All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Charli xcx’s Brat era isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Since its release in June 2024, the critically acclaimed album has sparked a full-blown cultural takeover, soundtracking nights out, inspiring fashion trends and earning Charli her highest-charting appearance on the Billboard 200, at No. 3. The green cover, the gritty honesty, the club-kid chaos — it all cemented Brat as more than an album, but a movement.

Now, Charli is channeling that same raw, rebellious energy into a new creative lane: sneakers. Teaming up with Converse, she’s launching a limited-edition “By You” Chuck Taylor experience that leans into the Brat aesthetic, beat-up, lived-in, and entirely your own.

Before the collab drops on August 5, Billboard caught up with Charli to talk about destruction as a design principle, her decade-long relationship with Chucks, and why self-expression means never keeping your shoes clean.

You’ve described the collection as intentionally “beat up.” What draws you to that distressed aesthetic, and how does it reflect where you are in your style evolution right now?  

I think the collection is reflective of my current style because it’s customizable — everyone can make it their own. If you want to take off the charms, you can. If you want to go over the printed rips and distressed marks by really destroying them and cutting holes into the fabric—you can. I don’t have to do it all for you, haha. I like that people can destroy the shoe on their own terms if they want to. 

The color palette leans into these soft, muted tones — Brown Rice, Bridal Rose, Winter Sky. How did you land on those specific colors, and what do they say about your current vibe?  

There’s always been an industrial and brutalist feel to Brat. Yes, of course, the album cover was green, but I never really wear green… and that’s always been intentional. The color scheme of the album is much more neutral, inspired by concrete and wearing essential items when you go to a party, white top, nipples showing through, your favorite leather jacket, black boots, etc. And so, the color scheme of the shoes is designed to fit into that world. 

From “pop princess” to the raw Brat era, your personal style has evolved just as much as your sound. How did you channel that transformation into the design of these Chucks?  

I’ve always worn Chucks, to be honest. They’ve always been a part of my world. And honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been a pop princess… but thanks for saying that haha.

Why was Converse the right partner for this moment in your creative life? What about the brand aligns with how you see yourself right now?  

I’ve had the same pair of Converse for like 10 years. They’ve got holes in them and they’re totally destroyed, so to be honest, I needed a new pair. 

The Brat era feels like an embrace of chaos, messiness, and realness. How do you see footwear—especially something like a beat-up Chuck Taylor — playing into that energy?  

Well yeah, it’s like, you wear that one pair of Chucks all the time, you f—k them up, they’re dirty and worn, but that’s kind of the coolest thing. It makes them more you. 

What do you hope fans feel when they wear your version of the Chuck Taylor? Is it about confidence, rebellion, nostalgia — or something else? 

I hope they just feel like themselves, ’cause that’s the best way to feel.

You’ve always had a distinct visual identity in your music videos and fashion. When designing this collab, were there any specific references — films, eras, moods — that helped guide your vision?  

It was more about tying into the ethos of Brat. I always like the idea of having to destroy something yourself to get to the best version of it… and that’s what I’m doing with the shoes. Or, the fact that you have to rip the pages of the vinyl booklet open to access the imagery inside — yes, you’re destroying something, but you’re getting something more rewarding by doing that. This idea that perfection is stale and destruction is real — that’s where my head was at when designing the shoes. 

If we looked inside your closet right now, how would these Converse fit in with your go-to outfits? What’s the Charli XCX-approved way to style them?  

Baggy jeans and a vintage Lou Reed top is generally how I wear my Converse. 

A lot of your fans use fashion as a way to express their inner worlds — especially queer and alt youth. Did you think about your community while designing this collab?  

I was definitely thinking about what my fans might like, the logos they’re interested in, the motifs they might lean towards. But I think when designing or making anything, you have to always appeal the most to yourself rather than trying to please others. I think that’s how you end up with something more unique. 

What’s one styling rule you always break—and do you think your Converse collab breaks any rules on purpose?  

I’m not sure, if you read any complaints about them, that’s probably your answer.

Now it’s your turn: Is Charli xcx’s Converse collab a Flex, Trade, or Fade?
Flex: You love it and would wear it.
Trade: You’d buy it to resell or swap for something else.
Fade: You’re not into it at all.

Shop the Chuck Taylor All Star “By You” collection below — and make the call yourself.