Tate McRae’s ‘Sports Car’ Music Video Is a Fashion Power Play
The Canadian artist donned twelve archive pieces and current ready-to-wear looks in her latest music video—each more striking than the last.
Tate McRae is starting the year off on the right foot (and in the best outfits) for her latest music video. "Sports Car" captures the mercurial highs of love and passion, with fashion on the screen undeniably stealing the spotlight through risqué looks and many archive pieces.
The video for McRae’s latest single, "Sports Car," dropped on Friday and featured several stills in a visually enthralling ode to pop nostalgia, with a contemporary edge. Directed by Bardia Zeinali, McRae flows through a series of evocative rooms, each representing different facets of her artistry, from sultry choreography to introspective moments. The narrative culminates in a reflective twist, revealing McRae as both performer and a fashion it-girl on the rise, embodying the adrenaline and multidimensionality of the track she co-wrote with Julia Michaels and Ryan Tedder.
The outfits were styled by Brett Alan Nelson, a frequent collaborator of McRae’s and other pop icons like Doja Cat and Sabrina Carpenter. He dressed the Canadian artist in a leopard-embossed archival look from Roberto Cavalli Spring/Summer 2007, along with head-toe-runway designs by Versace and Viktor & Rolf. Nelson championed the loud luxury trend on McRae, too, by way of a tan, furry corset and a dramatic black feather jacket—both by The Blonds. In the video, she also wears racy lingerie by Agent Provocateur.
“From the beginning, I wanted to do something different, and I really wanted to push the limit and do something almost a bit uncomfortable,” Nelson said in a Vogue interview. “For me, it was about pushing her and pushing archival fashion—and as much couture and fashion as I could get in.”
The video is alluring and sensual, and it acts as the perfect follow up to McRae’s recent released tracks 2 Hands and It’s OK I’m Ok, which both maintain her signature electro-pop sound with R&B influences. Together, the song and its visuals tease the themes and energy set to come on her highly anticipated third studio album, So Close to What, which is expected to drop next month. Fans have even more to look forward to as McRae prepares to embark on her 50-date “Miss Possessive Tour,” kicking off on March 18, 2025, in Mexico City and spanning venues worldwide. Her performances won't just stun, but her fashion is sure to make a mark, too.
McRae has come a long way since her breakout on So You Think You Can Dance, her rise as a singer, and, now, a budding pop star. Based on this video, she’s clearly seeking to make waves for her style as well.
