The 50 Most Stylish Rock Stars of All Time

Image via Complex Original

Band: Lenny Kravitz



All hail the king of the nose ring and aviator sunglasses. Kravitz's style has always straddled that line between bohemian and badass, and while not all of his style choices are necessarily praised-take for example the abnormally large scarf he was recently seen rocking-his wild outfit choices can't be denied. He also gets points for versatility, he knows how to tone it down while maintaining an attitude, thanks to an array of leather jackets and well-fitting basics like T-shirts and henleys.

Band: Guns N' Roses



Led by Axl Rose, Guns N' Roses burst onto the LA scene in the late '80s and seemingly pissed off everyone in the country while dominating the charts and earning the moniker "The Most Dangerous Band in the World." Axl was a pure rockstar; girls wanted him and guys wanted to be him. In a time before everyone had tattoos, Axl was tatted up like a badass and had the cachet to rock skin-tight leather pants and have a flowing mane without looking like the sissy hair metal bands that preceded him.

Band: The Strokes; Julian Casablancas



The pseudo-garage rock movement of the early 2000s went two ways—you either had the mod tendencies of groups like The Hives, or neo-greaser acolytes like Julian Casablancas. Skinny jeans, tight leather jackets, and unwashed, long hair was the look, and he had it down to a T. The look was "Williamsburg hipster" years before the term became a pejorative about anyone or anything remotely alt reviving the downtown appeal of the Lower East Side, The Strokes got their start at the Arlene's Grocery venue, and you can still spot an odd Strokes T-shirt at spots like Max Fish and Piano's today.

Band: Generation X; Billy Idol



Billy Idol led the second British Invasion of the early '80s and was one of MTV's first stars. He started out as a punk rocker, but was soon mixing new wave, glam, punk, and dance rock to create a sound that was as unique as his look. With spiked and bleached hair, bared arms, and leather jackets that were as glamorous as they were badass, Billy Idol set the stage for the excess of the '80s and its wild style.

Band: Ozzy Osbourne; Black Label Society



Zakk Wylde's style is somewhere between American outlaw, pro-wrestler, and all-around badass. Often rocking leather or denim jackets with dark jeans and boots he has probably kicked some ass in, his undeniably masculine style has made him a metal icon.

Band: The Birthday Party; Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds; Grinderman



Aussie Nick Cave may have the face of a lovechild of Benicio Del Toro and Will Arnett, but his style is definitely all his own. Cave's signature shoulder-length mane was definitely as dark as much of his musical output, and he wasn't afraid of a slim-fitting suit or an unbuttoned shirt. This dressed-up unkempt look makes him look like a forgotten Reservoir Dog, which is pretty awesome.

Band: The Velvet Underground; Lou Reed



When you think of The Velvet Underground, you probably associate frontman Lou Reed with the classically cool sunglasses he's rarely seen without. That's pretty much the most memorable thing about his style-at least, the positive thing. It's been pointed out that dude never really learned how a leather jacket should fit. Punk greats like Sid Vicious and The Ramones looked awesome in theirs, Reed's often looked a couple of sizes too big, but like a true rock star, he pulled it off with aplomb.

Band: The Libertines; Pete Doherty



Substance abuse problems aside, what makes Pete Doherty's style so good is that it's effortless. He might look like he just rolled out of bed and threw whatever on-because he probably did. The thing is, it still looks pretty put together. Perhaps his secret to looking rakish instead of like a hot mess is the fact that he usually accessorizes with a hardly-tied scarf and a perfectly askew fedora. That hat is almost an English version of T.I.'s beanie. Almost.

Band: Santana



Carlos Santana was the singular force that made southwestern and Mexican gear a huge trend for stylish icons in the '60s and '70s. He cultivated a highly original style that mashed together his Mexican roots, the hippie movement, and too-cool rockstar. As the most popular musician to infuse a Latin vibe into his rock, he paved the way for guys to look outside their immediate world for musical and style influences from all over the world.

Band: John Mayer



John Mayer is a dude who has only recently found his style. His sartorial evolution, like his musical career, went through a very awkward phase. At first thrust into the spotlight for his radio-friendly songs and heartfelt lyrics, he adjusted to his newfound fame with a couple of tattoos and an affinity for expensive watches. As time went on, celeb relationships came and went, until his most recent, pensive cowboy phase. Introduced to visvim by Eric Clapton, Mayer began to fashion himself after the rock icons of yore, growing his hair out and wearing head-to-toe 'fits from obscure Japanese labels, looking like a modern outlaw rather than a bestselling singer/songwriter. It's this current version of himself that we hope he's remembered by, as a man who, after years of trial and error, seems to finally have found his style.

Band: Vampire Weekend



In the late 2000s, indie rock gravitated towards a lighter sound, and style started to look a little preppier. Right around the time Vampire Weekend started blowing up, boat shoes and chinos began to overtake raw jeans and sneakers. We're not saying Ezra Koenig is directly responsible, but he certainly embodied the current zeitgeist in an array of knit sweaters, button-down shirts, and well-fitting sportcoats. Instead of being tucked in an uptight, the neo-prep wore his shirts outside of his waistband, and his chinos slim instead of baggy. He still didn't care at all for socks though.

Band: The Jam; Paul Weller



Paul Weller grew up in a time right after the whole Skinhead movement, they dubbed the next generation "Suedeheads" because they were a little too soft. But that's where he developed a love for brands like Ben Sherman and Brutus, and what he was really drawn to was patterns. This passion for clothing expressed itself in his personal style, while he never had any aspirations to be a designer, you could always tell Weller was a fan of clothes, from the fit to playing with pattern and proportion. And he continues to have fun with his kits to this very day.

Band: Oasis; Beady Eye



What happens when you combine an erratic, impulsive frontman with '90s style? You get Liam Gallagher. Outfitted in a variety of track suits, trench coats, military outerwear, and of course, sunglasses-his style very much channeled the "casual" subculture of London soccer delinquents. In fact, when he launched his clothing line, Pretty Green, in 2009, much of it drew from his personal style of graphic tees, polo shirts, trenchcoats, and fishtail parkas.

Band: Elton John



Unfortunately for him, Elton John had an incredibly restrictive and conservative upbringing. But lucky for us, he created awesome music and developed a wild sense of style as a release from years of suppression. His eccentric personal style was fresh, but paled in comparison to his concert's outfits. Whatever barriers still existed by the mid-70s were smashed by Sir Elton John when he came out in a duck suit. A duck suit! He's toned it down in recent years, but Elton's signature eyewear continues to inspire current day designers and style icons.

Band: ZZ Top



Billy Gibbons is one of the few guys with a chest-length beard who wouldn't make you cross the street when you saw him coming—you'd follow him to see where he was shopping. In dark sunglasses and wildass suits, Billy is equal parts intimidating and someone you want to party with. And besides, he's part of the group that taught us, "Every girl is crazy about a sharp dressed man."

Band: Queen



Freddie Mercury is thought to be the greatest live rockstar of all time, and one key component to putting on a mesmerizing show is an amazing wardrobe. And Freddie had that in spades. His outfits were as memorable as the incredible performances, and draped in outrageous rock-god gear that no one could look away from, the lead singer of Queen was able to hold tens of thousands of screaming fans in the palm of his hand. Off the stage, Mercury was incredibly press-shy and introverted, but stayed stylish as hell in his private life.

Band: The Sex Pistols; Public Image Ltd.



The Ramones may have invented punk rock, but Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols took it to its extreme. The band was formed by a group of guys who hung out at Vivienne Westwood's infamous clothing shop SEX and created a sense of style that had polite society's knickers all up in a bunch. The British used to think that having long hair was strange, but echoes of Johnny rocking all-offensive everything would reverberate through the next few decades as rock became about pissing off the establishment both through music and style.

Band: Weezer



Who cares about his sweater? Don't destroy his glasses. Cuomo's thick frames characterized the geek rock movement of the '90s, while his sweater vests and slim-fitting polo shirt set a precursor for sensitive skinny dudes who were somehow managing to get laid. He was the archetype for every other indie guy with a cute Japanese girlfriend, and his affable-looking sweater vests and non-threatening wardrobe choices essentially set the bar for how Fred Armisen's character dresses on Portlandia.

Band: Hawkwind; Mötorhead



Mutton chops should be retired on the day that Lemmy Kilmister finally departs this planet, but fortunately, he is simply too metal to die. His gravelly voice and hard rock demeanor are perfectly accented by his dark manner of dress. Combine it all with his awesome cowboy hats and a love for denim and leather outerwear with metal accents, and you pretty much have a walking, talking middle finger.

Band: The Smiths; Morrissey



From his early days in T-shirts to the modern striped suits, perhaps Morissey's style will be remembered most for his giant pompadour. Whether it was mussed-up or kept in check with some sort of grooming product, it is certainly the most defining aspect of his style.

Band: Nation of Ulysses; The Make-Up; Weird War; Chain and the Gang



Svenonius' style is a refined version of rebellion. Subversive in the colors of his suits and their aggressive cuts, the post-punk phenom is as eloquent as he is stylish. His Soft Focus show demonstrated how both work in his favor, especially when he interviewed a bald Ian Mackaye, who was clad in a crewneck sweatshirt, while Spiv looked like a demagogue in a prep school navy blazer and tie.

Band: The Clash; The Mescaleros



The Sex Pistols may have pushed punk to its very brink, but Joe Strummer and The Clash were the ones who made punk rock stylish. Joe Strummer's classic cool harked back to classic American masculinity and the origins of rock. In leather jackets, torn-up tees, and decked out mainly in black, Strummer looked to the past to influence the generations to come—a tried a true formula for style success. The Clash became known as "The Only Band That Matters," and the same could be said of Strummer's steez.

Band: Twin Shadow



George Lewis Jr. must know his history, because he mixes in elements of every stylish moment of rock from the past 70 years in his wardrobe. More widely known as Twin Shadow, Lewis uses inspiration from other rock 'n roll greats in his music and sense of style while forging a look and sound that's all his own. With a sick jacket game and laid-back gear that doesn't dive too far into modern hipsterdom, he's one of the few contemporary indie rock stars that have instantly recognizable steez. Who said rockers aren't style icons anymore?

Band: Tom Waits



Tom Waits looks and sounds like the devil in human form. We mean that in a good way. His style paid homage to a variety of musical subcultures, mixing Beatnik, Bohemian, and jazz styles into his personal wardrobe. Much like his music, it was familiar but you couldn't quite put your finger on it—but you knew it was good. His headwear always looked good, whether it was the porkpie hats he was known for or the cabbie-style hats he subbed in every so often.

Band: The Who



Although his lifestyle was reckless, involving many trashed hotel rooms and exploded toilets in his wake, Moon's manner of dress was anything but. Hands down the band's best-dressed member, the hard-partying Brit is remembered not only for his talented drum skills, but his absolutely boss personal style. From lavish fur coats to bespoke suits, he certainly knew how to wear patterns and knew what worked for him. Even when keeping things casual, he would rock slim-fitting T-shirts, like pocket tees with a contrast graphic pocket sewn on.

Band: The White Stripes; The Raconteurs; The Dead Weather; 



When he first came to national prominence, Jack White was known as the guy who only wore red, white, and black. In the past few years, he's become rock 'n roll's least likely style maven with a look that combines formal menswear, country, and goth. It's something that's entirely his, and the eccentric star has become a style darling. He's appeared in numerous magazines in his signature steez that harks back to rockstars of days gone by without losing its originality or kookiness.

Band: Elvis Costello and the Attractions



Along with David Byrne and a few others, Elvis Costello was at the forefront of the New Wave movement that developed alongside punk music. With his throwback Buddy Holly-esque glasses, skinny sportcoats, and various porkpie hats and fedoras, Costello quickly set the New Wave sartorial standard that was somewhere between prep's second wave and punk's subversive sensibility. He is the OG hipster, back when the phrase was synonymous with cool and had nothing to do with kale.

Band: The Castiles; Earth; Steel Mill; Dr. Zoom & the Sonic Boom; Sundance Blues Band; The Bruce Springsteen Band; Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band



Bruce Springsteen was a product of the working-class, and his wardrobe consisted of a few staples: jeans, white t-shirt, leather jacket, and a few extras thrown in for good measure. His consistently simple and proud wardrobe proved that Jersey's own stayed true to his roots even when he became the biggest thing in the world. The US may be internationally known for obesity, drones, and crack cocaine, but every blue-blooded American will always admire the style of the Boss.

Band: Guns N' Roses; Slash's Snakepit; Velvet Revolver



It's impossible to make a list like this and not include Slash. The man does stick to a uniform, but at least it's a versatile and good one. As long as the top hat, shades, and cigarette are there—you know it's Slash. More iconic than actually stylish-after all, he hardly ever wore a shirt, his consistency throughout his career is admirable.

Band: Beach Boys; Four-Speeds; Dennis Wilson



After spending their first years dressing like a barbershop quartet, Dennis Wilson emerged as the most stylish of the group that championed surfing, girls, and wavy vibes. Whether he was draped in breezy Hawaiian shirts or decked out in advanced '70s gear that not even A$AP Rocky could pull off, Dennis dressed like the lifestyle that he championed while drumming and singing for the Beach Boys. With his relaxed steez and that bears, Dennis wouldn't look out of place in current day Williamsburg or Silverlake.

Band: The Crickets; Buddy Holly



The guy made thick framed glasses cool. Every nerd who lived after Buddy Holly pioneered both rock 'n roll and rockstardom needs to thank the ghost of the man who saved them from countless wedgies. Touted as the greatest influence on classic and modern rock, he was also definitely a style influence on the musicians who came after his late '50s success. His death was known as the day the music died, but luckily his style legacy carried on.

Band: Chuck Berry



No one would ever put together a list of stylish rock 'n rollers and exclude Chuck Berry. Not only did the man pioneer the musical form and was one of the first singers to really put on a live show, Chuck created the idea of singers dressing as entertainers. With his flashy suits and steezy get-ups, Berry even provided a bridge between rock and funk in his later years.

Band: Bob Dylan



Like his hero Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan was a product of his country and sang as the voice of its people. But his style was pure New York City bohemian. A dark coolness pervaded through Dylan's style, giving the sense that there was always much more behind his deceivingly simple sounding lyrics. Emerging from the Manhattan's Greenwich Village in the 1960s, Dylan meteoric rise to fame saw his style hardly change. If somber black, belted coats, and hearty workwear is your thing and it's working for you, then it shouldn't matter what else is blowing in the wind.

Band: The Yardbirds; John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers; Cream; Derek and the Dominoes; Eric Clapton



In his early days, Eric Clapton gave Jimi Hendrix a run for his money when it came to who had the most psychedelic steez. His style was toned down in his later years, but he has become one of the most unexpected style icons of the modern day. He's constantly spotted draped in Visvim, and has been tapped to grace the cover of esteemed Japanese magazine Free & Easy several times. Seems like the only thing that can match Clapton's musical longevity is his status as style icon.

Band: The Ramones



The Ramones are widely hailed as the first punk band, and they cemented the style that became the go-to look for punk rockers for generations to come. As their lead singer, Joey became a symbol of counter culture and was definitely the weirdest looking and hence most awesome Ramone. The gargantuan frontman infused a hippie flair into the band's standard dress of ripped-up jeans, leather jacket, and face-obstructing hair. For anyone that's even approached dressing like a punk, you have this man to thank.

Band: The Spiders; The Nazz; Alice Cooper



Coming out of Detroit in the early '70s, Alice Cooper's music was upstaged by his charisma and insane live act that shaped the way heavy metal would develop over the next few decades. Using imagery and influence from vaudeville theater, horror films, and general violence, the frontman's bizarre get-up that was the thing of nightmares became his signature look. But on his off-days, Alice kept it crispy in bright florals that were as sharp as his famous wit and charm.

Band: Talking Heads; David Byrne



As the leader of one of the more esoteric and critically acclaimed bands in rock 'n roll history, it's pretty obvious that David Byrne would have one of the more avant-garde senses of style on this list. Besides the oversized suits that became his trademark, Byrne had a style that fit his music: very out there, but very relatable.

Band: Elvis Presley



You don't get the nickname The King just for your smooth voice and dance moves. Elvis' quintessential '50s style was a huge part of his act, and together with his sneering lip and, at the time, X-rated dance moves, he was the first dude to make girls scream, faint, and act a damn fool. In other words, he created the rockstar equation of dope clothing + hip thrusting = cake.

Band: The Jimi Hendrix Experience; Band of Gypsys



No one truly knew what the electric guitar was possible of until Jimi Hendrix came along, and the same is true of his psychadelic sense of style. Draped in flowing scarves, vibrant colors, and exotic patterns, Jimi provided a trippy take on the staid British Victorian dress that most rockers were attempting. He broke the mold of simply putting a modern spin on old clothing and in the process provided hippie movement a sense of glamor. The insane outfits and signature pieces that Hendrix wore throughout his career became even more awesome and outrageous as he traveled the world, eventually warranting their own section on his Wikipedia page. And isn't that the mark of a true style icon?

Band: The Quarrymen; The Beatles; John Lennon



They may have started out all dressing the same with charmingly floppy moptops, but John Lennon emerged as the leading style figure of the world's favorite band. His flowery hippie style matched his message of peace, but it still had a dark New York edge that was gleaned from his adopted hometown. As one of the most popular and visible rock stars of all time, Lennon was first a product of his time as the entire globe fell in love with The Beatles, and then became a symbol of counterculture and progression as his style resonated with the dissatisfied youth.

Band: Chromeo



Considering he knows how mix up different musical styles, it's no surprise A-Trak's elder brother knows how to mix it up sartorially as well. Although he looks his best in a sharp suit, he can still kill it casually in a slim leather jacket. Although he has an affinity for Chelsea boots and designer brands like Yves Saint Laurent and Maison Martin Margiela, Dave 1 is far from a fashion plate, he simply wears what he likes. And what he likes just happens to be the flyest shit ever.

Band: Pulp; Jarvis Cocker



Jarvis Cocker continued the rockstar trend of making thick-framed glasses cool, and managed to keep them in place even when flailing about the stage with a giant rubber band. The frontman of Pulp and figurehead of the '90s resurgence of British pop channeled a vintage sense of style that reflected Generation X's sense of laid-back cool. Patterned sportcoats and killer accessories evoked a British dandyism that's been around since the days of Oscar Wilde. A true measure of how stylish Jarvis Cocker was is that his steez would be on top of the game as much in 2013 as it was in 1995.

Band: The Kinks; Ray Davies



Ray Davies wasn't penning a fantasy when he wrote "Dedicated Follower of Fashion," the mod rocker was pretty dapper during The Kinks' heyday. From his awesome scarf game to well-fitting suits and sportcoats, he wasn't afraid to wear bold outerwear like bold robes or shearling-lined coats. Even in his older days, he prefers of-the-moment menswear trends like Italian spread collars, and while the scarves have gotten a little tamer, he still rocks them with aplomb. When it comes to personal style-he's not like anybody else.

Band: Bad Brains



Born Paul D. Hudson, H.R.—an abbreviation for "Human Rights"—converted to the Rasta Movement in 1979. Two years prior, he formed Bad Brains from the jazz fusion band Mind Power. When it came to clothing, H.R. deftly mixed elements of reggae and burgeoning punk culture, but in a distinctly different way than Skinheads in London were doing it. Instead of Harrington jackets and Fred Perry, it was long dreads, beanies, military-style jackets, and a decidedly more casual look. His style now is a little more refined than his early days-mixing in an odd sportcoat and a well-groomed beard, but it's still rebellious and anti-corporate as ever.

Band: The Rolling Stones; Keith Richards; The X-Pensive Winos



One of the best guitarists of all time was also a serious style pioneer. His penchant for wild-looking clothes with an edge combined the mod penchant for color with a rocker attitude. This is the guy that wore headbands eons before any '80s hairband thought to. His natural swagger and iconic style also provided the inspiration for Pirates of The Caribbean anti-hero Jack Sparrow, so much so that he signed on to play Sparrow's father, Captain Teague, in the film's sequels.

Band: The Sex Pistols



Sid's leather jacket, jeans, and motorcycle boots meant so much to him that he wanted to be buried in them. Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren claimed he was the attitude of punk rock, and he definitely fit the aesthetic. From the spiky, uncouth hair to the double-rider motorcycle jacket festooned with subversive buttons, he also embraced printed shirts and other classic outerwear pieces like trench coats. Skinny jeans were another integral part of the uniform, with the middle-finger-to-the-world attitude acting as the glue that held it all together.

Band: Nirvana



This man dressed most the '90s. Many of the trends we remember-flannel shirts, ripped jeans, oversized sweaters, were often seen on this guy—and believe it or not, they still hold up today. While he may not have started them, he definitely made them iconic. From appearances on MTV Unplugged in an oatmeal-colored cardigan, to the Daniel Johnston T-shirts that helped catapult the latter into popularity, Kurt was an unwilling trendsetter. His slovenly style and appearance may have represented his disregard for societal norms, so it's ironic that they came represent the zeitgeist of a decade.

Band: The Konrads; The King Bees; The Manish Boys; The Lower Third; The Buzz; The Riot Squad; David Bowie



With the end of the utopian '60s, no one was quite sure what was next. The Beatles were broken up, hippies had failed, and Mick Jagger had created the frontman rockstar archetype. Enter the insane weirdo named David Bowie, who brought us glam rock and the outrageous style that adorned his alter-ego Ziggy Stardust. Bowie championed avant-garde fashion, wearing clothes that were purely rocked for the wow factor. And just when Ziggy and glam were the biggest thing in the world, Bowie switched it up and started rocking slick British tailored suiting. With Bowie and Ziggy leading the way, doors were opened that showed the next generation of rockstars what was possible in creating a personal image.

Band: Prince; The Revolution



Prince's consistently flamboyant kits made him indellible in the minds of his fanbase-and just about everyone else. Combine his sex appeal with his penchant for purple suits, nehru collars, and animal prints make him a true original. No matter if he was The Artist or reclaiming his royal name, his iconic look will live on forever. Game, blouses.

Band: The Rolling Stones; Mick Jagger



More like Mick "Swagger" right?! Hands down one of the best-dressed musicians of all-time, he definitely set the bar for flamboyant frontmen. From his crazy stage antics to his bad boy edge, Jagger's style reflected his personality perfectly: it was something that needed to be tamed, but functioned best when it was wild. Even today, he wears silk scarves and suits with more rakish appeal than most men-and he's pushing 70.