By Caitlin Phan
Drake released the highly anticipated music video for his wildly popular single “Hotline Bling” on Oct. 19, launching thousands of memes, Vines and GIFs. Drake’s dance moves warrant at least one full viewing of the music video, but his outfits will make you want to watch it a dozen times more. Over the years, we’ve been lucky enough to witness his style evolution from a basic, cookie cutter rapper to an artist with a signature look. So to commemorate the release of his new music video, we’ve rounded up four of Drake’s most iconic styles.
Degrassi Drake
Before he was Drake, he was just a kid named Aubrey playing Jimmy Brooks on “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” This t-shirt, gray sweatpants and white sneakers wouldn’t look out of place in his world famous rapper’s closet now. Teenaged Aubrey hasn’t developed that signature Drake swagger yet, and we can all relate, making this his most endearing and iconic look.
Signature Drake
Drake’s uniform consists of a hoodie, sweatpants and Timberlands — a combination that shouldn’t logically work but somehow does on him. It’s become his signature look and he nails it every time, whether he’s going out for dinner or gracing a magazine cover. His September cover shoot for The FADER was no exception. The elegant cream coat layered over his monochrome gray sweats is unexpected but feels utterly familiar, a hybrid of lowbrow and highbrow style.
Turtleneck Drake
Drake has been upping his sweater game lately, and no one’s complaining. He wears a luxe cream turtleneck from The Elder Statesman and a male model-worthy smolder on the October cover of W Magazine. Drake and a turtleneck sweater is always a winning combination.
“Hotline Bling” Drake
Drake dancing in a James Turrell-esque dreamscape wearing an Acne Studios sweater, sweatpants and Timberlands is an unforgettable image, and the Internet has immortalized it. The sweater is high fashion, but the sweats, Timbs and questionable choreography keep Drake grounded. Of course Drake has to represent his own brand and record label, October’s Very Own, in the video. The owl has become part of his legacy and image, always tying him back to his Toronto roots. The OVO hoodie is paired with sweats and sneakers, allowing him the freedom to showcase his Vine famous dance moves.
Time after time, Drake proves that crafting and honing your personal style is a lifelong process. He makes sweats and Timbs seem high fashion but wears designer labels, too, and we can only assume his aesthetic will continue to evolve as his music does. His style isn’t so avant-garde to alienate his fan base, but it’s still more sophisticated than your average rapper’s wardrobe. So average rappers: refer to the Hotline Bling music video if you’re ever feeling sartorially uninspired.
