Alt-pop duo Coco & Clair Clair on model, Atlanta and being cozy ladies

When I noticed Coco & Clair Clair at SXSW earlier this yr, they have been on their third set of the day, and their fifth gig of the Austin, Texas music convention. On the invoice with Coco Jones and Chloe Bailey, the Atlanta duo hyped the gang, biking via their aloof and addictive debut full-length Sexy (with a flip through Dido’s “White Flag”). Over ethereal, reverb-y beats, Coco delivers confidently barbed rap, whereas Clair’s cutesy, twinkly vocal sucker-punches with bitchy, brazen hooks: “Chloe Sevigny / I’m the new IT girl”, “Realest bitches in the room always, me and Clair”. Dripping with deliciously deviant, deadpan humour, they skulked the stage in snakeskin, oversize leather-based, chunky boots and face-eschewing sun shades. “Everyone here looks so sexy,” Coco drawled.

That flash-in-the-pain run of reveals was a snapshot of a booked and busy yr to this point, preempting a summer season of showcases, festivals, and excursions throughout the US and Europe. While they’ve levelled up from first assembly on Twitter and their early days of bed room rap and the home celebration efficiency circuit, Coco & Clair Clair (actual names Claire Toothill and Taylor Nave) preserve a definite attraction, sardonic angle and dedicated sense of fashion. Peep their Instagram for stage and promo suits that oscillate from black corsets and sequins, to double denim, XXL hair bows and kitten heels, biking shorts and Chanel booties. They’ve not too long ago been tapped for Urban Outfitters and Champion’s Autumn collection marketing campaign. In visuals set to the duo’s earworm-y “Pop Star”, Coco and Clair mannequin puddle pants and sweats, hoodies, and vintage-inspired collegiate polos, including their very own contact to the classics with preppy loafers and heeled pumps. Their merch is fairly sartorially aligned to their vibe too – “Coco & Clair Clair threw a bottle at me and I loved it”, one shirt reads.

When we go online to Zoom, Coco is again home in Atlanta and Clair Clair is in Joshua Tree – we chat about their UO x Champion marketing campaign, private model, Stardoll and The Sims.

Hey Coco and Clair Clair! What’s it like seeing your Urban x Champion marketing campaign IRL? Were you mall ladies?

Clair Clair: I’m realising now it’s fairly back-to-school vibes – preppy, cute, candy. And we’re very cozy ladies. We’ll not dress if we are able to get away with it. Don’t get me unsuitable – we love to decorate up, however there was simply one thing about doing a photograph shoot that leans into our cozy and cosy facet that wasn’t simply our psycho aesthetic. That’s good – typically. Champion is a basic too – my mother and father know what it’s, they wore it, they will inform folks about it. I’m proud to have lots of people actually relate to one thing we’ve carried out.

We each spent a lot time procuring in Urban Outfitters in Atlanta rising up. That mall expertise is basically influential. I’d get obsessive about their catalogues too, save them, look over them time and again.

Coco: The nostalgia! And it’s sick to be in someplace that shares our vinyls too. I spent a lot time hanging across the vinyls in Urban Outfitters.

You’ve spent a number of the previous few months on the highway and travelling throughout Europe. Has that impressed your model?

Clair Clair: I’m so final minute after I pack for tour. For me, it’s no matter I discovered on the thrift retailer the day earlier than. When we began touring correctly after COVID, I really feel like we went via what I assume was a method evolution, in that I simply wished to put on silk pants and t-shirts all over the place. I received actually into jewelry as a result of it was a straightforward option to really feel fancy. I get a lot inspiration from Coco and the way she kinds the issues she performs in, concepts she brings to photoshoot.

Coco: I hate packing. If our flight is at 8am I’m up packing at 5am. On this tour, I’ve been a bit extra informal. I additionally see some development in my model in how I’ve realized to include fundamentals. I used to purchase these loopy items that didn’t go together with something in my closet, so that they’d simply sit there. Now, I’ve received a superb combine of straightforward and loopy.

Clair Clair: On our final tour we have been sharing garments with our DJ. The evening of a present we’d be rummaging via one another’s issues and placing collectively items we’d simply by no means usually put on in a very enjoyable, simple method. Like, oh yeah, I can put on this swimsuit as a prime with a man’s pair of denims and slippers – cool. The hectic nature of tour brings out this model in me.

There’s a juxtaposition in your style selections – the sweats and the heels.

Coco: Sweatpants and heels are the way in which to go. Casual, scorching, with out trying such as you simply rolled off the bed. I’m actually into these little touches that make a superb look.

Clair Clair: I like overloading on equipment.

What’s your greatest classic discover?

Clair Clair: Coco simply received an superb gown on eBay. She’s been getting a number of good things on there. 

Coco: Yeah, we’re going to a marriage in Nairobi subsequent month, and I discovered this chocolate brown sequin gown with a low scoop again I’m going to put on. It simply arrived. It suits excellent. And Claire simply received some Chanel boots!

What’s thrifting like in Atlanta? 

Coco: Pretty good. Even at my favorite thrift shops, it doesn’t really feel just like the TikTok ladies have discovered them but.

Clair Clair: The suburbs are the very best.

“What I think comes across in our music is that we prioritise having fun and making sure we’re both happy – that doesn’t mean we compromise artistry or creativity” – Clair Clair

Your music is indebted to the web – what web subcultures and platforms influenced your model? Like, have been you on Stardoll or into MySpace scene children?

Clair Clair: Oh my gosh – all of it. We have been simply speaking about these dress-up doll video games the opposite day.

Coco: I used to be on all of that. The Sims was my shit. I liked MySpace however extra for the music as a result of even then I knew everybody was dressing like shit. Neon denims… yeah, no.

If the historic throughline the present pattern cycle is following is to be believed, scene children will quickly rise once more.

Coco: I actually, actually hope not.

Who evokes you with their appears to be like proper now?

Clair Clair: We have the identical couple of influencers and fashions we obsess over and ship forwards and backwards to one another. I’ve somewhat saved part on my Instagram that’s only for folks’s cool outfits.

Coco: We love Paloma Elsesser.

Clair: An icon. Paloma is so cool – she attire fairly casually more often than not, however all the time appears to be like epic. I largely search for and really feel impressed by individuals who can look snug and informal in one thing that’s somewhat daring, that encourages me to strive one thing new too. 

Your angle is inherent to the expertise of Coco & Clair Clair. How have you ever crafted that?

Clair Clair: What I believe comes throughout in our music is that we prioritise having enjoyable and ensuring we’re each pleased – that does not imply we compromise artistry or creativity. You can do each. So a lot of our music relates again to our friendship, selections now we have made and dedicated to collectively. It’s all the way down to the reveals we select to play – will we get pleasure from it? Who’s gonna be in that crowd? What can we give the folks in that metropolis?

What’s your relationship wish to Atlanta now?

Clair Clair: We’ve developed a mature relationship with Atlanta. The home present scene we knew has died by itself, however we’re probably not partying like we used to. I’ve realised how good the meals scene is. We’ve discovered our personal studio house. We really feel like now we have our personal, actual lives right here. I really feel like I stay in Atlanta now. I believe rising up, I felt like I used to be simply right here to determine shit and go someplace else, however I actually love Atlanta. 

Coco: It’s been good to get again into our studio. Tour undoubtedly impressed us so much. Playing the identical songs each single evening makes you need to make and play extra songs to see how folks react stay.

And we’re in style month now – what could be the track that you’d strut down the runway to?

Coco: It needs to be “World Class Sinner” by Lily Rose Depp from The Idol. 

Clair Clair: “World Class Sinner” is on repeat. 

Coco & Clair Clair for Champion is available exclusively at Urban Outfitters

Join Dazed Club and be a part of our world! You get unique entry to occasions, events, festivals and our editors, in addition to a free subscription to Dazed for a yr. Join for £5/month right this moment.