Jade Thirlwall, the peppy former member of Little Mix, is living her best life. Fresh off the Burberry spring/summer 2025 show, she jetted straight to Milan for Fendi’s seasonal offering, arriving at 2am but still full of energy. This newly minted solo artist is back in London post-presentation, prepping for Live Lounge performances and LA video shoots as the publicity around her second single intensifies. “I live for it,” says the 31-year-old South Shields native, who rose to fame through The X Factor after three auditions. “I had a mini break after Little Mix, and now I’m really ready to do the dancing.” Her presence on fashion’s front row signifies a bold new look for Thirlwall, one that transcends the typical “pop girlie” image. She took her time to develop a less mainstream aesthetic, carefully selecting brands that align with her vision. For her debut solo music video, stylists Zack Tate and Jamie McFarland chose pieces from Chopova Lowena, Diesel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Knwls. “We purposefully waited it out for the best show,” she notes about her Milan Fashion Week debut with Fendi. Thirlwall has immense respect for creative director Kim Jones, whom she’s encountered at a few parties. “He’s quite iconic,” she enthuses. “We’re aligned in terms of having that [sense of] sophistication, but with an edge. I like pushing the boundaries in terms of what a ‘going-out look’ is.” Her cream denim two-piece, with its utilitarian flair, epitomizes this new era. “It’s something I’ve not done yet,” she states confidently, navigating the tumultuous industry she grew up in. While her clothing reflects her reinvention, Thirlwall’s accessories are a nod to her girl-band roots. “You can’t do a Fendi show without an incredible handbag!” she exclaims. Inside her new Peekaboo Soft, a top-handle style she spotted in her hotel room, you’ll find a true Northern lass’s essentials: a sheet eye mask, a fan (“I don’t want my face melting off!”), blotting tissues (“I’m not into over-powering my face”), and La Roche-Posay lip balm. Her glasses and book – It’s Not That Radical: Climate Action to Transform Our World by Mikaela Loach – reveal a more thoughtful side to Thirlwall. As the last member of Little Mix to venture out solo, Thirlwall is embracing this moment. Before hanging up the phone, she eagerly recommends her boyfriend Jordan Stephens’s tell-all about fame, Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak and Dogs (“he’ll kill me if I don’t get the name right”). She reveals that any anxiety she initially felt about going solo has dissipated: “I’m really proud of how hard I’ve worked to get to this point over the past 12 to 13 years, so why should I be nervous? I do feel like I’m very worthy of being here – and I know I look great.” “The beauty of fashion week is that you might be sat next to someone you don’t know,” Jade continues. “Yes, it’s pleasantries and small talk, but you never know where it will lead to.” Thirlwall starts every front-row conversation with a simple “how are you?”, a gesture not always expected in the industry. Her energetic chatterbox personality wins everyone over with her quiet charm before the lights go down. This won’t be her last Milan Fashion Week – if she has the time, she’ll be back.
Jade Thirlwall: From Little Mix to Milan Fashion Week
