Image via Complex Original
There's no doubt that Kanye West is a certified style icon, but he remains a polarizing figure because of his increasingly idiosyncratic outfits, from leather skirts to masks. That doesn't mean there's no sound style advice you can glean from him. In fact, when you get past the high-falutin labels and leather pants, you can actually find some practical knowledge for making sure you look halfway decent. Don't believe us? Just check out these 10 Style Tips You Can Learn From Kanye West.
RELATED: Kanye West's Most Stylish Moments of 2012
RELATED: Kanye West's 100 Best Outfits
RELATED: 12 Looks Only Kanye West Can Pull Off
LIKE COMPLEX STYLE ON FACEBOOK
10. Wear Statement Pieces Correctly
We're well aware not every guy is going to rock a Louis Vuitton Kimono. But maybe you have a patterned blazer, bright pants, or all-over print shirt that doesn't get enough wear. Take a cue from Kanye and wear it right: balance out the one loud thing with subtlety everywere else. By pairing it with dark pants, a white tee, and killer Visvim sneakers, Kanye's actually managing to pull this piece off.
9. Jordans Go With Everything
Did the Yeezy jump over the Jumpman? That's debatable. But judging from the heat Yeezy's been rocking lately, the Jumpman isn't going anywhere. Whether it's a pair of Black/Reds or Black/Royals, Kanye's been wearing the hell out of Jordan 1s lately—and who can blame him? The shoe is timeless because of its place in sports culture, and the fact that it still looks pretty damn good.
8. Never Outdress Your Girl
Once Kanye landed one of the baddest chicks in the game, he knew he had to tone down his style a notch. Lucky for him, Kim took hers up a lot, and now she can dress with the best of them. Notice how when they're out in public, Kanye still looks clean, but isn't the peacock he was but a few years ago. Kim still steals the show, and Kanye knows that as a proper boyfriend, his main duty is to not hog all the stylish spotlight.
7. Get Your Shine On
Even though En Noir leather pants aren't for everyone, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try branching out to other leather items. From leather-accented baseball jerseys to rugged leather briefcases, there are plenty of ways to step up your luxe fabric game.
6. You Don't Need a Pendant On Your Chain
For a while now, Kanye's traded in the Murakami Jesus pieces and heavy-ass Horus chain for layers of stacked gold. Simple chains are a way to flex your wealth without being too audacious about it. Even Scott Disick's picked up on it, although his massive Cuban links are kind of hilarious.
5. Mess With Proportion
Let your T-shirt poke out from under your hoodie. Wear a slim leather jacket with looser sweatpants. Not everything has to be super baggy or expertly tailored. Sometimes there's a cool factor in mixing up the way things fit.
4. Timbs Are Timeless
Whether you rock the classic wheats or stealthy black boots, Timberlands are never going out of style. The hardy footwear mainstay has always been a huge part of hip-hop style, and that isn't going away. However, what you can learn from Yeezy is how to mix it up with other gear like slim-fitting leather jackets, blazers, chambray shirts, and even proper trousers.
3. Get Weird
A$AP Rocky was right: clothes got weirder. Now, we're not saying go out and buy a Maison Martin Margiela studded couture mask, but maybe you're not sure if you can pull off camo pants or white jeans. Just take the style risk. You might find out you can actually rock what you used to be afraid of.
2. A Tuxedo Jacket Cleans Up a T-shirt
Gone is the Rosewood-era Kanye who would dress to the nines and beyond. Now, when Yeezy needs to go the extra stylish mile, he simply throws on a tuxedo jacket over a solid T-shirt. Granted, his tees are probably Balmain, but it's a high/low look that works. It's appropriate for a modern rapper, balancing the black-tie menswear world while giving a nod to the swagger-heavy streetwear ideologies Kanye once fully embraced.
1. Dressing Down In Luxe Gear Is the New Dressing Up
Being suited up doesn't necessarily mean you're a boss anymore. With so many dudes up on menswear, and similar looks and trends available at a variety of price points, Kanye has figured out that the new way of stunting on everyone else is looking like you're not trying at all. That doesn't mean you have to stop shopping at high-end stores. This particular kit has Kanye wearing a velvet coat, Robert Geller T-shirt, and leather pants from fashion label Bottega Veneta. And he's absolutely killing it. So much so, that formerly dapper dudes like Scott Disick are also taking style cues from Kanye.
