How RBD Is Bringing Back — and Updating — 'Rebelde' Style on Tour

Seeing their breakthrough in the teen drama “Rebelde,” Mexican pop sensation RBD jumped to global acclaim in the early noughties. Over the course of four years, they released albums in Spanish, Portuguese and English that sold in the millions, and ultimately rose to become the icons of a generation. 

Anahí Portilla, Dulce María Espinosa Saviñón, Maite Perroni, Christopher Von Uckermann, Christian Chávez and Alfonso Herrera originally came together as a band on screen, and they went on to become the face of a music phenomenon. At the core of the 2000s Latin music wave, RBD found success with anthemic pop songs like “Sálvame,” “Solo Quédate en Silencio” and “Ser or Parecer“. Simultaneously, the sextet championed Y2K and pop-punk fashion, influencing millions of teenagers and young adults around the globe. 

Their wardrobe was defined by staples of the era: short skirts, low-rise jeans and cropped tops for the girls; denim, graphic T-shirts and hoodies for the boys. Each member would eventually make the look their own by mixing in their personal style, plus incorporating references to their characters in the telenovela that propelled them to fame. 

Portilla, who played “It” girl Mia Colucci, for example, made micro-mini skirts, knee-high boots and star facial stickers her signature long before Miu Miu and Starface. Meanwhile, Espinosa — the rebellious Roberta — stood out with her bright-red hair, tartan and pieces embellished with peace symbols.

RBD disbanded in 2009, but in 2022, the group (minus one) announced a surprise but highly-anticipated return with the “Soy Rebelde” Tour. The sold-out concert series kicked off in El Paso, Texas in August; and embarks on the Latin American leg this month. In addition to bringing back the hits, this five-member reunion (Herrera, who played lead sad boy Miguel, sat out) revives the striking, recognizable style that turned RBD into fashion pioneers — only now, it’s updated to reflect how the band has grown (and grown up).

“The most important thing in the styling process was that each of them felt comfortable and authentic to who they are today,” says Juliana Vargas, the Colombian costume designer and stylist working on the “Soy Rebelde” Tour, “not only taking into account the trends at the moment, but seeking to highlight what goes best with each of them.”

Vargas enlisted the help of a range of Latin American designers and brands — including DAVE, Elizabeth Silva, Exclusivos Baez, Ruben Isaza and Usama Ishtay — to create custom pieces for the band. Working with local talent was non-negotiable, she says, “not only because I am Latina, but also because this is the most important Latin American tour of the year. I wanted the people who created the looks to know about them and share the impact of the RBD generation.”

And they certainly did. Dave, designer of his eponymous Mexican apparel brand, describes the experience as “more than a dream.”

“I grew up with their music, and seeing my work on (Christian Chávez) — now that he’s not only a member of RBD, but also a pop icon — means that anything can be achieved,” he says.

As the tour dates rolled on, fans were quick to draw comparisons online between the group’s stage looks, then and now. For instance, Perroni has stuck to the grungy corsets and bodysuits, as well as the high-knee boots and abundant leather that her on-screen counterpart Lupita loved. 

Portilla, though, has added more sparkle and star motifs to her low-rise-everything and bandeau top-filled wardrobe; according to Vargas, “we wanted to make outfits inspired by Mia Colucci… to give (the looks) a Y2K flair, but reloaded.”

With Espinosa, the focus was on upgrading the pop-punk aesthetics she favored during her RBD days with some extra glamour: The studs, plaids and other signifiers of the era remain, but they’re more elevated — like in the Exclusivos Baez leather jacket with metallic spikes and Swarovski crystals that she sported on the first night of the tour, paired with a tartan mini skirt and heavy eyeliner.

“We were inspired by the unity the group has promoted since its beginnings,” says Kiko Baez, the jacket’s designer. “The exaggerated, spike-shaped shoulders simulate the clothing of medieval royalty, and the symbols on the back represent peace, victory, non-violence and harmony.”

Similarly, von Uckermann — who once had a penchant for denim, button-up shirts and vests in the past — is now opting for embellished Usama Ishtay tracksuits, matching sets and playful tailored looks.

Among the group, however, Chávez has experienced the most noticeable style boost.

“For Christian, it was a very beautiful process in which we managed to make him look incredible, feel super comfortable and at the same time honor his sexuality and essence,” Vargas says.

Back in 2007, Chávez was forced to come out as gay after pictures of his wedding were published by a gossip site. The event opened up conversations about Mexico’s entertainment industry and put his career on a halt. Sixteen years later, Chavez is openly embracing his queerness, proudly standing on stage in sheer tops, corsets and even a pink mariachi ensemble. A standout look is a metallic two-piece suit by Dave, which honors glam and pop stars from the ’70s and ’80s.

“His image overthrows the conception of the masculine and the feminine,” says the designer. “The color purple evokes that value. The metallic linen with the colored glass decorations makes a strong and transgressive image.”

It’s not just RBD making the fashion statements: Honoring the sartorial legacy of the band, many fans have flocked to concert venues in their best takes on the group’s aesthetic: pink hats (as those popularized by Anahí in the music video for “Sálvame”), Y2K items and, most notably, reiterations of the Elite Way school gear.

For the “Soy Rebelde” finale, RBD reprises the Elite Way uniforms. Dressed in the emblematic red blazers, white shirts, denim and striped ties audience associated them with for so many years, the group pays homage to 19 years of the “Rebelde Generation.” And it might be the most effective way of summarizing its style legacy.

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