Charli XCX descends into a dystopian fashion show in her latest music video for "SS26", a track that blends her experimental electronic sound with high-fashion spectacle. The video features appearances from rapper Abra, Carine Roitfeld (the legendary former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris), and a conspicuous product placement of the prebiotic soda Poppi.
The "SS26" visual, which aired recently, transforms the runway into an infernal landscape where XCX navigates between models, celebrities, and surreal imagery. The song itself continues her recent trajectory toward maximalist, chaotic production that prioritizes texture and disorientation over traditional pop polish. XCX has been increasingly experimental since her 2022 album "Crash", and "SS26" extends that willingness to alienate mainstream listeners in pursuit of artistic risk.
The inclusion of Roitfeld signals XCX's deepening connection to the fashion world beyond mere styling. Roitfeld, who shaped Vogue Paris's editorial vision for decades before her departure in 2011, carries significant cultural weight in luxury circles. Her cameo positions the video not as parody but as sincere engagement with fashion infrastructure, even as the video's hellish aesthetic suggests ambivalence about that world's values.
Abra's appearance adds another layer of avant-garde credibility. The Brooklyn-based rapper and producer moves in similar experimental circles as XCX, known for genre-bending releases and collaborations with underground electronic producers. Their presence validates "SS26" as insider art rather than celebrity vanity project.
The Poppi placement reads as either corporate satire or straightforward sponsorship. Given XCX's history of ironic brand engagement, the exact intent remains pleasantly ambiguous. The video arrives as XCX continues building momentum ahead of potential new music, solidifying her reputation as pop's most uncompromising risk-taker willing to alienate casual listeners for artistic integrity.