Lil Nas X has rapidly established himself as one of the most thrilling presences in music and fashion. Lil Nas X exploded onto the national stage with his viral crossover hit “Old Town Road.” Still, he solidified his status as a trendsetter in country rap (“Panini”) and his big, unapologetic approach to fashion. His style is a colorful amalgamation of out-there outfits, nonbinary sartorial choices, and a reference to cowboy-dom and haute couture, all adding to his singular persona.
The Style Evolution of Lil Nas X
Red Carpet Royalty: ShowstShowstoppingts
Lil Nas X’s red carpet appearances are always unforgettable. He is known for his over-the-top, avant-garde fashion sense.
2020 MTV Video Music Awards: Lil Nas X turned heads at the 2020 VMAs in a custom Versace outfit — an attention-grabbing, crystal-embellished purple cowboy hat and matching jacket with a deep-V neckline. His outfit, which melded Western and haute couture elements, struck the right note of his musical style and fashion-forward sensibility.
2021 Met Gala: One of his most significant fashion moments came during the 2021 Met Gala when Lil Nas X wore three show-stopping pieces by Versace. The first look was a royal-inspired cape embellished with gold. The other was a metallic bodysuit that was futuristic and regal at once. And, in his last look, he wore a crystal-encrusted suit of jewels, an outfit fit perfectly for the evening’s theme, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.”
These appearances signaled the rapper’s transformation from a budding talent to a high-fashion icon whose red-carpet moments have become event darlings.
The Trendsetter Effect
Lil Nas X has emerged as an essential fashion force, making trends that reach well beyond his music videos.
Western Meets Couture: Drawing inspiration from his “Old Town Road” origins, Lil Nas X often fuses cowboy-inspired pieces—fringe, leather, boots—with high-end fabrics like satin, velvet, and metallic finishes. His ability to transform Western imagery into runway-ready looks opens a new chapter of fashion that’s both brash and revelatory of his variety of style influences.
Gender Fluidity: Lil Nas X is an outspoken champion of self-expression and freedom in fashion. He’s unapologetic about his fluidity, and with each outfit he wears, he makes a statement on gender norms and their limitations. Whether donning dresses, skirts, or androgynous silhouettes, he shows that fashion is a vehicle for expression, not a constraint.
Those bold decisions have inspired fans and fashion enthusiasts to celebrate their uniqueness and venture into unknown styles.
Behind the Seams: Notable Collaborations
As his popularity has exploded, Lil Nas X has forged collaborations with designers that have helped raise his fashion game.
Working with Versace: Lil Nas X’s relationship with Versace has been key to his style evolution. Their collaboration perfectly matches his love for bold, statement-making clothing with a heritage brand known for its iconic Italian craftsmanship. The rapper tends to sport Versace on the red carpet and for performances, from custom-cut suits to adventurous, tailored statement pieces highlighting his risky side.
Balmain Collaboration: Lil Nas X worked with Balmain and it was one of his collaborations when he worked with the brand on his 2020 song “Holidays” music video. He wore a luxury, hot-off-the-runway suit designed by the Parisian fashion house, featuring intricate embroidery and glittering details. The partnership further cemented his reputation for marrying streetwear and high fashion.
Lil Nas X’s fashion collaborations show that his vision matches some of the industry’s recognizable names, enabling him to explore.
View this post on Instagram
Evolution of Style: From the Cowboy to the Couture King
Lil Nas X’s fashion evolution is a testament to his artistic and public persona development. We’ve watched his style evolve — from whimsical, country-inspired designs to high-fashion pieces worthy of a global superstar.
Early Days: When Lil Nas X hit the mainstream with “Old Town Road,” he was deeply into the country aesthetic—long shirts, denim, and cowboy boots. His style was fresh and brash, and he was attuned to the viral life of his breakout hit.
Mid-Career: As he revised his sound, Lil Nas X also revised his look. He started wearing more prominent and bolder ensembles, adding bright colors, embracing unusual textures, and trying out skirts and dresses. His fashion mirrored his artistic evolution, in which he embraced high fashion but always remained in contact with the realities from which he came.
Present Day: Nowadays, Lil Nas X’s style is a refined mix of rock star edge and high-fashion couture. His sartorial outings on the red carpet and in music videos have solidified his role as one of the most compelling stylists in the business.
Signature Styles: What Defines Lil Nas X’s Fashion? Several ingredients to Lil Nas X’s aesthetic makes him distinct from his peers:
Dramatic Tailoring: Lil Nas X takes a uniquely elaborate approach to tailoring, favoring oversized silhouettes with effects. Hezergives structured garments a whimsical, majestic a, be it a sculptural cape or a customized oversized blazerpproach.
Cowtouchnge jackets, cowboy boots, a sexy cowboy in leather pants — Lil Nas X fuses Western wear into his contemporary looks.
Playful Accessories: Lil Nas X isn’t shy about accessories. Whether oversized belts, chunky necklaces, or statement hats, he always knows how to wear a signature piece that lifts his outfit.
And because he expertly employs them, they’ve made his style recognizable and iconic.
Street Style Inspiration
There’s no way you’ve missed Lil Nas X making some big fashion choices regarding streetwear. He rocks streetwear off the red carpet with the same style.
High-low Streetwear: Lil Nas X commonly wears oversized graphic tees, distressed denim, and sneakers, which give him a mix of casualism and glam. He also likes to go the opposite route, mixing casual streetwear basics with cosmopolitan touches, like a designer shoe or tailor-made jacket.
Bold Hues and Prints: Lil Nas X’s street style, like his stage and red carpet looks, celebrates bright colors, loud prints, and playful patterns. That colorful style matches his larger-than-life personality on and off the stage.
Sneakers: Lil Nas X has a penchant for high-end sneakers like his contemporaries. He seamlessly lessly combines them with streetwear, from Nike to Yeezy to limited-edition collaborations.
Fans seeking to imitate his street style can adopt bold hues, flowing shapes, and statement accessories into their collections.
View this post on Instagram
Fashion in Music Videos: Telling a Story Through Style
Lil Nas X’s sartorial choices are not simply statements—they’ve factored into the story of his music. His music videos are a visual feast, with fashion integral to the storytelling.
“Montero (Call Me by Your Name)”: One of the most talked-about music videos of021, “Montero” included many daring and showstopping elements, from the pink, ultra-glam look to the infamous golden armor., Ll Nas X used fashion to represent his path of self-acceptance and freedom.
“Holiday”: In the “Holiday” video, Lil Nas X sported a metallic, futuristic look that matched the upbeat, celebratory vibe of the song. The fashion was fantastical, offering fans a glimpse into the whimsy and risk-taking of the rapper’s mind.
These music video looks help cement Lil Nas X’s status as a cultural icon whose fashion choices are often steeped in more profound meaning.
Memorable Performance Outfits
Lil Nas X’s performances are as fashion-filled as his moments on the red carpet. His stagewear is meant to wow and wow, helping him put on memorable shows.
“Saturday Night Live” Performance: When Lil Nas X performed “Montero” on SNL in 2021, he wore a custom Balenciaga red leather suit featuring dramatic shoulders and sleek details. It was an apt outfit for the bold energy of the performance ahead and a statement of liberation not to be apologetic about fashion.
BET Awards 2021: At the BET Awards, he wore an eye-popping Versace jumpsuit, which married contemporary details with retro influences. Up it in the future, but also the past, ballots for his willingness to mix and match Roma styles and trends.
Each show is an opportunity to play with style and challenge personal limits onstage.
Conclusion
Few folks are more exciting and innovative when it comes to contemporary fashion levels than Lil Nas X. His style evolution — from country-rap muse to high-fashion runway magnet — has turned him into what it means to be a modern icon. His fearlessness with his looks and his willingness to bend conventional ideas of gender and fashion has made him an icon in music and fashion as well. Lil Nas X’s aesthetic only seems to get sharper, and even more significantly, his reach will likely expand as he pulls music and fashion further and further ahead.
