2021 has undoubtedly been a year of hell marked by many unforgettable moments. We had a glimmer of hope to emerge from this unprecedented time imposed by the Coronavirus pandemic. The concerts have resumed, the red carpets and the awards ceremonies as well. These different moments were opportunities to admire the look of celebrities in order to identify the most dressed.
Fashion among music celebrities in 2021
Probably one of the biggest perks of being a celebrity is the constant rotation of designer clothes you have access to. When you reach a certain level of stardom, like many of the people we recognize this year, it's the creators who come to you.
Can you imagine wearing pieces from legendary houses like Schiaparelli, Christian Louboutin and Jean Paul Gaultier, in a single evening? You will undoubtedly sport the best style of dress there is. For some, fashion (especially luxury fashion) is nothing more than an accessory to material wealth.
For countless others, however, it is an art form that has allowed them to express themselves in conjunction with their music and other creative endeavors. The outfits they wear are more than just clothes; they are part of the heritage of these people. That's exactly why so much detail goes into every Instagram photo and prop.
Here we are a few days from the end of 2021 and it is customary to take stock. To do that, we've put together a list of singers and rappers who we think have absolutely killed their styles this year, and who deserve credit for it.
JAY Z
In terms of fashion, we can see that Jay-Z has really asserted himself this year. He appears dapper and more adult than ever, especially at events such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Queen Bey's husband was not left out at the premiere of the Netflix series The Harder They Fall. He also caused a stir at the wedding of Alexandre Arnault, Executive Vice President of Tiffany & Co. in the beautiful city of Venice in Italy.
Speaking of Tiffany, the "Empire State Of Mind" artist and his super stylish wife, Beyoncé, collaborated with the luxury jewelry company for a campaign in August. They thus posed alongside an unpublished painting by the late creative genius Jean-Michel Basquiat. The couple also shot a romance commercial for a date night with their eldest daughter, Blue Ivy, which earned them plenty of accolades.
SZA
SZA, the "Drew Barrymore" singer, has previously opened up about her anxiety issues. However, his way of moving on a red carpet (especially during the Billboard Music Awards this year) does not suggest any discomfort.
Our favorite thing about the Missouri native's wardrobe is her laid-back edge. You might think that she doesn't take the time to match her outfits and that they are just stacked, yet she wears them superbly.
SZA is one of those girls who has a knack for succeeding in almost anything she puts her mind to. Plus, unlike other famous faces who go for wilder wardrobes, her looks have high reuse value and can be recreated by anyone.
Back in February, the "I Hate U" singer graced the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine. We also saw her in the music video for “Kiss Me More” with Doja Cat, as well as the super spicy “Fue Mejor” with Kali Uchis.
Frank Ocean
While Frank Ocean may not have showcased a whole lot of outfits of his own this year, he still made waves in the luxury fashion world with the launch of his company “Homer”. "My mum loved jewelry, but in a low-key, Princess Diana way," he told the Financial Times, as he discussed building his brand in his first interview in two years.
“My godfather loved guns, but also cars, and he bought luxury and lifestyle magazines, which I was obsessed with. They became a form of play for me as a child. It was the furthest thing from my real life at the time, and I started crafting ideas and a life in that universe. I was looking at yachts and wanted one. But I don't have any because I get seasick,” continues the artist.
One of the "Novacane" singer's most iconic moments this year happened at the Met Gala in September, when he brought along a little green robot baby as his jumper. Frank Ocean's look for the evening was a black suede three-piece suit from Prada (who Homer recently teamed up with for a limited collaboration). The costume was paired with a white t-shirt, "Dreamcore" hat, and necklace of her own design.
Coi Leray
New Hip-hop talent Coi Leray has established herself as a “trend setter”. She has clearly shown that she is not afraid to push boundaries and wear what gives her the most confidence. If that means rocking a barely-there top from Jeremy Scott's Moschino brand to New York Fashion Week, then it's done.
The style of the 24-year-old woman stands out for her ability to harmoniously blend masculine and feminine energies. This gives rise to looks that are always as sexy and strong, on stage as off.
Over the past few months, Leray has shown its love for novelties and big brands. We saw him in a Gucci boutique wearing new pieces from the coveted UGG x TELFAR collaboration and Kim Kardashian's SKIMS x Fendi collection. She also donned a sheer vintage Tom Ford dress for Gucci at the American Music Awards. This year, the rising star has imposed herself on all levels, including the relational one, by defending her relationship with Beau Pressa against gossip. She undeniably has the wind in her sails, and she doesn't seem ready to let go of us one step.
Gunna
It's safe to say that if Rihanna dresses up as you for Halloween, you're a certified style icon. Self-described "drop influencer" Gunna is no stranger to the fashion world, as the man is wearing Margiela Tabi boots after all. Plus, her obvious knowledge paired with her knack for color coordination has earned her a well-deserved spot on this year's best-dressed list.
Gunna recently collaborated with sneaker giant Foot Locker as the face of the company's new clothing line. He hasn't been shy about showing off some of the coolest pieces from his personal collection on the media.
One of his most memorable outfits of 2021 is the one he sported during his appearance on Saturday Night Live with Young Thug. The two friends opted for bold looks (as they so often do). The College Park-born performer confidently sported an all-red ensemble with a beret and fluffy coat. He also went daring to the limit in Virgil Abloh's posthumous Louis Vuitton show, wearing a monogram cap accessorized with the perfect amount of ice cream.
Chloe Bailey
The past Halloween season has brought us many inventive ideas, and some of our favorite costumes are those of Have Mercy singer Chloe Bailey. The 23-year-old blew her fans away with her awesome take on Angelina Jolie's character in Shark Tale. She also sported a Betty Boop look and, finally, she took us inside The Matrix by paying homage to the character of Jada Pinkett Smith in the hit franchise.
As her younger sister Halle ventures into the film industry, Chloe has worked hard to launch her solo career. This has resulted in countless super sexy and admirable high fashion moments. It feels like every other day she has a new cut to flex, whether it's from Rick Owens, Fendi or Balmain.
Separately, the hip-hop newcomer dazzled in a delicate white Rodarte dress with a dramatic train at the Met Gala in September. She also strutted around in an animal print dress by Nicholas Ghesquiere at Louis Vuitton during the Grammys in March. Likewise, she showed plenty of skin in a sheer black number by Valentino at the BET Awards.
A$AP Rocky
A$AP Rocky is a man with a lot of confidence, it's undeniable. He is also a neo Rap and fashion icon and his styles prove it. In May, the Testing artist was seen wearing an iconic Vivienne Westwood kilt on the cover of GQ, with the publication calling him "the most handsome man alive." Other shots from the shoot include stunning pieces from Chanel, Celine Homme, Loewe and Hermès, to name a few.
After the cover, Rocky opened up about his role in a collaborative campaign with smooth shopping app Klarna. In the clip, the New Yorker is seen heading to his local bodega, dressed in a durag, dressing gown and some slippers. After being teased about his casual outfit by the locals, the "Changes" rapper walks in and transforms into Pretty Flacko, wearing a new all-black outfit with some shiny grills.
The 33-year-old has a seemingly effortless ability to perfectly accessorize any outfit. Added to this is the way he so often coordinates his looks with his Bad Girl girlfriend Riri who just happens to be next on our list.
Rihanna
A best-dressed list without Bad Girl Rihanna would be totally incomplete. Fashionista Fenty has one of the most legendary New York street styles of our generation. Plus, she's covered major magazines like Vogue Italia and Dazed with incredible editorials over the past 12 months, reminding us that she truly is some kind of creative genius.
BadGalRiri and her lover arrived late at this year's Met Gala, both making bold choices for the "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" theme. The Barbadian singer has been attending the event on a regular basis since 2007. She is therefore known for having devoured the red carpet with superb creations from Stella McCartney, Guo Pei, Comme des Garçons, John Galliano, etc.
This year, Rihanna shocked everyone by wearing an oversized Balenciaga coat designed by Demna Gvasalia on the carpet. This prompted some to comment that her look seemed out of theme and even out of place compared to her more dramatic looks of the past. On the red carpet, the entrepreneur said, "I'm an immigrant and this is my take on American fashion."
Tyler, The Creator
As always, Tyler, The Creator has put together countless cool looks over the past few months, appearing on the cover of XXL magazine and even adding plenty of must-have options to his winter Golf Wang collection.
Like his friend A$AP Rocky, the 30-year-old has strived to awaken his feminine side, often playing with soft pastel colors. He also mixes classic accessories like pearls to create a bold Golf x Fleur belt buckle, and to give dimension to his looks thanks to his layering skills.
The "Yonkers" rapper has an obvious eye for design in everything he does. He is thus able to create a look to have fun with friends or design his latest collection for his always inspired fanbase.
Doja Cat
Rapper Doja Cat has given us consistency this year, starting 2021 strong with her “Best Friend” clip featuring Saweetie and chaining collaborations. Some call her personality unusual, but we would rather say that she has the talent to express herself authentically. This is noticeable not only through her rapping, but also through her make-up and her fashion and you have to admit that she coordinates them beautifully.
Designers she's worn this year include Roberto Cavalli, Issey Miyake (whom she said was her favourite) and Olivier Rousteing for Balmain. On the occasion of the release of her Grammy-nominated album "Planet Her", she collaborated with the famous photographer David LaChapelle for an avant-garde shoot. These shots perfectly reflect the lively and audacious energy of the project. To top it off, the 26-year-old rapper has also teamed up with fashion label Pretty Little Thing for a second collection of her own.
Kid Cudi
As an Aquarius, it has always been in Scott Mescudi's nature to be different. Now in his 30s, the actor/musician says he's come to terms with the difference. He also claims to have learned to love himself instead of fighting his demons through other means, such as drug addiction.
Although he's not the first man in history to wear a dress or skirt in public, Kid Cudi is one of the few to do so consistently. Better, he always does it with the same level of confidence. At the CFDA Awards, he paid tribute to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain by wearing a custom wedding dress designed by ERL's Eli Russell Linnetz. In April, on Saturday Night Live, he wore a gorgeous floral dress designed by his friend and CEO of Off-White, Virgil Abloh.
“I was at this point where I was looking on my phone, kind of like I was looking at all these different stores and looking at the dresses. I was just like, this is cute, this is cute. And then I finally realized, yo, I'm gonna ask Virgil to do this. I'm going to see if he has time, because he's very busy, he has a lot to do,” Kid Cudi said in an interview after the garment's launch.
The "Pursuit of Happiness" artist also rocked a blue skirt and hair during New York Fashion Week. Very intrepid, he did not hesitate to pull out all the stops a few weeks later for Paris Fashion Week.
Kehlani
Kehlani is a standout singer who has a natural ability to intertwine her masculine and feminine sides, leaning into one or the other, or both, at all times. The young mom proved she's a force to be reckoned with during New York Fashion Week sporting a Cruella DeVille hairdo and looks made up of denim. She also served up powerful monochromatic suits and edgy schoolgirl vibes, but bon chic bon genre.
After this impressive series of outfits, the "Toxic" singer flew across the Atlantic, where she also ripped it all off at London Fashion Week. She also revealed on Instagram that the designer of Erdem had "taken out of his archives one of his favorite models" especially for her.
In September, Kehlani appeared at the Met Gala wearing a sparkly Aliétte jumpsuit. The outfit consisted of long straight-legged silver pants and a short jacket with pointed shoulders that emphasize power and strength. Magazines and publications like Rolling Stone and Playboy were thrilled to feature the R&B singer, which only added to her impressive portfolio.
Lil Nas X
When he appeared with "Old Town Road" in 2019, Lil Nas X didn't look like the man capable of taking the world by storm as we've seen for the past few months.
While preparing for the release of his first project "MONTERO", the 22-year-old gave us a series of looks that will mark the spirits for a long time. We have to start by mentioning her golden, Lady Gaga-esque transformation at the Met Gala. Her purple Versace dress for the MTV VMAs red carpet and her iconic baroque-style collaboration with legendary designer Jean Paul Gaultier had her followers green with envy.
Nas has been on virtually every magazine cover in 2021. Additionally, he was named one of GQ's Men of the Year and appeared in the Wall Street Journal's Innovator issue. The man who gave birth to "Montero" also showed off his chiseled abs and other preppy looks for M Magazine. He also paid a magnificent tribute to the late Jimi Hendrix with VMAN Magazine. 2021 is almost over and Nas is certainly not done talking about him.
Cardi B
This year, the “Bodak Yellow” rapper did what few people will do in their lifetime, despite her pregnancy. Offset's young wife has always had a genuine energy that seems to get her into all the right rooms. This is followed by relationships with people who are just waiting to see it rise.
More recently, she made headlines when it was announced that she would be joining Playboy as its first ever Creative Director. From now on, she will contribute with her inventive spirit to help the publication reach new heights by her side.
While attending Paris Fashion Week, the mother-of-two sported legendary Schiaparelli pieces that won't be soon forgotten. His time on the American Music Awards stage was also memorable, with outfits from Jean Paul Gaultier, Swarovski, Christian Louboutin, Jean-Louis Sabaji, and more.
The 29-year-old flaunted her sculpted figure in a revealing outfit, while rubbing shoulders with hubby Offset. Plus, her portrayal of Morticia Addams for Halloween was iconic to say the least. We're barely getting used to Cardi's stunning sartorial craziness, but she could finish us off in a good way in 2022.
If throughout this year you've followed an artist whose unique style of clothing deserves to be on this list, let us know in the comments.
