A History of Kanye West's Obsession With Fashion in Kanye West GIFs
An animated look at the fashion icon's rise to prominence.
Sep 15, 2015
Complex Original
Image via Complex Original
Since bursting onto the scene with his 2004 debut, Kanye West has taken the hip-hop world by storm, but he soon revealed a second love: fashion. He wasn't always the style icon he is today, and the road that took him there is an interesting one. From his streetwear roots to leather-heavy outfits, couture Margiela masks, A.P.C. collabs, and the upcoming Yeezy Season 2 show, here's a look at A History of Kanye West's Obsession With Fashion in Kanye West GIFs.
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In 2004, Kanye West vows to become the best-dressed rapper while on HBO's Def Poetry Jam.
Kanye West sets his style apart by wearing rugby shirts and Louis Vuitton backpacks after dropping 2004's The College Dropout.
By 2006, Kanye's known for his "backpack prep" look: a mixture of bright polos, rugbys, sportcoats, and high-end backpacks.
But he still embraces streetwear brands like BAPE and LRG.
2007's "Stronger" video officially makes Venetian sunglasses a trend.
But he didn't just want to be the "shutter shades guy." It was time for a different look.
Kanye starts to clean up his look in 2008.
Plaid suits, bowties, and shades abound with the release of 808s & Heartbreaks album.
Yeezy experiments with weirder signature styles. His afromullet is immortalized in South Park months later.
Meanwhile, Kanye debuts his streetwear line, Pastelle, in late 2008 at events like the AMAs.
In 2009, Kanye West is a bona fide hip-hop style icon, but he wants to take his style to the next level.
At the 2009 VMAs, Kanye, wearing washed Balmain jeans and a leather shirt, interrupts Taylor Swift, coining the "Kanye Shrug."
After the VMA incident, Kanye moves to Rome for a spell to intern for Fendi and dive headfirst into FASHION!
Kanye attends his first Paris fashion week in January 2009. He dubs himself "Martin Louis The King Jr." after he designs kicks for Louis Vuitton.
That collab leads to his Nike signature sneaker, The Air Yeezy, in April 2009. It's an instant success.
Inspired by the high-fashion world, Kanye strives to get clothing right. He scraps his "Pastelle" streetwear line in October 2009.
2010 becomes the year Yeezy asserts his fashion dominance.
Dressing up in slim Dior suits and proper shoes, Kanye starts the suited up "Rosewood Movement."
He releases the visually arresting and awesomely-styled (like this Band of Outsiders tux) "Runaway" short film in October 2010.
And went on to embrace high-fashion outfits by designers like Phillip Lim during revolutionary performances, like on SNL.
At Coachella 2011, Kanye establishes himself as a style risk taker in this womens Céline top by his bud Phoebe Philo.
Kanye and Jay-Z drop Watch The Throne in August 2011. They go on a tour in October, art directed by Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci.
In September 2011, a nervous Kanye debuts his first runway collection in Paris.
It received poor reviews. Kanye couldn't believe it!
But that didn't matter. Kanye West had become a huge brand anyway.
Everyone wanted to dress like Kanye. Performing in certain clothes could easily drive up demand and price, like this Versace x H&M varsity at the Victoria's Secret fashion show.
Kanye drops the Air Yeezy 2 in June 2012.
It sells out instantly. He ups the ante by designing another fashion collection in the fall.
His second collection was better received than his first.
Probably because he learned to not listen to the critics.
September 2012's Cruel Summer mixtape sees Kanye dress the G.O.O.D. Music crew in goods from Rick Owens, Balmain, and other high-end designers.
His vision for style and art direction is realized through his G.O.O.D. Music cohorts and seen in videos like 2012's "Mercy."
Kanye gets heat for wearing his Givenchy kilt at the "12-12-12" concert for Sandy Relief.
In response, Kanye West asks Getty to remove all images of him wearing a kilt.
And they listened. Because he's the fashion king.
And he kept pushing the style envelope, whether he wore head-to-toe leather kits...
Or couture masks. He kept doing his thing.
And if you talked about style, he'd embarrass you.
While he was changing the way guys dress all over the world, he was also turning Kim Kardashian into a fashion plate.
Naturally, that influence spread to the rest of the Kardashian squad.
'Ye wasn't done with footwear either. According to Ibn Jasper, he also designed a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti sneakers.
And if you forgot how much he loved Riccardo Tisci, he rolled through the 2013 Met Gala in Givenchy (with a very pregnant Kim).
Then, he got legendary fashion photographer Nick Knight to direct the 'Black Skinhead' video.
“I Am A God” drops, inspired by Hedi Slimane trying to control him at Paris Fashion Week.
Kanye's first A.P.C collection drops in July 2013—promptly crashing the French label's U.S. website.
In September 2013, 'Ye calls out "culture vultures" who rip off Pusha T and Virgil Abloh at a 'My Name Is My Name' listening party.
Kanye's daughter North is born, and by October, she already had a designer wardrobe..
Kanye continues explaining his fashion industry dreams (and frustrations) on Jimmy Kimmel.
During a Yeezus Tour performance, Kanye calls out Saint Laurent's Hedi Slimane and Nike's Mark Parker.
Then he rocked Ralph Lauren, Fear of God, and Visvim in his “Bound 2” video.
Kanye West formally announces his deal with adidas on NYC's Hot 97 radio show.
Then he told Sway "YOU AIN'T GOT THE ANSWERS!” and “IT AIN'T RALPH THO”
In January 2014, Kanye West reveals the second Kanye West x A.P.C. collection.
BOOM: Kanye West and Kim Kardashian grace the cover of Vogue in April 2014.
Kanye West and a hot-as-hell post-preganancy Kim return to the Met Gala wearing Lanvin.
Kanye and Kim host an exclusive pre-wedding brunch at Valentino Garavano’s 17th-century château in Paris.
On May 24, 2014, KIMYE got hitched. The pair, and North, all wore custom Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci.
Shortly after, Kanye hits up Italian menswear tradeshow Pitti Uomo to attend the Ermanno Scervino presentation.
In June, Kanye teaches a fashion class at the L.A. Trade Technical College.
Then he covered GQ in August 2014, his second cover for the magazine.
Whoops: Kanye and Kim are booed by photographers for arriving late to the Lanvin show at Paris Fashion Week.
Kanye makes his love for Haider Ackermann clear by wearing the designer all over Paris Fashion Week.
Kanye and Kim close out the year by pairing up in the sexy Spring 2015 Balmain campaign.
Kanye West debuts Yeezy Season 1 at New York Fashion Week on Feb. 12, 2015.
Kanye and Vic Mensa perform “Wolves” in Yeezy Season 1 gear on Saturday Night Live's 40th Anniversary special.
Rendezvousing with his idol, 'Ye attends Ralph Lauren's NYFW show wearing head-to-toe RRL.
In February, Kanye breaks into tears during a Zane Lowe interview, lamenting the loss of legendary fashion teacher Louise Wilson.
Kanye West raps in “Jukebox Joints” on A$AP Rocky's 'At.Long.Last.A$AP' that “Saint Laurent is [his] Zara.”
Kanye accepts the “Video Vanguard” award 2015 MTV VMAs. He jokes that he's running for president.
2020 can't come soon enough.
