Aaliyahs Style Evolution: See Her Most Timeless and Influential Looks – Yahoo Lifestyle

These days, 90s pop culture is having a moment so what better time to reflect on one of its brightest stars: Aaliyah.

Out of all the sensational artists the 90s and early 2000s have blessed us with, only a few still have lasting influence today. It may have been two decades since her tragic passing, but, aside from her music, Aaliyahs impact is still also seen in the latest fashion trends.

Aaliyahs legacy is so timeless because she mastered the art of simplicity. She was a style chameleon who looked just as radiant in a pair of baggy pants as she did in a glamorous red carpet gown. Her music video looks were ultra-fierce and featured all the cut-outs and sparkles that fill our Insta feeds today. We also cant gloss over the fact that she made streetwear and oversized clothing cool in an era when skin-tight was everything.

From her signature makeup to her tomboy edge, Aaliyahs influence is undeniable and has no sign of stopping any time soon. Here, we look back on the princess of R&Bs best looks and the stars shes inspired over the years.

Aaliyah looked fierce wearing a yellow zebra print Roberto Cavalli dress at the 2000 MTV Music Awards. The gowns high thigh split and feathered trim add extra drama and till this day we cant go over how good she looks. In April 2021, model Paloma Elsesser wore the same statement dress to a wedding and it still looked great more than two decades later. Talk about timeless.

Rob Beccaris/WireImage via Getty

As Aaliyahs music matured, so did her look. In her music video for One In A Million, she wore figure-hugging pieces in tactile textures like leather. Normani recently rocked a similar look in her music video for Wild Side. Normani's song pays homage to One in a Million in more ways than one. Normani sampled Aaliyahs track and recreated parts of her music video choreography. When it comes to styling, Normani served some major energy in her laser cut-out ensemble.

Screenshot/Youtube. "One In A Million" music video, Aaliyah.

Screenshot/Youtube. "Wild Side" music video, Normani.

Normani also gave a modern spin to Aaliyahs iconic all-white outfit in One In A Million. Aaliyah performs her clean choreography wearing one of her simplest looks: a white crop top and belly button piercing with matching baggy pants. Aaliyahs minimalist style has aged just as well as her futuristic sound.

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Screenshot/Youtube. "Wild Side" music video, Normani.

Screenshot/Youtube. "One In A Million" music video, Aaliyah.

When in doubt, black always works. Aaliyah knew this all too well since, after white, black was her go-to color. Black is sultry and mysterious which perfectly captures what made Aaliyah such an enigma.

Screenshot/Youtube. "We Need A Resolution" music video, Aaliyah.

Thankfully, a lot of Aaliyahs staple accessories are back en vogue. The classic print bandana can elevate any casual outfit. Just take a look at singer Becky Gs white paisley fit she wore during a virtual festival performance in May. Her monochrome look and silver jewelry have Aaliyahs name written all over it.

Sal Idriss/Redferns via Getty

Screenshot/Youtube. Becky G.

Aaliyahs iconic look from her Try Again music video still has a hold on pop culture today. She looked icy as ever wearing a diamond choker with a matching bra and belt. Kim Kardashian controversially recreated this look for Halloween back in 2017 and Keke Palmer wore her own stunning version of Aaliyahs outfit for Halloween in 2015. Aaliyah really is the blueprint.

Its impossible to look back on Tommy Hilfigers 90s heyday without bringing up Aaliyah. She constantly wore the brand and was featured in a 1996 Tommy Jeans campaign. Aaliyahs loyalty to the brand stills influences fashion today. Last spring, Yara Shahidi recreated Aaliyahs Tommy Jeans look in an episode of Grown-ish. She even wore Timbs and a side part to match.

Speaking of Timbs, that's a shoe that needs to make a mainstream comeback. Aaliyah only ever wore heels for the red carpet. Day to day she opted for sneakers or a trusty Timberland boot. Check out her crystal white pair that perfectly match her look.

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

When Aaliyah started out she was, using 90s nomenclature, the ultimate tomboy. The more layers, the cooler the look. Her oversized outfit still holds up today, with Bella Hadid spotted in a very similar chocolate leather vest worn over a white shirt. Aaliyahs pic is from 1994 and Bella's from 2020 but the resemblance fashion-wise is uncanny down to the pockets, even.

Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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Aaliyahs outwear was always on point. As usual, oversized was her go-to, and celebs today are still trying to capture her effortless take on casual wear. Rihanna was spotted wearing a similar reverse camo jacket in New York back in 2017. Kylie Jenner is also a fan. Shes been papped and posted on Instagram wearing the same Canada Goose x Vetements collab.

Robert Kamau/GC Images via Getty

If theres one word to describe Aaliyahs style, its versatility. Her everyday looks have as much of a hold on fashion today as her glamorous music video moments. Take Aaliyahs denim overall crop top. Back in 2013, Rihanna collaborated on a collection with the British fast-fashion brand River Island. Rihanna knows a style icon when she sees one and clearly had Aaliyah pinned to her mood board.

Wearing logos is a good way to keep your name in the history books. Aaliyah is synonymous with the brands she wore and this particular outfit is one of her most unforgettable. She took to the stage wearing a matching Tommy Hilfiger sweatsuit in canary yellow with a silver lining. Today, Billie Eilish is known for wearing oversized logo sets that Aaliyah would surely be proud of.

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage via Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella

Aaliyah revolutionized what it meant to be a stylish woman in the 90s by taking inspiration from menswear. In an era when her pop peers were serving skin-tight glam, Aaliyah embraced roomy streetwear.

KMazur/WireImage via Getty

The more Aaliyah grew as a star, the more experimental her wardrobe became. She still stuck to her sartorial roots by wearing Calvin Klein boxer shorts that peaked above her low-rise pants, but her red patent jacket and metallic crossover bikini top gave a stage-ready twist.

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage via Getty

It wouldnt be a journey down Aaliyahs greatest looks without mentioning her love for a pair of tinted sunglasses. Her lavish vizor pair are as Y2K as it gets, featuring a fuchsia tint and gold rim. No matter the preferred shape, Aaliyahs taste in eyewear is immaculate. Back in 2019, Kylie Jenner celebrated her 22nd birthday wearing a huge pair of Aaliyah-esque white sunnies.

Chris Walter/WireImage via Getty

Cut-outs are having a major moment in 2021 and, back in the day, Aaliyah was also all over them. Her low-rise white pants paired with a tiny shoulder bag are the epitome of '00s chic but its the subtle touches of gold bling that make this look a winner.

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Aaliyah was always the image of sophistication but especially when she indulged in her love for motorsport fashion. In her music video for 2000 hit Try Again, she wore a white Chanel ensemble with a classic silver Chanel belt. Whats not to love?

Screenshot/Youtube. "More than a Woman" music video, Aaliyah.

Aaliyah was all about the slouch. Her pants always sat low on her waist and draped effortlessly over her sneakers. Its the ultimate comfy casual look.

Screenshot/Youtube. "We Need A Resolution" music video, Aaliyah.

At the start of the millennium, the worlds obsession with new technology began to make its mark on fashion. Aaliyah captured the futuristic outlook of her time in her Are You That Somebody music video. Dressed in a grey mesh top and silver boxers, she looked like a space-age goddess. Plus, no one could pull off iridescent green lipstick quite like her.

Screenshot/Youtube. "Are You That Somebody" music video, Aaliyah.

When it comes to her style, Aaliyah always stayed true to herself. In an appearance on the Jay Leno show in 1997, she performed in a khaki boiler suit and The Matrix-inspired sunnies and looked badass while doing it.

Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images

Dare we say that Aaliyah is the original Icy Girl? Aaliyahs understated color palette meant her jewelry had plenty of room to shine. She had a thing for silver and often rocked an iced-out chain around her neck.

In Aaliyahs early days, she always made comfort a priority. Here she is making an appearance in London back in 1995. Her sports jersey is a world away from the cropped leather looks she adopted later in her career.

Fred Duval/FilmMagic via Getty

The early 2000s were infamous for everyones obsession with low-rise pants and cropped shirts. High waist pants were nowhere to be seen and Aaliyahs washboard abs became a fashion statement in their own right.

Chris Weeks/Liaison via Getty

Its clear by now that Aaliyah loved a crop top. From the simple tank to the racy cut-out, no style was off-limits. This asymmetric watercolor top is a dreamy take on her closet staple.

KMazur via Getty

Aaliyah served multiple looks in her We Need A Resolution music video but this one takes the cake as the most avant-garde. She wore a python (and a few extra snakes) to match her fit, and for that, we commend her.

Screenshot/Youtube. "We Need A Resolution" music video, Aaliyah.

You could almost always catch Aaliyah in a matching set. Her cyber blue co-ord from We Need A Resolution lives in my head rent-free.

Screenshot/Youtube. "We Need A Resolution" music video, Aaliyah.

Aaliyah looked radiant wearing a beige embroidered corset dress to Madison Square Garden in New York. Its safe to say that Aaliyahs red carpet looks were perfection and this gown was no exception.

Evan Agostini/ImageDirect via Getty

Aaliyahs love for sparkle extended to her body jewelry. She let her silver chain sit just above jeans and, frankly, with abs like that who wouldnt?

Steve Granitz/WireImage via Getty

Aaliyahs final music video Rock the Boat took place in a tropical paradise and her looks did not disappoint. She switched her usual streetwear attire for beach-ready sarongs, a warmer color palette, and one of the most popular styles of the time: a baker boy cap.

Screenshot/Youtube. "Rock The Boat" music video, Aaliyah.

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Aaliyahs Style Evolution: See Her Most Timeless and Influential Looks - Yahoo Lifestyle