Whether he’s on-stage or off-duty, Kanye West has always been something of an exhibitionist - afterall, this is a man who has directly compared himself to Jesus. However, his conviction is equally strong when it comes to fashion, not just by doing things like referring to American design legend Ralph Lauren as his “daddy” (bold), but also by having one of the most recognisable and successful personal styles today.
West has a proven ability to forecast trends and new labels before they have arrived on the fashion scene (high end sportswear on the red carpet, for example has seemingly erupted because of Kanye) and, because of this he’s worked with Nike, Adidas, APC, Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Guiseppe Zanotti - all preparing him quite nicely for launching his own Yeezy line of clothes and sell-out trainers (now in its third season).
So what is it that makes Kanye West one of the best-dressed men in the world? While he generally tends to favour neutral colours (camel, stone, black and khaki are his go-tos), he also isn’t afraid to make bold moves within that framework. That’s not just adding a splash of camouflage, but also going for items in unusual materials: leather trousers, velour joggers, shearling sweatshirts.
What’s more, he’s a master of making an outfit that would look casual on anyone else, into something far sleeker and smarter thanks to a couple of cool menswear tricks. Better yet, it’s all advice you can steal (and execute easily) even if you’re not a multi-million dollar rapper married to one of the most powerful women on social media (shout out to Kim Kardashian West).
Kanye West fashion: His 3 best menswear moves...
Layering is something that people traditionally do to keep warm. Not Kanye West. In classic Yeezy style, he adds a game-changing touch to the way he layers his clothes. Rather than opting for classic looks whereby upper layers are longer in length than the shorter layers underneath, West chooses to reverse this, wearing shorter denim or leather jackets over longer, drop-waist T-shirts.
When he’s not wearing a pair of his coveted Yeezy Boosts, Kanye favours a pair of Chelsea boots. ‘Ye proves that even the most straightforward outfit like a T-shirt and jeans can instantly be given a smart, rock ‘n’ roll upgrade with the addition of these.
All black everything has long been a go to for many men at the forefront of the fashion industry - and Kanye's no exception. However, he is not afraid to take this a step further and embrace an all-white or all-velour outfit either.
Read more: All of Kanye West's best looks
