There’s no denying hip-hop’s impact on the world of fashion. From birthing some of our favorite trends (think Dapper Dan’s logomania) to artists actively working in the industry, like Pharrell Williams, who serves as Louis Vuitton’s menswear creative director, the relationship between hip-hop and fashion is unmatched. While several male rappers have made a significant impact, including Kanye West‘s Adidas partnership and A$AP Rocky’s ambassadorship at Gucci, we’d be remiss to forget the women artists who’ve influenced the game even more.
Throughout hip-hop’s five-decades-long existence, women powerhouses have fearlessly broken barriers in a then-male-dominated genre. Stars like MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, and Salt-N-Pepa laid the foundation, with thought-provoking lyrics and hits that challenged society’s view of women in rap, such as “U.N.I.T.Y.,” “Ain’t Nuthin’ but a She Thang,” and “Lyte as a Rock.” It didn’t take long for them to transition from expressing their values musically to sartorially, with baggy silhouettes and statement-making pieces like Latifah’s kufi hats and Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It” jackets.
Rappers who dominated the ’90s followed suit, including Missy Elliott and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of the R&B group TLC. From the onset of their success, Lopes sported extremely oversize clothing, from Wu-Tang-branded gear to overalls decorated with condoms that promoted safe sex. Meanwhile, Elliott gravitated to more unconventional outfits, most notably the black, vinyl Michelin Man-inspired suit she wore for her “The Rain” video in 1997, styled by June Ambrose. Suits remain a staple in the rapper’s wardrobe, from Adidas tracksuits and Kangol hats at award shows to the gold sequined suit she wore for her Essence cover in June.
Lil’ Kim’s contribution to the industry is just as unforgettable, as she took the world by storm in a cheetah-print lingerie set on the cover of her debut album, “Hardcore,” which shifted hip-hop women’s style from a tomboy aesthetic to the bold, alluring look we see today. Working with stylist Misa Hylton, she became a fashion icon with a streak of eye-catching outfits, including bra tops, thongs, and furs. Of course, you can’t forget the jaw-dropping lilac jumpsuit she wore to the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards that bared one of her breasts in a pastie, long before your everyday celebrity was going braless. The “Crush On You” rapper’s influence is indeed visible today, from Nicki Minaj’s Barbiecore, Prabal Gurung moment at the 2019 Met Gala to Megan Thee Stallion’s cutout Defaïence gown at the 2023 CMT Music Awards.
Keep scrolling to bask in some of the most iconic moments from powerful women in rap, old and new.
Related: How Breakdancers Are Redefining Hip-Hop Style For a New Generation
Getty / KMazur
Lil' Kim Performing in New York City in 1997
While performing her hit single “Crush On You” during Diddy‘s “No Way Out” tour in 1997, Lil’ Kim donned a lime-green cropped jacket layered over a black fishnet bodysuit and a green bikini to match. She accessorized with sunglasses and a Chanel belt of the same hue, topping it all off with a white pixie wig.
Getty / Steve Eichner
Missy Elliott Performing in Long Island, NY, in 1998
Missy Elliott’s iconic black, vinyl balloon suit cemented her sartorial supremacy when she dropped “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”‘s video in 1997. The following year, she performed in the same suit at Lilith Fair in Jones Beach, this time with white Air Force 1s and her hair styled in sleek finger waves.
Getty / Denny Keeler
Da Brat at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards in 1999
For the fifth Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, Da Brat was ahead of the curve with the Barbiecore trend, appearing in a metallic pink ensemble. The look served as a departure from her oversize-jersey-centered style at the time and featured a matching tank with a white mesh back, low-rise pants, and chunky silver platform shoes. She wore her ginger braids styled in two pigtails with clips to match the suit.
Getty / Vinnie Zuffante
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes at the 1999 Hip Hop Awards
As the ’90s came to a close, Left Eye Lopes effortlessly embodied what would become known as Y2K style. As she walked the Hip Hop Awards red carpet, Lopes sported a brown halter-neck crop top and fur pants with boots to match.
Getty / Brenda Chase
Foxy Brown at the VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards in 1999
Foxy Brown was widely known as the Dior It girl of the late 1990s and early 2000s under John Galliano’s era, and we understand why. For the 1999 VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards, she wore an all-denim ensemble by the designer that featured a denim-illusion slip dress, a dark-blue jean jacket, boots with the brand’s logo all over, and its signature saddle bag to match.
Getty / Richard Bord
Cardi B at Paris Fashion Week in 2021
A fixture at Fashion Week, Cardi B attended the “Thierry Mugler: Couturissime” photocall at the Musee Des Arts Décoratifs in Paris wearing one of her most unique looks. She graced the red carpet in a plunging, red sequined dress from the 1995 archives with a long feathered cape and gloves to match.
Getty / Dimitrios Kambouris
Nicki Minaj at the 2019 Met Gala
Nicki Minaj was synonymous with Barbie-inspired fashion long before it was a trend, and she brought the aesthetic to the 2019 “Camp: Notes on Fashion”-themed Met Gala. She wore a high-low Prabal Gurung gown with Brother Vellies heels that laced up all the way to her thighs, styling her hair in a high pink ponytail.
Getty / Jacopo Raule
Doja Cat at Paris Fashion Week in 2023
Doja Cat has always set her own rules when it comes to fashion, and her appearance at Paris Fashion Week in January was no exception. For the Schiaparelli show, she wore a custom ensemble designed by Daniel Roseberry himself, which consisted of a red silk faille bustier and a hand-knitted skirt with lacquered wooden beads. Inspired by the poem “Inferno,” she was covered in 30,000 red Swarovski crystals by Pat McGrath.
Getty / Hubert Vestil
Megan Thee Stallion at the 2023 CMT Music Awards
In her new era of “healing,” Megan Thee Stallion has embraced simple silhouettes that still boast a wow factor. For the 2023 CMT Music Awards, the “Savage” rapper was styled by Law Roach in a blue-and-white custom gown from Italian brand Defaïence inspired by the ’90s.
Getty / Josh Brasted
Lauryn Hill at the 2023 Essence Festival
For her highly anticipated appearance at the 2023 Essence Festival, Lauryn Hill serenaded fans in a theatric ensemble. Hill took the stage in a blue-purple avant-garde top with pleated pants and mesh gloves to match. She rocked her hair in cornrows under a veil of the same color.
