Image via Complex Original
Pharrell Williams got noticed through his production with The Neptunes in the early 2000s. Soon after, he branched out with N.E.R.D. and his own solo career. The more of the spotlight he tasted, the more his personal taste changed, that definitely applies to his style, too.
While he was known for being an early adopter of A Bathing Ape and being really good homies with Nigo, who helped him launch his own Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream lines, Pharrell adapted with the times too. He knows how to look good in menswear, and enlisted Mark McNairy to design his new Bee Line for Billionaire Boys Club collection. Let's take a look at his greatest hits, style-wise. These are Pharrell's 50 Best Outfits.
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50. Vogue Russia
When: 2008
Streetwear down to his boxers (probably), adding accessories like the iced-out G-Shock watch really make this outfit
49. CFDA Awards
When: June 2012
Love it or hate it, this outfit got people talking. Whether it was the size of the bowtie or the fact that he's rocking shorts, this Lanvin tuxedo worn to fashion's equivalent of the Oscars was noticed. You can't knock his dedication to the black beanie, either.
48. Mastercard Event
When: 2004
N.E.R.D. in full force, while Pharrell rocks a matching camo hat and hoodie underneath an appropriate "P" varsity jacket. Check the fit on those jeans, and the BAPE kicks.
47. N.E.R.D. Tour Denmark
When: 2009
The camo blazer and plaid button down provide a great contrast to this concert get-up.
46. "Say Something" Music Video Shoot
When: 2006
Looking every bit the crispy gentleman we know him as today, what dates this look is the not-so-subtle Louis Vuitton belt.
45. "Rock Star" Music Video
When: 2002
Pharrell established a skater-inspired aesthetic from early on. From the iconic N.E.R.D. mesh trucker hat to the memorable Shorty's block logo graphic T-shirt, the video for "Rock Star" showed that Pharrell didn't want to look like every other figure in hip-hop at the time. It also embodied the typical hipster outfit years before Ashton Kutcher ever touched a Von Dutch trucker hat.
44. Moncler Paris
When: 2010
In Paris debuting his collaboration with Moncler, one of the more memorable pieces was this down vest that resembled a bulletproof vest.
43. Nylon Guys Cover
When: March 2009
For his Nylon Guys cover, Pharrell goes out of this world with cosmic printed graphic tees and pants, anchored by a leather motorcycle jacket.
42. Miami
When: 2009
Pharrell begins to channel a little nautical inspiration, which would influence his style in 2010. Peep this yacht-ready outfit of a Breton-stripe shirt complete with denim cut-offs and laceless plimsolls.
41. Serpentine Gallery Party
When: 2009
Channelling an equestrian vibe, Pharrell dons a newsboy cap and knee-high boots for this outdoor soiree.
40. Paris
When: 2008
Pharrell dons a velvet sportcoat, slippers, a bowtie, and dark jeans for the launch of his Blason jewelry collection with Louis Vuitton. This mix of high class and rugged clothing would continue to reverberate throughout his style choices.
39. Versailles Castle
When: 2010
Pharrell is stunting with those medals on his BBC shirt jacket. The newsboy cap and ice cream bar critter pants are also dope. In the background, he's clearly hanging out with Takashi Murakami. Dude is on another level.
38. Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro Pre-Ascent Event
When: 2009
Pharrell still rocks leather motorcycle jackets and hoodies today, but this outfit archetype remains one of his go-tos. Singer Rhea doesn't look half-bad, either.
37. Despicable Me Premiere
When: 2010
After scoring Despicable Me, Pharrell shows up to the film premiere in a camo shirt, cutoffs and Band of Outsiders for Sperry Topsider kicks. It's a good balance of casual and preppy, but definitely keeps his street cred intact, it's a look he rocked often in 2010.
36. A Bathing Ape Fall/Winter 2008 Catalog
When: 2008
Pharrell's constant co-signs of BAPE led to this memorable gig as a lookbook model. Check the shark hoodie and golden BAPEstas!
35. Vogue Editorial
When: 2006
Pharrell starts rocking white tees, boat shos, and leather motorcycle jackets in the pages of Vogue.
34. W Magazine Shoot
When: July 2011
In this W shoot, Pharrell let the mag into his Miami home, where they captured him in a variety of outfits. This particular kit, where he's donning a nautical-theme bandana, rugged unlaced boots, and a leather bomber jacket, stands out as the coolest.
33. Louis Vuitton Menswear Show
When: 2009
Here, Pharrell stunts in a creme colored cardigan. This kit was flicked up a lot as he posted up outside the Louis Vuitton menswear show in Paris.
32. Victoria's Secret Show
When: 2010
Pharrell rolls up the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in capri camo pants, a BBC fitted, torn denim jacket, and a Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton backpack. The smirk? That's because he knows he's the only dude that could pull this off.
31. BAPE Catalog
When: 2007
Pharrell shows off his custom Jacob x KAWS x BAPE chain in this photo, while keeping it simple in a BAPE crewneck.
30. Vogue Photo Shoot
When: December 2012
For this Vogue editorial, Mr. Williams' style finally comes full circle. Reconciling menswear basics with his colorful streetwear roots, this outfit shows a man who has embraced his style choices past and present, and found an awesome balance of it all. He's maintained the cropped pants and dyed hair, and re-calibrated the volume of his overall ensemble so every pop comes off as nuance rather than nonsense.
29. LA Film Festival
When: 2007
When Pharrell dresses up like this, he absolutely knocks it out of the park.
28. "Lapdance" Music Video
When: 2001
The vid for the In Search Of... single features Pharrell in a variety of polo shirts, but what stands out the most is the pink-and-green striped polo, paired with a Rolling Stones trucker hat. Like a lot of his videos in this era, Pharrell also liked being filmed while riding his BMX bike.
27. Paper Magazine Shoot
When: 2010
Pharrell takes a break from his colorul garb for this editorial, where he dons a black fedora, denim shirt, and black parka for a page.
26. Maybach Dinner in Miami
When: November 2011
While in Miami for Art Basel, Pharrell chopped it up with the MMG crew at a dinner. Ever on his military-inspired kick, Pharrell dons a captain's hat but adorns it with Mickey Mouse pins. He mixes it up with a moto jacket and a flannel shirt tied around his waist.
25. Los Angeles
When: 2009
This shot Pharrell is showing off his Croc-skin BAPE kicks, customized with Spongebob Squarepants' face on the heel. That purple Croc-skin bag is also out of control.
24. "Maybe" Music Video
When: 2004
In this video, Pharrell rocks a lot of cool kits, ranging from a bunch of BBC T-shirts to a custom varsity jacket. What really stands out is this military jacket, which hearkens to crooners like John Lennon and Michael Jackson. When accessorized with a white piano, Pharrell really embodies the musical icon he's known as today.
23. Galerie Perrotin
When: March 2012
Pharrell checks back into Galerie Perrotin to hang out with the work of artist Daniel Arsham. That topcoat and hoodie game is top-notch.
22. Bullet Magazine Editorial
When: September 2012
For this Bullet editorial, Pharrell dresses down while keeping in classy in a polka dot robe and tweed lounge pants.
21. "Sooner Or Later" Music Video
When: 2009
While Pharrell looked pretty dope in his custodial coveralls and Vans, he really kills it in the tiger camo pants and short sleeve BAPE oxford. He's also rocking some very of-the-moment in 2009 aviator sunglasses. This was the type of outfit you saw him wearing and thought to yourself "damn, I think I need a pair of camo pants!"
20. London Levi's Store
When: 2010
Pharrell rolls up to an event at London's Levi's store in style—a Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton backpack, bright red kicks, and a denim-on-denim BBC outfit, accessorized with a slouchy BBC beanie. He definitely knows what's good with pops of colro.
19. Lanvin Show, Paris Fashion Week
When: 2012
Pharell stops by the Lanvin show at Paris Fashion Week rocking leather shorts, a BBC mac jacket, unlaced boots, a graphic tee, and the green hair and beanie that have become consistent style choices for him lately.
18. Los Angeles
When: 2009
Pharrell hangs out with artist KAWS while rocking a straw hat, camo shorts, and a simple heather gray T-shirt. He switches it up by pairing it all with an unlaced pair of hardy-looking brogue boots.
17. Tank Chair Promo Shoot
When: 2010
In 2010, Pharrell debuted his Tank Chair, a tribute to Eames furniture. In these shots, he rocks a Ralph Lauren Suisse vest, floral Nike Snowboarding Zoom Force 1 boots (years before Lil Wayne did it), a straw hat, faded jeans, and a blue plaid shirt. He'd also rock this same outfit to the NRJ Music Awards.
16. Fly or Die Era
When: 2004
When Fly or Die first came out, Pharrell established himself not only as a streetwear icon, but a sex symbol to his countless female fans. Building on that, N.E.R.D.'s sophomore album was a conscious effort to brand him and the band. Pharrell was nary seen with a shirt on, but still kept it fresh with BAPE shoes, camo shorts, and numerous tattoos—which have since been removed.
15. Billionaire Boys Club New York Store
When: 2007
Pharrell and Nigo pose in the BBC store in New York, the chunky cardigan and spaceman jeans are classic.
14. Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor 2 Launch Party
When: 2012
Not every guy can pull off a belted cardigan, Doc Martens, and fedora, but Pharrell does it here. Extra style points for the pop of camo on his right knee.
13. Complex Editorial
When: 2006
Continuing to push the printed hoodie trend, here he pairs a rather wavy-looking hoodie with Ice Cream sneakers and denim shorts.
12. Obama Fundraiser
When: August 2011
Pharrell attends a fundraiser for President Obama decked out in head-to-toe Ralph Lauren-and kills it.
11. Honeyee Editorial
When: 2009
The bowtie, overcoat, cuffed selvedge jeans and hiking boots show that Pharrell is willing to take some style risks. This flick is one of many from a BBC editorial in Honeyee.
10. MTV Europe Music Awards Copenhagen
When: 2006
Well before Weezy started rocking moon boots, Pharrell was all over the trapper hat trend and furry kicks. No one will forget how awesome and ridiculous this outfit is.
9. New York City
When: 2012
Pharrell rocks drop crotch denim BBC pants, an unbuttoned flannel shirt, and customized Timberland boots. The entire look is kind of grunge while still very streetwear-friendly.
8. Galerie Perotin
When: 2008
Pharrell smartens up in a nice suit, while he keeps this playful in his Spongebob Squarepants socks while sitting in his Perspective chair.
7. Los Angeles
When: 2006
Evisu jeans, belted cell phone case, and a red BAPE camo hoodie. This sums up the point when Pharrell's star was on the rise, and kids started flocking to BAPE and copping the line's hoodies. Pharrell was the dude who put them on it.
6. Metropolitan Museum "Wild Fashion Untamed" Gala
When: 2004
Unlike his 2011 appearance at Russia's Dolce & Gabanna gala, here Pharrell looks mad regal in his fur coat. When you're balling this hard, you don't need a tie.
5. Pori Jazz Festival
When: 2010
At this point in time, Pharrell has his uniform down to a T: all-over print shorts (in this instance they're by Kaws' brand Original Fake), plain T-shirt, and a bandana around his neck (this particular one is by RRL). The fact that he's finishing off his kit with a sick pair of Nike wovens just seals the deal that this outfit is awesome.
4. Glamour Women of the Year Awards
When: 2012
Dressed to the 11s for Glamour's Women of The Year Awards, Pharrell cleans up nicely in a tuxedo. He also knows how to rock a Movember mustache and clearly doesn't mind wearing sockless loafers.
3. Miami Design District
When: 2011
Pharrell was often seen rocking this awesome red motorcycle jacket, and he kept rocking his captain's hat as well. Here, in Miami's Design District, he paired it with a shirt tied around his waist, a trend he pioneered. This was one of the current looks that made stylish waves with critics and fans alike.
2. Billionaire Boys Club Season 4
When: 2008
This outfit is the height of Pharrell as a BBC style icon, the all-over print waffle hoodie, the Ice Cream graphic tee and hat, the N.E.R.D. chain, and matching denim outfits capture him at his best.
1. Magazine Photoshoot
When: 2004
Pharrell rocks head-to-toe BAPE while nailing this skateboarding trick. The beanie, hoodie, and jeans are a style signature for him right now.