The Best Shiny Suits of the Shiny Suit Era

Image via Complex Original

When: 1998
Where: Money, Power, Respect album cover

Jada couldn't live with himself, man. The Lox have been the hardest out ever since.

When: 1999
Where: MTV Video Music Awards

Even Nasty fell victim to new trends. Part of the reason why Nastradamus was nothing more than a weed plate or coaster.

When: Late '90s
Where: 75% of rap videos

Amazingly there's a whole bunch of Fubu for sale on Ebay. Or maybe that's actually not so amazing. Anyone wearing this in 2012 should be reported to the proper authorities.

When: 1996
Where: Total album photo shoot

Puff's shiny suit love affair went beyond just the rappers on Bad Boy. This probably seemed like a good idea at the time.

When: 1998
Where: Room 112 album cover

Peaches and Cream and shiny leather suits.

When: 1997
Where: Missy's "The Rain" video

Was it raining during this shoot? We'll blame the climate of hip-hop at the time and give Timbo a pass. 

When: 1997
Where: Jay-Z "Sunshine" video

Jigga survived the shiny suit era in good style, but relics like this will still haunt him forever.

When: 1998
Where: Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy With It" video

Not sure which is worse, this outfit, or using the word "jiggy" to describe anything, but we can thank Big Willy for both.

When: 1997
Where: Puffy's "Been Around the World" video

Can't be mad at Puff for rocking this gold joint. That shit helped him bag J-Lo along with millions upon millions of dollars.

When: 1998
Where: Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy With It" video

Nas wrote it and June Ambrose styled it. Unforgivable.

When: 1997
Where: Jay-Z's "Sunshine" video

Why did it ever seem like a good idea to cover the dancers in colorful trash bags? This is arguably one of the most tacky videos of all time.

When: 1997
Where: Total's "What About Us" video

Missy built an empire off of the Shiny Suit Theory. She has like a thousand Grammys—5 to be exact, but who's counting?

When: Late '90s
Where: Does it matter?

We see you, Sisqo. Whoever styled this shoot should be forever banned from the industry. 

When: 1996
Where: "Just a Touch" single cover

Keith Sweat was out in these streets actually sweating with that solar suit on. He looks like he just ran a marathon.

When: 1997
Where: Busta's "Dangerous" video

Fisheye and an aluminum space suit? Of course this was a Hype and June project. This is actually when thigns started to get interesting.

When: 1997
Where: Missy's "The Rain" video

Sure it looks like a garbage bag, but its shiny and it's some kind of suit, so...

When: 1997
Where: Puffy's "Mo Money, Mo Problems" video

The metallic denim suits were like a car wreck. Hard to stomach, but you just couldn't look away.

When: 1997
Where: Ma$e's "Feel So Good" video

Everything in this video is extremely shiny. And let's not act like Sheek Louch wasn't killin' it in his Osh Kosh Christmas green overalls. Leaving one strap off was a nice touch, almost genius.

When: 1997
Where: Mariah Carey's "Honey (Bad Boy Remix)" video

Puff was like, fuck it, if I gotta wear one the whole team has to wear one. This was the beginning of the end for the Lox. Mariah was looking scrumptious in the video, though.

When: 1997
Where: Puffy's "Mo Money, Mo Problems" video

We will never know why they were in a wind tunnel rocking metallic yellow suits, but it will never be forgotten.

When: 1997
Where: Puffy's "Mo Money, Mo Problems" video

The video that started it all. While most of us never rocked a shiny suit, that red Yankees fitted was the shit for a minute back in '97.

When: 1998
Where: Busta's "Gimme Some More" video

Busta took the trend and twisted it in his own demented way. Why is he dressed like Christmas? Best not to ask why in situations like this.

When: 2000
Where: 27th American Music Awards

Never mind the shiny suit, son. He's fucking killing it with the two-way pager. Don't front.

When: 1997
Where: Ma$e's "Feel So Good" video

Puffy had this dude dancing around in a tinfoil suit. That's enough to turn any man into a born again Christian, too.

When: 1997
Where: Ma$e's "Feel So Good" video

Puff will forever be the master of the shiny suit. It's easy to clown on him for the look, but that doesn't change the fact that these songs, the videos, and yes, even the outfits, made indelible marks in hip-hop history. Let's just hope the trend never resurfaces.