Image via Complex Original
It's been a banner year for Kanye West. Musically, he followed up last summer's smash hit Watch The Throne with the wildly-anticipated Cruel Summer. Gossip-wise, rumors that he was dating Kim Kardashian were quickly confirmed not just through paparazzi photos, but also the track "Cold," where he lyrically admitted to fallling "in love with Kim." And who can forget the DONDA-inspired twitter rant that kicked off his year?
Style-wise, he continued to make waves, despite some noticeable competition from young guns like A$AP Rocky. While this year West definitely focused on making sure the aesthetic of the G.O.O.D. Music crew was elevated, he still managed to set several trends with aplomb. He also proved to be a popular Halloween costume choice for Halloween. From everyday stunting, to PR appearances, performances, and music videos, these are Kanye West's Most Stylish Moments of 2012.
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The Givenchy Fall/Winter 2012 Show
When: January 2012
Kanye kicked off the year establishing an aesthetic: leather pants and layered, drapey shirts. The juxtaposition of slim-cut pants with a looser fitting top is nothing new to the rapper—he embraced it in full force during the Watch The Throne tour, and reflects some style lessons he's learned from Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci.
The Mint Green Acne Sweater
When: February 2012
For all the fashion critics hating on Kanye rocking "women's gear," it's not exactly a new thing. He's had 3.1 Phillip Lim women's blazers cut for him, as well as famously rocked a Phoebe Philo-designed Céline blouse. This year, he was spotted in a women's mint green Acne Sweater. He paired it with a denim jacket, gold chains, light jeans, some enviable Wolf Grey Yeezy 2s for a look that had people talking.
The Kanye West Fall/Winter '12 Fashion Show
When: March 2012
Despite less-than-stellar reviews of his debut collection, Kanye followed it up with a Paris show this year, with The Wall Street Journal admitting it was better than the first. While the collection was more toned down, the theatrics were not, as bumper cars circled the runway, and the afterparty was poppin'. Yeezy came to his show rocking a simple Balmain denim shirt, black jeans, and a white tee, a perfectly subdued kit that let the focus be on the clothes he designed rather than wore.
The 106 and Park Appearance with 2 Chainz
When: April 2012
2 Chainz has experienced a style re-awakening this year, perhaps owing to his recent signing to G.O.O.D. Music. This appearance on 106 and Park was a surprise to fans, and Kanye himself. 2Chainz admits West was reticent on going out with him, but since the Based on A T.R.U. Story rapper did most of the talking, everyone else was free to gawk at Kanye's Yeezy 2s and cheetah-print jacket.
The Denim Jacket With Dueling Wolves
When: April 2012
While in Doha, Qatar filming the short film Cruel Summer, Kanye was spotted in this custom denim jacket depicting two wolves on it. The style doesn't stop there. Besides the white jeans and tee, the snakeskin boat shoes take this breezy, desert-friendly kit to a whole new level.
The Washed-Out Denim Look
When: May 2012
Decked out head-to-toe in washed denim, Kanye accents it all with a Don C. Knicks hat, Air Flight '89 sneakers, and a beautiful girlfriend. The dressed-down occasion was a Watch The Throne afterparty in London, but even at his most casual, Kanye still looks fly. Check the buttoned top button on that shirt.
The Yeezy 2 Drop
When: June 2012
At this year's BET Awards, Kanye dropped the controversial lyric claiming that "these Yeezys jumped over the Jumpman." While that topic is hotly debated, you know what the deal is: men lie, women lie, numbers don't. And as the Yeezy's numbers will show you—demand far outweighed the supply. The overwhelming response to the Yeezy 2 drop signaled a stylish coup for Kanye West as a brand.
The "Mercy" Music Video
When: June 2012
The desert-goth-ninja-themed video for "Mercy" fully exhibited Kanye's aesthetic influence on the G.O.O.D. Music crew. The outfits and styling showed that the man driving the 2-seat sartorial Lambo was definitely West himself. The posse cut goes, but the video's kits give a knee-jerk reaction to their awesomeness, similar to how people felt when they first saw Michael Jackson rocking a red jacket in "Thriller." This dark, leather-accented aesthetic helped shape and reflect the modern fashion climate.
The All-White Look
When: July 2012
This 3.1 Phillip Lim and RRL all-white look is something we'd see reflected in the G.O.O.D. Music clique at the BET Awards, but it definitely started early on. The antithesis to Jay-Z's all-black-everything aesthetic, it could also be seen as a way for West to move out of his mentor's shadow. The other thing to note in this photo? Ever since dating Kanye, Kim Kardashian's style has also improved.
The "Birthday Song" Music Video
When: August 2012
En Noir seemingly popped up from out of nowhere into the style consciousness of every other rapper practically overnight. It got some noticeable shine in Kanye's memorable kit from the "Birthday Song" music video, where he rocks the brand's leather tank top and sweatpants with black Yeezy 2s and a snakeskin snapback.
The Givenchy Shark Sweater
When: August 2012
If last year was the time of the rottweiler, 2012 was the year of the shark. Givenchy was seen on a grip of celebrities, whether it was the floral "Birds of Paradise" print, or their star graphics. The shark graphic sweatshirt definitely came in with a splash, here, Kanye rocks it at the airport. It was a signal that we were about to see this thing everywhere—from the likes of LeBron James to Waka Flocka Flame.
The Paris Fashion Week Anorak
When: September 2012
Kanye was spotted running around Paris Fashion Week in usually rocking an all-black uniform of a blazer, shirt, waxed denim, and Jordan 1s—with a variety of stoic stares. When he stepped out rocking this Supreme anorak, it was a breath of fresh air from the high-fashion Kanye we're used to seeing. This kit showed the rapper is still down with the world of streetwear... or is a testament to how relevant Supreme remains today.
The Versace SoHo Store Opening
When: October 2012
Kanye stepped onto the scene in New York rocking these awesome patched pants from buzzed-about brand KTZ. The English label is gaining steam amongst certain celebs, but when you can count Mr. West as an early adopter, you know you're on the verge of blowing up. Paired with a sleek leather moto and comfortable T-shirt, Kanye is heading towards some rather cozy style territory.
The Extremely Cozy Kanye Look
When: November 2012
With the "cozy boy" trend of dressing down taking precedence over the Rosewood Movement-era Kanye's predilection for getting suited up, we thought it was awesome to see Kanye take loungewear to the next level. The luxurious velvet coat and Bottega Veneta leather pants really amp up a pair of Tims and the Maison Martin Margiela hoodie.
The Sandy Benefit Kilt
When: December 2012
Kanye was spotted rocking this kilt during a Hurricane Sandy benefit on 12-12-12. He notably also wore the Tisci-designed piece during the Watch The Throne tour, and despite criticism and a parody @KanyesSkirt twitter account, other rappers like Theophilus London and A$AP Rocky seem to have embraced the trend. Is this the future of menswear? Maybe not... but if it becomes a huge trend, we all know who's responsible.
