Cara Delevingne Is Finally Saying What She Really Thinks

Cara Delevingne is used to being watched. With her debut album Not Normal, she wants to be heard.

Out September 25 and inspired by her sobriety journey and the intensity of fame, the record traces her path toward self-acceptance and features collaborations with Fiona Apple and her partner, the British musician Minke. “Crazy, Baby” is inspired by my partner of four years, who I love and adore,” Delevingne tells ELLE. “I feel very funny and cliché about writing love songs—maybe it’s the English in me that I just want to write about darkness and depression—but it’s definitely more of the upbeat, poppier song of the album.”

Delevingne has already road-tested her new sound over the summer, performing new singles like “The Mask” and “Crazy, Baby” at venues like Barcelona’s Primavera Sound and Baby’s All Right. It’s at the latter that she starred in Rag & Bone’s fall 2026 campaign, letting the New York brand in on her “natural habitat” at the venue, from soundcheck to showtime.

“I wasn’t meant to, but I ended up wearing Rag & Bone throughout my entire tour, their U-neck tank top and Sutton jeans,” she says. “I just feel really comfortable in their clothes and that became my uniform.”

Here, Delevingne opens up about making Not Normal, finding her voice, and where she stands on the great skinny jeans divide.

You walked in Rag & Bone’s New York Fashion Week show in 2011. What has stayed with you about the brand since then?

Rag & Bone stuck with me in that it feels like it’s evolved with my style, who I am, who I was. It’s rare that brands do that. If I still fit into those tiny Rag & Bone jeans—I still remember ones I was specifically in love with; they had a sand color with that iconic black stripe down the side—my God, I would get any coat hanger and wedge myself into them.

You shot the Rag & Bone campaign before and during a performance at Baby’s All Right in New York City. What was it about that setting that felt like such a good fit?

It was really simple and easy. Somehow, something to do with the brand and the way they make clothes and how they make you feel, it just met and meshed really well. We captured me in my natural habitat, prepping for the day, warming up, soundcheck. We ended the tour in New York, which has been such a big part of my life. London’s my home and New York comes close behind in the sense that it’s alive and feels like it’s always going, going, going, which parallels how I am and who I am. But New York has managed to evolve with me.

Where do you stand on the skinny jeans revival?

I don’t know how I ever wore the skinny jeans that I wore back then because of the size and comfort. I’m grateful that they went away because I really realize what it’s like to have circulation in my feet and legs. I love a skinny jean, but not the skinniest jean. I don’t want it to be a second skin. I think they make things look really cool depending on what you’re wearing. There’s always a time and place. Still, sometimes seeing men in that skinniest jean where it’s hugging the ankle—that should never be a thing.

Has your personal style evolved as you’ve moved between modeling, acting, and now music?

I don’t think it’s that different. Sure, it’s had to mature and grow. And I’ve let go of things that don’t work for me. But I don’t think it’s like, Now that I’m doing music I’m gonna change how I dress. I don’t think that’s the case because music has always been such a big part of my life and that’s always been there in my style, whether I have a band T-shirt on or I’m finding inspiration in that rock-and-roll era. I’ve always just fucking loved that.

What do you hope listeners take away from Not Normal?

I’ve been working on it for three years. It’s something I’ve put so much time into and I actually feel like I’ve been working on it for my whole life because it’s all been leading up to this. I believed in myself and tried making friends with myself. I know that sounds weird. I was just really horrible to myself, and when you get out of your own way it’s pretty crazy what you can achieve.

A lot of that is represented in the production. I’m really proud to say I co-produced it with some incredible people and have enjoyed the process so much. I’ve learned a lot about myself in the process, and it’s also been something that’s kept me sane and sober.

What did your writing process look like?

The first and last song are like bookends. They are, which I didn’t mean to do, poems. I wrote the first one when I was probably 18 and the second when I was 25 as a stream of consciousness. Both of them were written on planes because that’s when I do most of my writing.

You co-wrote “Need It” with Fiona Apple and had Samara Weaving star in the “Crazy, Baby” music video. What did each collaboration bring to the album?

Fiona, I’m lucky enough to have known for years and years and we’ve been pen pals through text message for such a long time. I’ve obviously met her and worked with her, but she’s been this fairy godmother. I’ll just send her the most unflattering videos of me just sobbing—she’s just an angel.

Sam and I met through Margot Robbie. I love those Australians. I was so grateful and lucky that she said yes in such a short amount of time. Also, just super weird because we’ve been friends for such a long time and you’re like, oh my God, we have to kiss? But that song is inspired by my partner of four years, who I love and adore. She’s written with me on two songs on the album and we now work together quite a lot, which I love. She’s such a talented musician. She has skills that I do not and we balance each other out in such an amazing way in the studio and in life. I also feel very funny and cliché about writing love songs—maybe it’s the English in me that I just want to write about darkness and depression—but it’s definitely more of the upbeat, poppier song of the album.

As you enter this new chapter, what feels different about your outlook—and what are you most excited to embrace?

I feel so much more excited and open about everything at this stage in my life. I numbed myself for a pretty long time and felt numb in general, even if I wasn’t numbing myself to what I was doing. I didn’t feel as grateful as I do now because it was just so intense, and I found that whirlwind of being recognized quite difficult. I’m just open to anything at this point.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.