Image via Complex Original
Trying to name people who are influenced by Prince's style is trickier than you might think, considering the man is an absolute legend as both a musician and a fashion icon. However, Prince's out-there style was so uniquely his. It's not that surprising that others don't the chops—or courage—to pull off ostentatious purple suits, a flurry of gold chains and canes, ruffled shirts that look pulled straight out of those aging portraits of kings, and a yellow laser-cut and assless suit. These are only a couple of the singer's more daring fashion moments that made him one-of-a-kind.
Finding someone who can carry the torch of Prince's fashion legacy simply isn't possible. However, we can still see traces of his inimitable style rubbing off on some of his contemporaries.
Lenny Kravitz
Prince's hyper-sexual style clearly infected Lenny Kravitz' wardrobe. Although Kravitz isn't always as daring with colors like Prince was, there were moments, like the metallic suit he wore backstage at Tommy Hilfiger or the high-heel platforms he worn on tour, that make it clear Kravitz had an eye on what Prince had an eye for.
Andre 3000
The better-dressed half of Outkast is known for his flamboyant style and tendency to rock a cane. Prince knew how to incorporate a cane into a look better than everyone, though (see his entrance at the 2015 Grammys). Andre has said before that Prince was the greatest influence on his music. "Michael Jackson was great," the rapper told Esquire in 2014. "But Prince is heavy. When I say heavy, I mean encompassing an entire world instead of one feeling." It's clear this influence carried over to Andre 3000's style.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga garners a lot of buzz for getting ridiculous with her wardrobe. The meat suit was a nice stunt; we'll give you that, Gaga. But Prince is the, err, king of making everyone in the room go slack-jawed as soon as he enters. Gaga would be right at home with Prince's zebra-print panties, his sequined suits, or his third-eye sunglasses. Let's be fair, though: Her laser cut out look doesn't hold a candle to Prince's.
Pharrell
Prince wasn't always about pushing the envelope using his sexuality. Prince could move the needle whether he was wearing nothing at all or fully dressed in his own unique spin on a suit. Pharrell has taken a couple pages out of Prince's playbook by never settling for the typical suit. Skateboard P famously wore a 3M x adidas suit to the 2015 Grammys and before that wore a short suits in camo and black. Pharrell also has his i am OTHER label, which preaches individuality and celebrates difference—something Prince paved the way for with his always-true-to-himself outfits.
Janelle Monae
The similarities to singer Janelle Monae are born out of Prince's own interest in the artist. Prince called her the best artist of 2013 and even took her on tour, where they clearly swapped wardrobe tips. The then-emerging artist took on the legend's flamboyant style, mixed in a little James Brown, and cut it all with her own undeniable sense of individuality.
Justin Timberlake
The influence Prince had on Justin Timberlake is more clear in the latter's music. JT even said, upon Prince's passing, "He's somewhere within every song I've ever written." His style influence is less visible on a day-to-day basis, but when Timberlake felt like taking a chance, you can see some Prince in that style DNA. The electric blue suit the former N*SYNC-er wore to the iHeartRadio awards stirs up memories of the one Prince wore during his Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Young Thug
Whether or not Young Thug acknowledges Prince as a predecessor is irrelevant. The rapper's gender-bending style simply could not exist if Prince hadn't been pushing those boundaries for decades. There's a lyric in Thugger's song "Serious," in which he says he dresses like a prince in reference to his more feminine and challenging styles. This is probably not an allusion to the singer, but still: We like to think of prince here with a capital P.