The Full Story Behind Shawn Mendes’s Brand-New Tour Wardrobe

Last week, Shawn Mendes kicked off his North American summer tour in Portland, Oregon. For this new slew of performance dates, Mendes’s longtime stylist, Tiffany Briseno, worked with the Canadian singer-songwriter to revamp his rocker look. Briseno first started with Mendes in 2015 for his “Stitches” music video. “Having been with him since he was 16, his style has evolved through a few stages since then,” she says. “At first he had a stage when he’d really just wear what he wanted, which I’d call the ‘plaid stage,’ then we elevated his style a bit when he started wearing leather jackets and black jeans. Now, I’d say we have moved onto what I’d call the ‘natural rockstar’ stage.”

For this brand-new tour, Briseno and Mendes switched things up with subtle details. “The approach for tour is much more raw and lived-in compared to some of our past award shows and other performance looks,” she says. “We have also integrated the idea of de-layering throughout the entire show. Starting with a lightweight jacket and ending in a cut-off tee or staple tank top. This approach was inspired by icons like James Brown and the use of his cape—the idea of using clothing to create more anticipation for the audience.”

Taking that in mind, the pair landed on a classic rock-and-roll look that was casual, but super bold and confident. “The goal is for Shawn to make his mark in a world of past and present style icons,” Briseno says. “Taking inspiration and paying homage to some of the greats such as Elvis, Bruce Springsteen, and Jimi Hendrix.” They also made references to film characters, from classics such as The Outsiders to the Teddy Boy aesthetic found in films such as Grease.

Photo: Josiah Van Dien

Briseno also worked with brands to design custom looks for Mendes, including pieces from Calvin Klein, The Kooples, Paul Smith, Tommy Hilfiger, Dzojchen, Dsquared2, and Saint Laurent. “We curated everything from shapes, design details, and fabric choices to solidify Shawn’s iconic style,” she says. They also incorporated some vintage pieces into the mix to give it a more eclectic feel. “We love mixing a great vintage find with a higher-end, more tailored piece,” Briseno says. “Key items like jackets, worn-in tees, and accessories like textured belts that channel the past decades of rock and roll.”

While the focus was indeed on aesthetics, Briseno had to weigh the practicality and comfort of each piece, ensuring they worked with Mendes’s movements on stage. “In our design meetings we experimented with fabrics that would retain shape, but have the flexibility and breathability that we were after,” she says. “The weight of the clothing and the way it moves on stage was key. Also, choosing a palette that would compliment the stage design and pop against the lighting was very important.”

At the end of the day, though, Briseno’s number-one priority was simply making sure Mendes felt good in the clothes—and pushing him to try new things along the way. “He has to feel good in it,” she says. “Having worked together for so long now, we have a trust that allows us to push and evolve. He is open and knows what he likes, so it makes for a very successful creative process in our fitting sessions.” Below, see exclusive behind-the-scenes tour photos, including some of Mendes’s custom looks.