NEW YORK — On Friday night, the vibrant streets of New York City played host to one of the fashion calendar’s most anticipated annual celebrations, as trendsetters, models, and musicians gathered for The Frankie Shop’s annual Halloween party. Stepping out into the East Village limelight at the venue Ella Funt, singer and style icon Rita Ora immediately captured the attention of photographers and onlookers alike with a meticulously crafted tribute to a true American music legend. Choosing to honor the late, great Dolly Parton, Ora delivered a fashion statement that served as both a heartfelt memorial and a masterclass in high-concept costume styling.
The late country music icon, who passed away this August at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer, spent decades cementing her status as a cultural touchstone. Known far beyond the boundaries of country music for her dramatic aesthetic, larger-than-life personality, and unapologetic embrace of glamour, Parton left behind a legacy that continues to resonate deeply across the entertainment and fashion industries. For Friday night’s festivities, which were officially titled the "Unemployed X The Frankie Shop Dolly Lives!" party, Ora stepped into the shoes of the legendary singer, executing a look that did justice to Parton’s unmistakable visual identity.
To achieve the look, Ora drew direct inspiration from Parton’s iconic 2008 single and album, "Backwoods Barbie." In the title track of the same name, Parton famously defended her signature aesthetic, proudly proclaiming her fondness for wearing "a push-up bra and heels" and famously describing her ostentatious, high-glam wardrobe as simply "a country girl’s idea of glam." Ora embraced this philosophy down to the finest detail, appearing in an outfit that mirrored the singer’s most celebrated visual motifs with uncanny precision.
At the core of Ora’s ensemble was a classic blue button-down shirt, which she artfully tied at the waist to create a casual yet carefully constructed silhouette. Beneath the unbuttoned collar, an icy blue push-up bra was prominently visible, its frosty shade serving as a brilliant visual anchor for the rest of the outfit. Demonstrating her commitment to the aesthetic, Ora matched the cool tone of her undergarment directly to her makeup, sporting heavily applied icy blue eyeshadow that recalled Parton’s signature theatrical beauty routines.
The pop star paired the top with classic, fitted blue jeans that grounded the dramatic top half of the outfit in everyday Americana. Cinching her waist was a thick, studded red belt that injected a sharp splash of vibrant color into the ensemble, perfectly echoing the accessories favored by Parton during her most flamboyant stage performances. To complete the look from head to toe, Ora stepped out in a pair of luxury footwear that elevated the costume into high fashion: Gucci Donna Horsebit patent leather pumps.
Crafted in a bright, traffic-stopping shade of red that matched her statement belt, Ora’s Gucci shoes featured a sharply pointed toe and a soaring stiletto heel. Across the vamp of each shoe sat the unmistakable, gleaming golden horsebit hardware that has long been a signature of the Italian luxury fashion house. The choice of footwear underscored the playful intersection of high fashion and country kitsch that defined Parton’s enduring appeal. Prior to leaving for the venue, Ora gave her millions of social media followers an exclusive preview of the costume on Instagram, sharing details of the look that also featured a voluminous, platinum blond wig styled in the legendary singer’s trademark sky-high pouf.
Ora’s homage arrived amid a broader wave of fashionable tributes following Parton’s death this past summer, a loss that sent shockwaves through the music world and prompted an outpouring of creative appreciation from her legions of celebrity admirers. Throughout the fall, artists across the entertainment spectrum have found ways to incorporate the singer’s signature aesthetic into their own public appearances. This cultural moment was particularly visible earlier in the week at the Country Music Awards in Nashville, where a host of country music stars, including Ella Langley, Carly Pearce, and Kristin Chenoweth, walked red carpets and performed in sparkling, Dolly-inspired outfits and shoes that celebrated the queen of country music’s flamboyant legacy.
The Frankie Shop’s annual Halloween party has rapidly evolved into a staple event of the New York City social calendar, known for drawing high-profile crowds and embracing elaborate cultural themes. Last year, the tastemaking brand and creative platform Unemployed hosted a widely discussed Halloween party themed around the life and style of another cinematic and cultural icon, Elizabeth Taylor. By turning their attention to Dolly Parton for this year’s iteration, the organizers provided a fitting space for artists like Ora to pay homage to a singular icon whose influence on fashion, music, and pop culture remains as potent as ever.
