Harry Styles Launches New Collection While Mourning Liam Payne
Harry Styles is returning to work following the heartbreaking loss of his former One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne.
Harry Styles is returning to work following the heartbreaking loss of his former One Direction bandmate, Liam Payne.
Payne tragically passed away on October 16 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A preliminary autopsy suggested that Payne “may have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness,” as the position of his body and his injuries indicated he “did not adopt a reflexive posture to protect himself” during the fall. According to Buenos Aires emergency services chief Alberto Crescenti, Payne sustained “serious injuries” that were “incompatible with life.”
After attending Liam Payne's funeral, Harry Styles gave his 48.3 million Instagram followers a glimpse into his latest project, announcing a new collaboration between his beauty and lifestyle brand Pleasing and British fashion designer JW Anderson.
Harry Styles Announces A New Collection
The "Watermelon Sugar" singer shared the announcement with heart and balloon emojis, bringing a touch of positivity to his followers.
Standout pieces from the 12-piece collection include the vibrant “Bunch of Balloons” cardigan, featuring a cascade of colorful balloons soaring across the shoulder of a collared knit design, and the “Balloon Star” long-sleeve, adorned with a cluster of star-shaped balloons at the center. Other highlights include a semi-sheer shirt decorated with kaleidoscopic balloons, as well as cozy crewnecks and hoodies showcasing the signature iconography of both brands.
More On The 12-Piece Collection
In the accessories lineup, the collaboration introduces a revamped Bumber 15 bag in a striking green-black color scheme, alongside playful green balloon star bag charms and eye-catching sparkly p-nis-shaped keyrings in purple and yellow finishes. Completing the collection, Pleasing and Anderson have also crafted a unique nail polish set featuring silver-black, yellow, orange, and purple shades.
The Pleasing x JW Anderson collaboration is now live and available for purchase on both brands’ official websites, with prices ranging from $20 to $990 USD.
Harry Styles Attends Liam Payne's Funeral
Just weeks earlier, Styles and his former One Direction bandmates gathered to pay their final respects to Liam Payne. The funeral, held on November 20 in a historic 12th-century church in the English countryside northwest of London, was attended by Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan. Payne’s ex, Cheryl, with whom he shared a 7-year-old son, Bear, was also present, along with his close friend James Corden.
Simon Cowell, co-creator of One Direction and the driving force behind the band’s success on "The X Factor" in 2010, attended the service as well, accompanied by his fiancé Lauren Silverman.
Harry Styles Releases Statement Following Liam Payne's Death
The day after the heartbreaking news of 31-year-old Liam Payne’s passing, Harry Styles honored his “lovely friend” with a heartfelt tribute on social media.
"I am truly devastated by Liam’s passing," he wrote on Instagram alongside an image of Payne singing to a huge audience. "His greatest joy was making other people happy, and it was an honour to be alongside him as he did it."
Styles added, "Liam lived wide open, with his heart on his sleeve, he had an energy for life that was infectious. He was warm, supportive, and incredibly loving. The years we spent together will forever remain among the most cherished years of my life. I will miss him always, my lovely friend."
The singer ended his note sending love to Payne's family: "My heart breaks for Karen, Geoff, Nicola and Ruth, his son Bear, and all those around the world who knew and loved him as I did."
One Direction Members 'Feel Closer Than They Have In Years'
In the aftermath of Liam Payne's tragic passing, his former bandmates are making efforts to heal their strained relationships.
As reported by US Weekly, Payne was part of One Direction alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles. The group was formed after their appearance on the British reality show The X Factor. After years of minimal communication following their 2016 split, Payne’s death has served as a reminder of the importance of supporting one another.
"[Liam's death] was a wake-up call for all of them. Prior, they kept in touch sporadically but didn't have close friendships at all," an insider shared with the outlet.
Now, while they continue to mourn the loss, the bandmates are reaching out to each other more frequently, strengthening their bond. "[They] are checking in on each other and feel closer than they have in years," the source revealed. "It brought them back together."
