Rapper and style icon A$AP Rocky opens up about his personal connection to fashion, collaborations with Rihanna and Virgil Abloh, and his bold approach to breaking traditional gender norms in style.
A$AP Rocky, the rapper and fashion icon, has long intertwined his personal memories with his sartorial choices, a connection he openly shares. Speaking to Vogue, one of the May cover stars and a co-chair for the 2025 Met Gala recounted, “I remember years by outfits. When you tell me [what I had on], I remember.” This deep association between time and attire underscores his influential role in both music and fashion.
Fashion has played a pivotal role in Rocky’s identity well before his high-profile appearances with Rihanna, such as their joint Met Gala walks and the celebrity maternity shoot that announced her first pregnancy. Their collaboration dates back to 2013, with his “Fashion Killa” music video, which marked an early intersection of their creative worlds. Reflecting on casting Rihanna in the video, Rocky stated, “I just hit up the flyest chick that I knew. I’ve got the perfect song. It’s called ‘Fashion Killa’—I’m basically talking about you; I drop your name in it.” He also noted a longstanding mutual recognition of their connection: “She knew she was my boo back then too.”
The “Fashion Killa” video was also notably directed by the late Virgil Abloh, an influential figure in fashion and design. Rocky described their working relationship as seamless and aligned, saying, “Working with Virgil was easy. We were kindred spirits. I think that him being in the position he was in, it was inevitable for him to do great things.” Beyond Abloh, Rocky counts prominent fashion designers among his close friends, including Alessandro Michele and Jonathan Anderson. On his relationship with Anderson, he mentioned, “I pick his brain from time to time whenever I get to speak to him,” highlighting the collaborative exchange of ideas within the fashion milieu.
Rocky is candid about the fashion risks he has taken, some of which have sparked debate among fans and social media audiences. Reflecting on a 2017 yellow Balenciaga puffer vest he wore in Milan, he admitted, “I ain’t gonna lie, they roasted me on the internet for this. This outfit was kinda fire if you think about it…Nah, I was wilin’. That’s my Flavor Flav era right there, you know what I’m saying? It was tacky but fly.” This example underscores his willingness to experiment and push boundaries in style, even if his choices sometimes divide opinion.
When his fashion statements resonate, they often challenge traditional norms. Rocky discussed his “babushka era,” characterized by wearing floral Gucci scarves tied around his head reminiscent of a grandmother’s style. He explained, “This was a daring fashion statement. I chose to embrace being a grandma’s boy. I’m a firm believer that you can’t use clothes as masculinity anymore. Those lines are blurred as well, so I like to play with that. And I thought it was unfair that guys couldn’t wear a silk scarf on their head with glasses.” Through such choices, Rocky emphasizes a desire to redefine gendered fashion codes and embrace a broader spectrum of stylistic expression.
The Vogue profile offers insight into A$AP Rocky’s ongoing impact on fashion, revealing a personal philosophy that embraces risk-taking, collaborative creativity, and a blurring of traditional boundaries affecting both identity and style.
Source: Noah Wire Services
