Image via Complex Original
It's rare to be successful in music or fashion alone, so it's amazing that Pharrell has managed to kill it in both industries. Compared to other hip-hop compatriots, his skate-inspired fashion stands apart from the pack. Not only is he good at pulling off streetwear looks, he cleans up well and his tux game is something James Bond would envy. He’s not one to play it safe either: You can catch him in kits only he can execute, and looks that hypebeasts try to emulate years later. From his Skateboard P days to his head-to-toe Lanvin looks, we broke down The 15 Stages of Pharrell’s Style.
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1. The "Skateboard P" Stage
Era Of Prominence: 2001-2002
Pharrell's style stood out from the jump. While the standard hip-hop uniform was baggy jeans, throwbacks, du-rags, and Jordans, he was rocking skate style before anyone else. At any point and time you could see him wearing tees from brands including Independent and Shortys, a custome N.E.R.D. trucker cap, baggy jeans, and a pair of Nike Dunks. This was a little over a decade ago, but now everyone seems to have caught up to his skate-inspired style.
2. The "From tha Chuuuch to da Palace" Stage
Era Of Prominence: 2003
2003 was a big year for Pharrell. Not only were 43 percent of the songs played on the radio produced by the Neptunes, Skateboard P started to build a casual wardrobe that went beyond skater gear. His go-to look was a blazer, an open button-up, and a pair of jeans. Sometimes he would throw on a Gucci scarf or some fur. Plenty of dudes still adopt this look as their go-to club attire to look dressy but still feel comfortable.
3. The "All-Over Prince" Stage
Era Of Prominence: 2004
Before A Bathing Ape became a big hit in the U.S. it was a brand streetwear heads would geek about on sneaker forums. Pharrell was one of the first major celebrities to really put BAPE on the map. And when it came stateside, you’d be hard-pressed to find a short line in front of Bape’s SoHo location on Saturdays. His close relationship with BAPE’s now retired head honcho, Nigo, afforded him access to all the exclusive pieces kids would line up days ahead for: Bape Stas, full-zip camo hoodies, and varsity jackets.
4. The "Ice Cream Man" Stage
Era Of Prominence: 2005-2006
Pharrell and Nigo's friendship turned into a full collaboration that started the two-headed streetwear monster Billionaire Boys Club/Ice Cream. The former offered a more toned down and casual streetwear line and the latter was a bit on the playful side. You couldn't find him in anything but his own brand during '05 to '06. He fully promoted items like Swarovski crystal BBC shirts that were going for $550 retail and Ice Cream shoes that came in all sorts of "flavors" including beepers, diamonds, and boom boxes.
5. The "Show You How to Hustle" Stage
Era Of Prominence: 2006- 2007
At this point, everyone in the hip-hop world was in a jewelry race—who could get the biggest, baddest, iciest chains? Of course Pharrell went ham and crushed everyone. His chain and pendants were covered in so much ice you could practically skate on the damn things. He had an estimated $1,000,000 worth of jewelry and nobody else was spending that kind of money on ice like that. Let's just say he shined on everyone, and even Ben Baller gave him some praise.
6. The "Swagger International" Stage
Era Of Prominence: Late 2007
Pharrell shed a couple streetwear clothes and dressed it up in late 2007. He was mostly seen at fashion shows or exclusive interviews rocking cleaned up ensembles. He favors tuxes over the suit and tie look, but when the time calls for it, he can rock either of the two looks. Even when he wore jeans with a suit jacket or a V-neck with a bow-tie, he somehow did it effortlessly.
7. The "Back to Basics" Stage
Era Of Prominence: 2008
Pharrell toured a whole lot in 2008 and that's why you could only find him in a T-shirt and jeans, plus a bubble jacket during the colder months. But there's no better way to be comfortable when you're on the road. At this period, he started to experiment with high and low fashion by mixing them together. This was just the beginning of the hi-low mix that he's come to perfect today. And who could forget that huge purple croc Hermès Birkin bag he pulled out? That bag alone could buy a nice BMW.
8. The "Red Bottom Stud" Stage
Era Of Prominence: 2009
Red-soled Louboutin shoes had women lining up everywhere, but it was Pharrell who put dudes up on the brand's studded sneakers and dress shoes. The punk-inspired kicks fit well with Skateboard P's personal style, and he was a big fan of all pairs. How'd he pull it off? He kept everything else simple.
9. The "Snowboard P" Stage
Era Of Prominence: Early 2010
You can't deny that Pharrell has been a trendsetter throughout his career. In early 2010, he pulled a style risk that's still too advanced for some. Skateboard P literally turned into Snowboard P when he was spotted (more than once) wearing Nike snowboard boots on the streets and red carpet events. Nobody else has dared to pull this look off...besides Lil Wayne of course.
10. The "Howdy, Pardner" Stage
Era Of Prominence: Mid-2010
Pharrell dug deep and found his inner John Wayne by incorporating a 10-gallon cowboy hat into his outfits. He also didn't go anywhere without pairing the hat with a tan Lanvin blazer. These days, plenty of brands are adding in large floppy hats into their runway looks. Coincidence? We think not.
11. The "Let Us Fray" Stage
Era Of Prominence: Late 2010
No celebrity has ever pulled off jorts (jean + shorts) better than Pharrell. He has made denim shorts a staple of his signature style. While they aren't for everyone, they are the perfect look to beat the heat this summer. If you want to try the look, cut up an old pair of jeans like this and rock 'em with boat shoes like P.
12. The "Formal Invite" Stage
Era Of Prominence: Early 2011
It’s rare to see Pharrell in a suit and tie. As for tuxedos, Pharrell seems like he was born to wear them. The fact that he can easily transition from street clothes to a tux is a sign of his versatile style. He can dress up and look sophisticated with the best of them. He even had his his mink dragging on the floor at one point—he was in Russia, and those winters call for a little fur.
13. The "Grunge Drill Sergeant" Stage
Era Of Prominence: Late 2011-2012
In this stage, Pharrell takes his unique hat obsession to another level. It didn't just end with that huge cowboy hat a year back. After that piece was retired, he took a captain hat and brought back a '90s trend by tying a flannel shirt around his waist. He also caught everyone's attention with his hand-drawn "Chanel" Timberland boots.
14. The "Green Hair Don't Care" Stage
Era of Prominence: 2012
He wasn't celebrating St. Patrick's Day, but Pharrell literally went green and dyed his hair the color of shamrocks. Staying true to his unpredictable style, he caught everyone by surprise when he showed up to Paris Fashion Week out of all places with green locks. Vogue’s Anna Wintour didn’t seem to mind, as she was seen chatting up with the super producer as they sat front row at Lanvin’s fashion show.
15. The "Lanvin Don" Stage
Era of Prominence: Early 2013-Present
One thing that hasn't changed since the beginning of his career is how he's always standing out from the rest of the hip-hop crowd. While everyone is adopting the street goth aesthetic and buying brands like Givenchy, Rick Owens, and Alexander Wang, he's keeping it classy and wearing head-to-toe Lanvin all year. There was no piece that he couldn’t rock, from the brand’s motorcycle jacket to a bad ass gingham print tux to a metallic ensemble.