From Lil’ Kim to Missy Elliott, the ’90s Hip- Hop Stars Whose Style Still Inspires

Source: Getty images

At the BET Awards Sunday, hip-hop fans were treated to a delightful surprise when Sean Combs took the
stage—bringing with him many artists including Pharrell, Mase, and Jadakiss —to pay homage to the late Notorious B.I.G. But we were most excited to see the return of Lil’ Kim (and her skintight all-black look and over-the-knee boots). With Fresh Dressed now in theaters—the documentary that traces the history
of hip-hop fashion from Dapper Dan to Kanye West — Kim, and her risk- taking approach to her wardrobe
feels especially relevant. From her bejeweled, skimpy costumes (see her famous purple pastie-involving
get-up at the 1999 VMAs) to her voluminous fur coats that made sure everyone knew who was boss, Kim personifies a certain type of OTT we’ve come to expect from major hip-hop stars.

The pioneering women of nineties hip-hop, from Salt-N-Pepa to Missy Elliott, made their sartorial imprint
and popularized everything from excessive and campy jewelry to playful sportswear. Just as
provocative as Lil’ Kim is her rival Foxy Brown; meanwhile, artists like Neneh Cherry preferred a more
thoughtful and funky approach. And like her powerful music, Lauryn Hill’ s sense of style endures today,
as nineties nostalgia continues to pervade the runways.

It takes a bold personality and rare talent to break into the boy’s club that is the rap game, and that
courage is no doubt also echoed in the personal styles of artists today like Nicki Minaj, Azealia Banks, and Angel Haze. Here, a look at eight of their forbears whose music and signature looks continue to inspire us today.
Source: Vogue