Sombr on Embracing “Disco Ball” Dressing at the 2026 Grammys
As both a best new artist nominee and a performer at the 2026 Grammys, Sombr had no shortage of pinch-me moments on Sunday night. “It was such an honor to be nominated in the same category as all these incredible artists that I admire and respect,” the singer tells Vogue. “I watched the Grammys with my mom and dad when I was a kid, but I honestly never thought that in a million years I would be nominated for a Grammy and be on that stage.”
For a newcomer to the music scene, Sombr has quickly amassed a huge fan base, thanks to his breakout 2025 debut, I Barely Know Her. The star—a native New Yorker who wrote much of the album in his Lower East Side bedroom—admits he is still getting used to all the attention. “I haven’t had time for reflection at all,” Sombr says. “I’m just grateful for the reaction to the album, and I’m so indebted to my fans who’ve been with me all through this crazy year.”
Happily, his stylist, Brandon Tan, has wasted no time making Sombr look the part of a modern-day rock star. “There were key words I kept in mind throughout our process [for the Grammys,]” says Tan, who cultivated two statement looks for the star. “Provocative, confident, and rebellious were some of them.”
For the Grammys red carpet, Sombr donned a custom look from Valentino—an intentional choice, given the recent death of the house’s legendary founder, Valentino Garavani. “For me, wearing a custom design by Alessandro Michele, just weeks after the untimely passing of Valentino Garavani, seemed to make sense,” says Sombr. The silvery suit was paired with a sheer, embroidered lace shirt. “We worked so closely with the Valentino team, who were extremely collaborative throughout the entire process despite having an entire couture show just days before the Grammys,” says Tan. “We exchanged references, sketches, and proposals before landing on the look. There were a couple variations.”
Later on in the night, for his performance, Sombr changed into a second Valentino look: a suit jacket and flared trousers covered in morrored sequins and rhinestone embroidery. “The song that I performed, ‘12 to 12,’ is a full-on disco track, and my performance look served disco ball meets couture,” says Sombr.
For Tan, it was especially important for the stage look to have a little extra drama. “I received a treatment for the vision of the performance, which outlined him descending on a platform with lights and reflections,” he says. “The idea then was that he would emulate a disco ball, with light beams reflecting off of him throughout the room and onto the crowd. This required spectacular hand-embroidery by Valentino couturiers and several rehearsals, light tests, fittings, and alterations. It was unreal seeing our idea come to life so perfectly.”
Both eye-catching fashion moments proved Sombr already has a handle on dressing for the spotlight, and not a moment too soon: he’ll be touring into the spring, when he’s also set to take the Coachella stage.
“He doesn t really shy away from much,” says Tan. “We’ve built a great trust in each other, which allows us to explore and have some fun with our looks. He also has a natural cheekiness and great sense of humor that I like to lean into. It doesn’t hurt that he’s tall and handsome, either.”
Below, more exclusive photos from Sombr’s Grammys night.
Photo: Bryce Glenn1/9Brandon and Valentino went big. I’m so grateful.
Photo: Bryce Glenn2/9Love lace.
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