Confession. I have to admit, I really love girly pop music.
Although Taylor Swift dominates pop culture and music, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, Billie Eillish, Renee Rapp, and Ariana Grande continue to build large fan bases in a thriving genre. Emerging Twin Cities singer-songwriter Helen has raised that banner with her narrative lyrics and intimate storytelling that feels like a flip through her diary. With universal themes of love, loss, and heartbreak, Helen’s latest EP showcases her talent in transforming songs written in her bedroom to fully produced arrangements.
Confessions of a Girl in Love is loaded with fashion mojo, starting with the iconic image on the cover of Helen in a black swan, ballerina-off-duty, flowy dress. The dress feels like a fairytale with the shoulder ribbons, scooped neckline, corset, and three tiers of fabric that flatters. It’s the perfect pairing of fashion with her music, intuitively representing many of the feelings encased within the album.
Her boyfriend Parker went down to the St. Anthony Main neighborhood and took pictures of her for two hours. They utilized the characteristics of the dress by spinning, twisting, and holding it up the sides, adding volume and story to the images. The other iconic part of her style for the new album artwork is the large gold heart necklace. The last song on the EP is titled “Heart of Gold” and is a clever tie-in with the lyrics; “From stealing smiles in grocery aisles to holding you at night, from broken promises to kisses at every traffic light, I’d do it all again if you told me then you’d be mine to hold, now I fall asleep listening to the beat of your heart of gold.”
Released on October 6th 2023, Confessions of a Girl in Love is as much of a visual story as a sonic one. There’s intention and cohesiveness in everything from the merch to the subject matter of the songs. Helen’s shirts showcase the trademark twirl in the black dress. Her cat Peggy, featured all over her Instagram, are made into adorable stickers. She also sells custom friendship bracelets, which has always been a social garment from its inception. Typically bracelets are given to someone after being handmade by a friend, the time and hard work needed to create the bracelet is meant to represent the effort and care of friendship. When someone gives you a friendship bracelet, it is traditional to wear it until it falls off. This honors the work that went into the bracelet. All of these items stem from the album cover photograph of that iconic black dress.
“I wanted it to be dramatic. I went through a phase in college where I only wore black. I’ve branched out since then, but I think black is just so classic. I found that dress because I follow the brand on Instagram called Wild Rose and Sparrow. When you follow a fancy dress brand, you need to have a reason to buy one of the dresses. I found the right reason to buy the dress.”
-Helen
Helen doesn’t remember the first time when she made a conscious choice to wear something, as her parents let her dress herself from a very young age. There were no curated matching outfit pictures like most kids have in elementary school. This immediate trust gave her a sense of independence and her own ability to define who she was. Through middle school she went through the phase of toning down personal expression and dressing to fit in, which everyone does. Instead she spent her energy trying to coerce her parents into buying her Victoria’s Secret PINK clothes, which all the girls were wearing.
Growing up in Decorah Iowa (population 7,587), Helen didn’t experience the Gossip Girl, fashionista, high fashion trends like the rest of the United States. Fashion trends in Iowa were usually late and never fully the full iteration of whatever the trend started as. There’s a trickle down, watered down, almost outdated version that would eventually make it to the pop culture in Iowa. Helen shares that the height of fashion in Decorah was Uggs boots, a top from Maurices, and a very obnoxious necklace with an owl on it. Forever 21 was the destination store that they would travel up to shop at in Rochester. Going to the mall was exciting to experience and see all the variations in clothes.
When Helen went off to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, she started wearing all black. Having the ability to have her own money, shopping online, and being surrounded with a fresher version of trends helped develop her confidence in wearing different things. Her move to the Twin Cities expanded her flexibility. She has a lot of different styles to choose from each day, based on the mood. Some days this means wearing vintage, thrifted pieces, while others day could be a modern Pinterest girl.
“I would say the fashion in middle school at least, there would always be dress-down days and dress-up days. They were just kind of what the popular girls did. But obviously you never knew what day it was going to be. They would always wear sweatpants on the same day or something else on a different day. There was coordination, but I wasn’t getting those messages.”
-Helen
There has been one childhood craft that has remained with Helen, cutely tying into fashion. What started around the age of 12 continues with Helen designing little framed outfits. Using paper, beads, ribbons, and textured material, she curates combinations with designer chic.
This attention to detail and freedom of creating outfits lends itself into her own combinations and understanding how to pair colors and textures fashionably.
Arguments have been made over the exact color of Helen’s Siena dress from Wild Rose & Sparrow. This mini version of her full length black dress could be lilac, pink, or even purple. She noticed it on the website and thought it was the perfect excuse to purchase it for her music video release show of “Round and Round” at LUSH. The dress smartly ties into the lore of the black dress featured in the video, being a shorter length and brighter color. Mirroring the poofiness, the ribbons, and layers of fabric, the lilac/pink/purple dress carries that branding forward.
The shiny black Steve Madden Mary Jane’s have a high heel and accent that dramatic look Helen loves. They were found for $10 at Discount 70 in Columbia Heights, which is like a TJ Maxx on steroids. The shine and strap across the shoe also mirrors the pair worn in the cover artwork. Her black tights help with the juxtaposition of the lighter color of the dress and darker shoes. The lace details carry the storytelling of the outfit, adding interest in every tier of the look.
Helen wears a mix of silver and gold jewelry. She tends to wear more gold on her ears and neck, with more silver on her hands. The combination of rings have been collected over the years. She has a few configurations that are constantly being switched out and moved around. The sterling silver rings on her hands tend to be the ones that never change or move. The silver ring with a leafy pattern with tiny diamonds in the leaves was a one year anniversary gift from her boyfriend. That ring never leaves her hand. The smaller gold heart locket necklace was also a gift from Parker that is worn frequently.
There are a couple Helenisms when it comes to style. There’s usually rings on each finger and a gold heart necklace in all of her looks. She attributes her bangs as a quintessential Helenism stating, “If they’re not styled, then it’s not me. You didn’t see me, it’s not her.”
Helen shops with a blend of online and local. Brands like Abercrombie or Zara have fashionable stuff, but it tends not to be very unique and is fast fashion, which is something Helen tries to avoid. She’s pivoted to more local businesses where eccentric looks can be found. Legacy and Queenie & Pearl are her top favorites. Queenie & Pearl has the best of both worlds with a floor focusing on boutique and a top floor for vintage.
“I would describe my style as a lot of different things, but here are some primary words that come to mind: girly, chic, and romantic. I like to follow trends but I also have a strong personal style where I know what I like and I won't follow a trend if I don't like it or it doesn't suit me.”
-Helen
Celebrating the release of her music video “Round and Round” at LUSH, the show was themed “Bracelets & Ballads.” Swiftie inspired cocktails and a table decked out for making friendship bracelets greeted you at the entrance. Every artist paid homage to Swift with a song, but it was Helen headlining the night with a robust set of original music, clever covers, new music, and a sparkling new video release that was the main allure.
Listening to her perform songs from her debut EP Confessions of a Girl in Love, Helen gives a voice to those that have struggled through heartbreak and how to rebound from love. There’s an emotional plea and journey in the lyrics that yearn to find understanding and give strength to hope. After opening the set with a Taylor Swift cover, Helen set the scene by playing the very first song she released, “When the Heartbreak Comes”. The song lays out a relationship that feels doomed from the start, with every moment thinking ahead to the end.
“New York City” paints a picture of the someone roaming the busiest city and still being seized by who you left. Helen’s performance of “Write You Out of Me” builds on that premise, that heartbreak has the keen ability to hold on. It’s a forlorn story of trying to move on, but continuing to be strung along by the ex. There’s strength in admitting your weaknesses, and Helen has a voice that conveys both of those emotions at the same time. Helen’s resilience for hope carries through on “Heart of Gold”, a song dedicated to her boyfriend. The upbeat sway of the song feels like a girl in love, yearning for the future.
The main attraction of the evening was the video release for “Round and Round.” Immediately from the start, we get Easter eggs of hearts by her lamp and clothing rack. We see her jewelry collection on the nightstand. The chorus hits with a twirl and collapse onto the bed. It’s dramatic, romantic, and exemplifies all the expressions and visuals of Helen. The culmination of the song is a spinning camera and slow resolution to her diary, spelling out the lyrics written in her bedroom. The correlation between style and song is seamless with Helen, the absolute perfect example of what mojo is in music.
“So the genius of Taylor Swift, and not only her artistry, but also her business mind is that she has curated these ‘eras’ surrounding each album that are so entirely distinct and range from everything like colors, to moods, to seasons and weather. It's interesting because Taylor Swift herself is kind of notorious in the swifty community for not being a fashionista. She's never been the IT girl for fashion. She is not a Gigi Hadid, a Bella Hadid. She is not a Haley Bieber.”
-Helen
Helen credits Sabrina Carpenter with having an iconic sense of style that attracts her eye. And although she doesn’t connect as closely with her music, Suki Waterhouse is another standout musician that has a strong sense of identity and vibe that Helen associates with. And then there’s Taylor Swift.
Helen confesses she’s definitely a Swiftie and commends the fashion empire built around her albums. Fabrics like plaid and flannel can connect to the Evermore and Folklore eras, while sequins and something sparkly falls into the Lover era. Taylor wears some weird things at times and has no fear in choosing unique outfits, but oftentimes the look aligns and lands. She’s willing to take those risks and dress as herself.
The Eras tour also opened up a deeper appreciation for fashion for fans. Even though Taylor has a rotation of costumes for every single era, there’s a rotation within the rotation. Meaning, you may know she’s going to wear a bedazzled bodysuit for the Lover era, but you have no idea which one is going to make an appearance on what show. No one has been able to figure out the pattern, making each show on the tour a unique experience on what you’re going to see her wear.
Helen doesn’t feel a lot of pressure in terms of what to wear as a female artist because so many other female artists are wearing all kinds of stuff. From Taylor’s bedazzled bodysuits to Renee Rapp and Billie Ellish wearing oversized tee shirts, there are examples on all sides.
She envisions her first impression on stage as a dramatic declaration of her artistic identity. She wants her entrance to resonate deeply with her audience, especially the girls—the heartbreak queens and emotional souls who find solace in her music. Her wardrobe plays a crucial role in this vision; it’s not just about looking good, but about making a statement that sets the tone for her performance. By choosing a girly aesthetic, she hopes to convey a sense of connection and understanding, as if to say, "I am for you."
This intentional choice reflects her influences, drawing inspiration from artists like Taylor Swift, who effortlessly blend personal narrative with relatable themes. Helen wants her appearance to not only captivate but also to invite listeners into her music, creating an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, yet uniquely understood. You can see her deeply rooted appreciation for style in her social media posts, the way she crafts, all down to the intricate details she wears for shows.
Helen’s presence in the Twin Cities music scene can be felt with the way her fans interact with her outfits. The audience is also dressing up, wanting to connect in a visual way to music that emotionally already ties them together. The mojo of her music lies in the vulnerability of the lyrics, the emotion of her stories, and the ribbons that hold it all together.
Check out the links below for ways to follow Helen and all the things we mentioned above.
Helen website - Instagram - TikTok - Wild Rose and Sparrow - Legacy - Queenie & Pearl - Taylor Swift Eras Fashion
