Fashion

Kanye West's Style Evolution Proves Why He Is Truly A Fashion Icon, No Matter What The Haters Say

In the past 38 years of his life, Kanye West's style evolution has turned him from a buzzworthy artist to a fashion icon. When he started his career, West's choice of clothing mirrored some of the trends happening in hip-hop and street style, but it didn't take long for him to break out of the sartorial box and follow a more fashion forward aesthetic. West's relationship with design houses such as Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, and Balmain show up in his own fashion sense, whether he's on stage performing, walking down the red carpet, or sitting front row at Fashion Week. In honor of Kanye's 38th birthday, let's take a journey into his exciting, outrageous, and inspiring style transformation.

by Marc Cuenco

Buckethead, 2002

A young Kanye kept it clean and simple in a white tee while posing with Roc-a-Fella’s Damon Dash.

Getty Images/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Mustard on the Beat, 2003

The rapper looked casual in a mustard hoodie during an early concert performance.

Mark Mainz/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

I Dream of Grammy, 2004

The Louis Vuitton scarf adds a nice touch to his Yearbook-ready photo.

Carlo Allegri/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

In Check, 2004

Kanye’s love affair with color and print goes way back.

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Pink Ranger, 2004

Giving Hamptons realness with the chairman of the board Jay-Z.

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

College Chic, 2004

He rocked the teddy bear sweater while promoting The College Dropout on MTV’s TRL.

Scott Gries/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Grandpa Sweater, 2004

Colors and prints, part two.

Peter Kramer/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Total Prepster, 2004

Kanye looked A+ cool in pink and brown at the MTV Europe Music Awards.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

White Out, 2005

While he often went casual for performances, Kanye was all about dressing up for major red carpet moments like the Grammys.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Sunglasses at Night, 2005

Kanye accessorized his pastel knit cardigan with a pair of Gucci sunglasses. Also, remember Ryan Cabrera’s hair?

Scott Gries/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Hair Art, 2005

Speaking of hair…

Scott Gries/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Fashion Forward, 2006

His Late Registration era gave way to Kanye going full force with his love for fashion, starting with this 1970s-inspired look at the Grammys red carpet.

Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Band Geek, 2006

He later changed into a drum major costume for his Grammy performance with Jamie Foxx.

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Fur Real, 2006

Kanye wore a Vuitton fur scarf during an after party for designer Zac Posen.

Katy Winn/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Shutting It Down, 2007

The rapper made the louvered sunglasses, better known as Shutter Shades, cool again during the Graduation era.

Getty Images/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

The Prince and Me, 2007

Even Prince Harry wanted a pair of Shutter Shades.

CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images

Fendi Forever, 2007

Aside from Yeezy’s bright yellow Fendi logo tee, the other notable fashion statement here is Rihanna’s cane (just ignore the dudes on either side of her).

Scott Gries/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Emo Kanye, 2008

His 808s & Hearbreak album came with a nerdy chic aesthetic. I approve.

Amy Sussman/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Denim Delivery, 2008

Color blocking like a boss at the BAPE store opening.

Tiffany Rose/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Louis Vuitton Don, 2008

Fashion literally had his back (by Vuitton, of course) during a concert at the Louisiana Superdome.

Sean Gardner/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

All of the Lights, 2008

Kanye often experimented with different media, whether it’s with his music, performances, or his clothes.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Taylor-gate, 2009

The leather shirt and jeans combo signaled another style change for the artist, but it was all eclipsed by him interrupting Taylor Swift during her MTV VMAs win. Since then, Tay has forgiven Kanye his outburst.

Christopher Polk/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Beat It, 2009

The sparkly jacket, the glove, the confident swagger… all inspired by the King of Pop.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Take A Bow, 2011

Even though Kanye’s first runway show received mixed reviews, his personal style was understated and cool on the catwalk.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Met Man, 2011

He rolled up to the Met Gala in a custom tux by Tory Burch.

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Rule Breaker, 2011

Not one to follow any conventions of fashion, Kanye wore a silk women’s shirt from Celine’s Spring collection at Coachella.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

The Rise of Kimye, 2012

Enter Kim Kardashian.

Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

What's That Jacket? 2012

A fan of the fashion house’s avant garde style, Kanye attended the Margiela x H&M launch in a camel trench from the collection.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Air Yeezy, 2012

He wore his own Nike Air Yeezy 2 “Zen Grey” at London Fashion Week.

Neil Mockford/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Power Couple, 2013

The stylish parents-to-be were all everyone could talk about at that year’s Met Gala.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Why You Gotta Be So Blue, 2013

Kanye kept it casual in blue at the Hood By Air show.

Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

King of Coats, 2014

Just a full length rabbit fur coat, NBD.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Balmain Royalty, 2014

His and hers Balmain, because Kimye.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Masked In Margiela, 2014

He donned the now iconic Margiela mask during the Yeezus tour.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

Going Goth, 2015

Kanye attended Paris Fashion Week with the eternally cool Lorde.

PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images

Another Day, Another Gala, 2015

“In the future, we will have our own Met Gala theme.”

Mike Coppola/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Bulletproof, 2015

Here’s to the next 38+ years of Kanye fashion goodness.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
137