10 Great Michael Jackson Style Moments That Get Overlooked

The King of Pop has many iconic costumes to his name, but here are the equally dope getups that get overlooked.

Aug 29, 2014
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Complex Original

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You can't be crowned the King of Pop without infiltrating and influencing all facets of pop-ular culture. Over the span of a storied career full of hit songs, avant-garde visuals, and cinematic tours, Michael Jackson delivered a metric ton of historic moments—touchstones that are defined in part by the always god-level costume he wore at the time.

Even a halfway-knowledgeable fan can easily trace the different eras of MJ's career through his corresponding fresh code at the time. We all know the glittery-sequined disco suits, red jacket decked out with cosmetic zippers, and leather punk-rock looks. But with a career so large, the overall scope of his style brilliance gets reduced to the "big moments" (while the decidedly less historic fare gets overlooked). Celebrate the King of Pop and a god of style's birthday by looking back on some of his lesser-highlighted style moments that were still equally fresh. Read on for 10 Great Michael Jackson Style Moments That Get Overlooked.

Vintage Nike Tee

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Year: 1987

This is probably the simplest the King has ever looked, maybe even counting the Jackson 5 days, too. It's simple yet still very effective.

The Off the Wall Disco Phase

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Year: 1979

Off the Wall saw MJ go all-out with disco looks, but while everyone remembers the signature gloves, Mike's obsession with sequins went much further. This bedazzled sweater is shining brighter than Times Square, an early foreshadowing for the type of next-level style risks he'd go on to take.

The "Leave Me Alone" Video

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Year: 1987

It's deeper than the steez: "Leave Me Alone" may be one of MJ's most underrated songs period. The groovy banger closes out Bad and takes direct aim at the negative press, tabloids, and rumor maelstrom that hounded Mike even back in '87. The video takes the theme a step further, with MJ floating through a literal circus where his greatest gossip hits make up the environment.

For the trip during his own bizarro theme park, he dons typical tourist-at-Disney-World gear, namely a Hawaiian shirt. But throw in a matching pink long-sleeve underneath, and suddenly the alphet is anything but basic. The same goes for one of the promo shots for the single: a simple button-up. It's fire and extremely toned down by Mike's usual standards, but it's just as steezy, because, well, he's THE KING OF POP.

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Behind the Scenes at the "Bad" Tour

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Year: 1988

The actual "Bad" Tour concert was filled with Mike's trademark, skin-tight black rockstar costumes a la the title track's video, but apparently behind the scenes, he scaled it back to a more typical, classic '80s male uniform: fresh varsity jacket and wayfarers.

Spike Lee's Bad 25 Documentary

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Year: 1988

This still from Spike Lee's film documenting the Bad era shows MJ switching the style up for a rare menswear flourish (and absolutely crushing it).

Moonwalker Film

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Year: 1988

This scene from the "Smooth Criminal" segment in the classic piece of cinema known as Moonwalker sees MJ, alongside his kid friends (no judgment), rocking a preppy, almost Mister Rogers-esque look. We can't decide what's fresher: the arm band or the fact that he's successfully pulling off two primary colors.

The Invincible Uniform

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Year: 2002

Invincible is far from MJ's best work, but it's the last honest-to-goodness project we got from him. In 2002, he performed shows coinciding with its release at venues like the Apollo Theater, pictured above. The uniform he's wearing is an interesting blend of his go-to, signature pieces from different eras. There's the finger bandages most prevalent during Bad and a sequined bandleader jacket that harkens back to Thriller/Off the Wall. But what's most intriguing are the gold-plated, suit-of-armor-esque kneepads, which seem like an update and logical transition from the costumes he wore during the HIStory tour.

Unknown Photo Circa the Release of the Thriller Album

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Year: Circa mid-1980s

The flannel is fire, but more importantly, your boy is rocking a belt bigger than Batman's adorned with buckles as big as throwing stars. Swag on maximum.

Unknown Photo Circa the Release of the Off the Wall Album

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Year: Circa early 1980s

In addition to being the King of Pop, Mike was basically royalty when it came to pulling off color clashes. Look at god. Together these colors would make a mere mortal look like a walking dab of toothpaste.

Charlie Chaplin Steez

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Year: 1979

Wow, did MJ predate the Olsen twins' whole hobo chic steez?! Nah, the King was actually a hardcore Charlie Chaplin stan. During a trip to the UK in 1979, Michael went so far as to dress up like Charlie and take few photos on the road where the legend once lived. Homage or not, he's pulling the vaudeville look off pretty flawlessly.

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