Olivia Rodrigo says a $25,600 Meg White dress was too hot for her festival debut

The pop star explained the decision in a Hollywood Reporter interview after the dress sold for an “exorbitant amount” at auction.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:00:29 GMT

Olivia Rodrigo told The Hollywood Reporter on Oct. 7 that she purchased Meg White’s vintage white dress – the one featured on The White Stripes’ 2003 Elephant album cover – for $25,600, but decided not to wear it at her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival in Irvine because it was “too f‑cking hot.”

What happened

Rodrigo bought the dress at a Julien’s Auctions “Music Icons” sale in May, where the item fetched $25,600. She planned to debut the garment during her set at the Daisy Chain Fields festival on Aug. 29, 2026, held at Great Park in Irvine, California. After checking the forecast, she concluded the temperature would make the floor‑length gown uncomfortable and said she might wear it at a future winter edition of the festival.

What the reports add

Billboard noted that the dress originally sold for $25,600 at the May auction and that Rodrigo described the purchase as an “exorbitant amount of money.” Rolling Stone added that Julien’s Auctions estimated the dress’s value at between $4,000 and $6,000, a lower figure than the final sale price. Both outlets reported Rodrigo’s quote about the heat and her intention to possibly wear the dress in winter.

What was said

Rodrigo told The Hollywood Reporter, “Maybe if I do Daisy Chain in the winter, I can wear it,” after explaining the dress was “too f‑cking hot.” Billboard quoted her as saying the same line and describing her long‑standing fandom of The White Stripes. Rolling Stone also quoted her statement about the heat and added that the dress came with a copy of Elephant on CD.

How it came about

Rodrigo’s love for The White Stripes dates back to childhood, including running a fan page and meeting Jack White in 2022. Her purchase of the Meg White dress aligns with her broader musical interests and philanthropic efforts, such as organizing the all‑woman Daisy Chain Fields festival, which was highlighted in her Unraveled tour coverage earlier this month.

Key facts

Olivia Rodrigo bought Meg White’s Elephant album cover dress for $25,600 at a Julien’s Auctions sale in May 2026. (billboard.com)
She decided not to wear the dress at Daisy Chain Fields festival on Aug. 29, 2026 because it was too hot. (rollingstone.com)
Julien’s Auctions estimated the dress’s value between $4,000 and $6,000, lower than the final sale price. (rollingstone.com)

Where accounts differ

Estimated value of the dress before auction: The dress sold for $25,600 at the May auction. (billboard.com); Julien’s Auctions estimated the dress’s worth between $4,000 and $6,000. (rollingstone.com)

Timeline

2026-05-01 — Julien’s Auctions “Music Icons” sale where the Meg White dress sold for $25,600.
2026-08-29 — Daisy Chain Fields festival held at Great Park, Irvine, California.
2026-10-07 — Olivia Rodrigo’s interview with The Hollywood Reporter revealing the dress purchase and decision.