On April 27,  Swedish pop star Zara Larsson graced the Brandeis community with an incredible and colorful performance for the annual Springfest celebration. Larsson, who has recently reached newfound stardom after the release of her latest album “Midnight Sun,” has created a bubbly pop-princess persona that has helped her maintain her relevance and continued growth as an artist. Larsson’s style embraces the “dolphin-sunset” meme that brought her back to mainstream pop culture in 2024. Her performance style has been inspired by the meme’s format but has grown into a distinct brand of glitter, vivid colors, spraypainted t-shirts and different variations of swimsuit and swimsuit coverup inspired skirts. All of her outfits are detailed with a variation of rhinestones, hibiscus patterns and colorful eye makeup to create a singular aesthetic that screams summer. In our current  political and economic environment, fashion might seem like it should be an afterthought — but this is far from the truth. Fashion presents an opportunity for self-expression and creativity. Larsson’s bright Y2K Swedish summer branding is a prime example of how fashion can change our perceptions of each other and inspire us to take risks.

Larsson’s native country is far enough north in Europe that the country’s patterns of daylight are similar to that of the North pole. In the winter, the northern parts of Sweden can experience complete darkness while Stockholm, the country’s capital, may have a few hours of daylight between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The average temperature in the country year-round is 43 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the country’s geographical location and weather, Sweden is a country disproportionately affected by seasonal affective disorder, and the country definitely could not sustain hibiscus flowers or a dolphin population — two essential items in the Zara Larsson branding toolkit. Through her vivid summery style, Larsson fully embraces the summer months in Sweden where the sun doesn’t quite set. Her outfits, which are Y2K and tropical vacation inspired, go beyond her “Midnight Sun” branding and into dopamine dressing, a phenomenon in which an outfit is curated specifically to bring joy to the person wearing it. A very easy way to practice dopamine dressing is the incorporation of color in outfits.

Larsson’s clothing is joyous: In all of her public appearances she is clothed in bright colors bordering on neon. Her aesthetic takes inspiration from Barbie and Bratz dolls, calling on the Y2K aesthetic and combining it with her own brand. When Larsson performed at Brandeis, she wore a white, off-the-shoulder top with the title of her hit song “Hot and Sexy” spray painted on it and rhinestones decorating the sleeves. She also wore a lilac bikini top and silver shorts with a sparkling signature hibiscus flower interrupting the tassels coming from the belt. The outfit, while not the most extravagant version of her concert attire, is quintessentially Zara Larsson. Many Brandeis students took inspiration from her style. 

Springfest is one of the very few days of the school year that the Brandeis community comes together to enjoy themselves as a whole student body. The way we choose to dress on this day is not the reason for our collective happiness but it certainly helps. I have found that many Brandeis students unfortunately believe that our school is an isn’t always a particularly joyous environment. Though not as intense as Sweden, Massachusetts residents experience higher rates of seasonal affective disorder than other states in the U.S., due to state’s colder months and decreased daylight in the winter. In this way, the cold Swedish winters harken to those of Massachusetts, making a Larsson eternal summer the perfect antidote to northern European and American seasonal depression alike.

Brandeis embraced this principle, fully incorporating a joyful Zara Larsson-themed Springfest as seen in an Instagram post by the Campus Activities Board on March 30. CAB created a “lookbook” for students, advising them to plan their outfits around a summer theme. Some suggestions included white flowing maxi shirts, sheer tops with embroidery and rhinestones, knit button-down shirts with coastal designs and accessories made out of seashells. This lookbook is not exactly Zara Larsson themed — it lacks the brightness and colors of her outfits — but it is summer inspired and meant to make the wearer happy, calling back to the dopamine dressing that seems to be growing in popularity.  

The clothes we wear are not the deciding factor in whether or not we are happy, but they can help. Wearing all neutrals on a rainy day in February can set you up for a depressing mood. Something as simple as adding a pop of color to your outfit can truly brighten your day. Larsson’s fashion has become an incredibly strong factor in her fame and brand, but it may not come solely from a desire for fame. Bright colorful clothing, glitter and hibiscus flowers may simply bring her joy in a long winter, symbolizing the brightness of summer amidst a dim season. They can bring Brandeis students joy as well. In the upcoming months we should all try to have a “Zara Larsson summer” — we do not need to dress exactly like her, but wearing an outfit inspired by Larsson, or just trying dopamine dressing can benefit you more than you would think. 

If you would like to truly have an authentic “Zara Larsson summer,” you should wear bright colors consistently and embrace glitter. Larsson’s Y2K aesthetic can be achieved through tropical themed iconography — anything from a palm tree to a coral reef or a rainbow. Sheer long-sleeve tops worn over swimsuits and ruffly skirts can help you achieve this, as well as white graphic t-shirts and tank tops, hand-painted or bedazzled by yourself. At the end of the day, however, Larsson’s fashion is iconic for one reason: Her clothing and branding are uniquely her, and represent her own outlook of the world. Taking inspiration from her joyfully bright closet is a wonderful way to explore dressing outside your comfort zone and does well to pave the way to finding your own niche. The world is your hibiscus flower — explore!