Tyla Charmed the Coachella Crowd With Her '90s Throwback Style

No one made a bigger splash in the Coachella Desert Valley than singer and Grammy-winner Tyla. We know what you’re thinking: How can a pop diva with such viral hits as “Water” and “Truth or Dare” just now be performing at the world’s biggest music festival for the first time? It's shocking, yes, but true.

The South African artist's Coachella debut was a special moment not just for herself but for the people who mean the most to her. “My family flew in to watch me perform,” Tyla tells InStyle. “It was a lot of their first times traveling outside of South Africa, and I just loved having them here to experience all of this with me.” 

And she did her family proud with a sultry, showstopping set on Day 1 of Coachella that included her biggest hits, a remix to Aaliyah’s "Rock the Boat," and a surprise duet with Becky G.

Tyla took the stage channeling Y2k throwback style in an archival Dolce & Gabbana 'fit comprised of a gold crystal bra and beaded brocade hotpants from the design duo’s 2000 spring collection. A tied white top, fishnet stockings, and Burju lace-up boots completed the look. “When I work with my stylist Ronnie (Hart), we’ll just be in a room, and we’ll play around and just have fun with it,” she says. “We’ll just put whatever we feel (I look) hot on and rock it!”

Tyla wore plenty of mixed metal Pandora jewelry to add shine to her ensemble, including a stack of organically shaped bangles, gold-plated and sterling silver pavé rings, and gold hoop earrings with dangling shark tooth charms (as a nod to her fans who refer to themselves as “Tygers").  It was a big week for both Tyla and the Danish jewelry house as they announced that the singer would be the latest brand ambassador to join the ranks of stars like Pamela Anderson, Selma Blair, and Chloe and Halle Bailey to represent Pandora’s full jewelry collection.

“We’re so proud to officially welcome Tyla to the Pandora family and to have celebrated her first Coachella performance with her in Pandora jewelry,” said a representative for the brand. “Her creativity, individuality, and powerful storytelling are everything our brand stands for—we loved seeing her shine on such a global stage wearing unique Pandora Charms that spoke to her and her fans.”

The celebrations didn't stop with her Coachella set. After her performance, Pandora threw Tyla a posh pool party where guests, including her family and backup dancers, lounged under pink cabanas, sipped on bubbly drinks, and also had the chance to design their own custom pieces from a selection of Pandora’s chic and cheeky charms. 

For her poolside look, Tyla wore a denim bandeau top and maxi skirt, which she accessorized with a custom Pandora choker necklace created from dozens of pavé charms and a pile of layered gold link necklaces. “That’s what I love about Pandora,” she gushes, “You can just wear what makes you feel best, what fits your vibe—you can’t go wrong when you do that."