Missy Elliott’s 90s Fashion Moments

Missy Elliott has received the 2019 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, an overdue recognition for an iconic rap star whose career spans three decades and earned 41 Video Music Award (VMA) nominations. A four-time Grammy awardee with 33 singles on the Hot 100 chart and two number one albums to her name, Missy made her mark through feminist lyrics that promoted body and sexual positivity while elevating hip-hop fashion with her creative sartorial choices like sparkly tracksuit and designer snow boots in “Supa Dupa Fly”, camouflage outfit in “Sock It 2 Me”, metallic silver look in “Get Ur Freak On”, her looks were always ahead of their time.

Sarah Elliott stands out among female rappers for her daring fashion choices and unapologetic approach, inspiring a generation of black women to not only carve out their own niche but embrace individual styles as well. To honor Elliott and her storied career, we have collected some of her greatest fashion looks over time.

Head-to-toe Adidas to embellished tracksuits and logo-embellished trenchcoats – her colorful looks match her musicality perfectly. Pairing signature sneakers with ripped jeans and matching tracksuits creates one of hip hop history’s most striking aesthetics.

Missy Elliott first made her mark in the late ’90s as a featured vocalist on remixes by other hip-hop stars such as Sean “Puffy” Combs (“Baby Boy”) and Gina Thompson (1996 hit, “The Things That You Do”. However, Missy truly emerged with her own solo debut in 1999 with the release of “Supa Dupa Fly.” This marked the beginning of Missy’s superstardom today.

Elliott made her mark on male-dominated rap world with her debut album’s hit single, “Get Ur Freak On,” becoming an instantaneous success and quickly becoming a household name with women of all ages, thanks to infectious beats that made her standout from male competitors. Elliott’s catchy hooks proved extremely addictive for listeners while her flirtatious lyrics, playful verses and stylish attire resonated strongly.

Missy’s look is truly iconic – from her iconic trash bag jumpsuit in “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” to the sleek tracksuit she donned to tape the Late Show with David Letterman in 2004. While Missy’s music and videos helped set her apart from the competition, red carpet appearances and collaborations with other female rappers gave an impression that she was an excellent team player. Additionally, her strong advocacy of women’s empowerment throughout her career has always been at the heart of her mission statement.