It wasn’t long after Natasha Shrestha, a seventh-grade history teacher in New York City, saw the cover for Doechii’s latest mixtape that she decided to claim a piece of the Florida rapper’s aesthetic for herself.
Ms. Shrestha got her nails done in an elaborate tribute to the cover arka of the new album, “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” including three fingertips’ worth of tartan and an eerily convincing re-creation of albino alligator skin.
Doechii, whose real name is Jaylah Hickmon, has emerged as a rapper to watch and is heading into the 2025 Grammy Awards with four nominations, including for best new artist and best rap album. “Alligator Bites” is heavily influenced by ’90s hip-hop and explores the artist’s journey as she navigates the complications of celebrity, self-love and identity.
But with recent performances on “The Late Show” and at NPR’s Tiny Desk, Doechii, 26, caught even more attention for her personal style. Her striking ensembles have prompted fans to incorporate the rapper’s looks into their own wardrobes.
Whether it’s her “Swamp Princess” aesthetic or her visible face tape, the rapper’s approach to fashion — reflecting her album’s themes and her commitment to expressing herself authentically — is resonating with people. (This week, the word “doechii” was searched more than ever before, and searches for “doechii merch” spiked significantly, according to Google Trends.) To encourage fan participation, Doechii even released a handy style guide for her tour this fall.
