Caterina Ospina on What It Really Takes to Style Zara Larsson on Stage
Make it stand out
This summer has been pervasively the season of aquamarine, citrus brights, and every colour that feels like Versace Spring/Summer 2004 ready-to-wear with a wink. And that’s not just thanks to I-just-want-to-be-part-of-your-symphony meme, but also thanks to pop star Zara Larsson and the mastermind behind her fearless Midnight Sun wardrobe, Caterina Ospina.
Ospina has always been what one would call a fashion fanatic. From organising fashion shows with friends as a kid, to studying promotion and styling at university, all roads led to the profession. Her early work spanned magazines like ELLE UK and British Vogue, but the real shift came when she joined forces with the Swedish singer, embarking on a bold and energetic creative partnership.
‘‘When I first met Zara, I immediately understood that she had a strong sense of personal style,’’ the stylist tells me. Ospina remembers what Larsson wore as if it were yesterday: A shiny embellished top that read ‘‘Hot & Sexy’’ with Chanel flip-flops, which instantly caught her attention. In those mere first seconds, whether observing her bold outfit or talking about colour and sparkle, the stylist could see not only that the pop star loved fashion but that she was also not afraid to have fun with it.
Enter the Midnight Sun era, tapping into her boldness, femininity, sensuality, all while creating a sense of magic through the power of fashion. From donning a vintage Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2006 at the amfAR Gala in Cannes this May to rocking a custom Sorcha O’Raghallaigh that feels too shiny to be true in a collaboration with Winx Club, her fashion identity quickly became recognizable for its glitz and pop vibe. And in the meantime, turned Larsson into something larger than life.
Like many of the great stylists in the industry, Ospina is always guided by a classic styling fundamental: clothes have to serve the person wearing them. ‘‘It's easy to get caught up in aesthetics, but if the artist doesn't feel comfortable and empowered, the look doesn't work,’’ she explains.
Yet styling a performer for the stage is a different animal from dressing her for the red carpet. Sure, the edge, the glamour, and the razzle-dazzle remain. There, there’s more at play: movement, lighting, cameras, sweat, choreography, and an audience hungry for magic. Perhaps then, it's no wonder that the fundamental becomes even more important. ‘‘The clothes need to move with Zara, not against her,’’ Ospina notes.
Cases like the custom look by Bryan Hearns for Rock in Rio, playing with the Brazilian flag's colors; the Lollapalooza Chicago look by James Nguyen and AC Gottlieb; or the custom Rotate in Copenhagen this July underscore this need, consequently showing a pop diva so in tune with her body, moving with so much energy while serving sartorially (sorry for the internet lingo).
Although fashion newcomers may not spot much of a difference, that’s largely because the stylist is so successful in preserving the aesthetic Larsson is so known for. But beneath all that sparkle, there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye, and according to Ospina, more craftsmanship than sequins.
Think hidden support structures, reinforced seams, custom fastenings, strategically placed stretch panels, duplicate garments, and shoes modifications. The result may look effortlessly glamourous, but there’s nothing effortless about making it all actually work.
“We spend a lot of time testing looks during rehearsals,” Ospina notes. “That’s when you really understand how a garment behaves in motion and what modifications are needed before it reaches the stage.”
While there may be a lot of technical work behind the scenes, sometimes accidents happen. During a May 2026 appearance on the Today show in New York City, Larsson’s heel broke on stage - still she joked about it and kept moving fearlessly. According to Ospina, in those situations, preparation and staying calm are key.
“Zara is incredibly professional and adaptable, so when something happens, she simply keeps going.” She adds that while they always have backup pieces ready to wear, “sometimes the best response is confidence, a smile, and a good sense of humour” — things Larsson excels at.
Accidents don’t mean the clothes have to be any less spectacular. If anything, for an artist as devoted to maximalism as Larsson, the stage is an excuse to push it even further — if that’s even possible. “A concert is a celebration,” the professional argues. “It’s a place where emotion, fantasy, and spectacle exist together.” In a space where people are gathered and united by the power of music, the singer’s looks need to capture that collective energy, too. Larsson and Ospina do that through sparkle, colour and drama, elements that Zara “isn’t afraid to embrace.” Overall, the looks need presence, as Ospina puts it, a silhouette and sense of movement that reads instantly, while still feeling as alive and exuberant as the performance itself.
Creating that kind of presence goes beyond aesthetics, though. It starts with working with creatives who bring passion, personality, authenticity and energy to the table, qualities that, for the stylist, can be just as transformative as the clothes themselves. One of her favourite parts of her job, she adds, is collaborating with emerging designers and helping bring visibility to new voices. “It’s incredibly rewarding to work with people who are just as passionate as you are and bring a fresh perspective to the creative process,” she says.
When it comes down to their creative process, the stylist never allows trends to interfere with it.
‘‘I've always believed in creating something authentic rather than chasing what's popular at the moment,’’ Ospina confesses.
With this authentic, passionate and vibrant spirit, Ospina turned Midnight Sun stagewear into something more than just clothing or part of the performance, instead creating a whole new universe and making it eternal. “Stage styling is really a blend of fashion, costume design, and engineering,” she jokes about the many nuances of the job. But still, despite all the juggling and ups and downs, for Ospina, there’s something more behind all of this.
“I want the audience to feel that they’re stepping into a different world, something colourful, uplifting, and full of possibility,” Ospina continues, giving them, in a way, their own version of a midnight sun. “Fashion becomes part of the memory,” she concludes. “People might not remember every detail, but they remember the feeling.”
They remember, indeed. Maybe it’s the sequins they’re so fond of; the shimmery heels that sometimes feel just too much Barbie; the pastel or vibrant shades that evoke an endless summer; or the flowers that take them all to a safe place, a new world, somewhere of their own. Or perhaps it’s simply the whole damn experience: where the sun glows, Larsson’s voice rings out, her movements are fearless, and the clothes themselves shine right along with her.
