that inspire me have always been confident, driven, and talented in their own ways, and Kelsea is exactly that girl,” Miller said exclusively to Billboard. “She’s also not afraid to try something new, which makes designing for her so fun. When I work on custom pieces like the one I made for the ‘Yeah, Boy’ video, it’s important that the women I design for reflect those aspects of my brand. I am always a designer who thinks of the woman, and how to empower her first.”
Roser accessorized the super-short romper with custom over-the-knee black boots she personally adorned with sayings like, “With Love” and “Dream Big,” and neon hearts, lips and stars. “They were such a fun project and fit so well with Kelsea’s style and personality,” Roser said. “And of course then I had to add Swarovski crystals. What girl doesn’t want boots with sparkle words and hearts?”