Good news, music lovers: This weekend, Governors Ball in New York officially kicked off summer’s festival season (soon followed closely by festivals like Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Outside Lands). Hitting the main Gov Ball stage this year? Performers such as Lorde, KATSEYE, the Stray Kids, A$AP Rocky, and Jennie—to name just a few. “I was really excited, because it feels like the perfect way to kick off festival season for me this summer,” Jennie tells Vogue. “Festivals always have such a different energy, and New York crowds are always loud and fun, so I was looking forward to that a lot.”
The singer was sure to bring some of her most hyped-up hits to the stage (”Dracula!”), as well as even a new unreleased song, called “Lock It Down.” Dance-worthy tracks were the name of the game: The pop star wanted her Gov Ball performance to feel like one big summer party. (And we can safely say: mission accomplished.) “I wanted something fun, high energy, and really immersive from beginning to end,” Jennie, who headlined last night’s show, added. “I wanted everyone to just enjoy the moment with me, dance, sing, and really feel free during the set.”
Video: Odd Atelier
Jennie’s fashion direction for Gov Ball, meanwhile, served as a thoughtful homage to the very city that the music festival is hosted in. The star wore a custom look by AWGE, A$AP Rocky’s brand, that took inspiration from classic New Yorker style. (Rocky is famously a Harlem native, after all.) “Since it was my first time performing at a festival in New York, I really wanted to work with a New York brand for the looks,” says Jennie. “I’ve wanted to collaborate with AWGE for a while now, so creating custom pieces together for this performance was really exciting for me.”
The outfit included a stars-and-stripes bra top, a mini skirt that was crafted from half distressed denim-half flannel plaid, and boxer-style sneakers—and, of course, a New York cap. “The styling felt very ‘me’ right now. A little more street, playful, and relaxed,” says Jennie. “I’ve been really into mixing stronger silhouettes with effortless pieces lately.” She loved that the final design felt like something you could see everyday New Yorkers in—but elevated. “I was really excited about the layered plaid skirt, because it felt a little new for me stylistically,” she says. “There were also crystal details on my top that made everything feel more fun and special on stage.”
