Meet the Stylists Behind Hip-Hop’s Best Dressed Dandies
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Henson / @matthew.henson1/7Matthew Henson
Famous for Dressing: A$AP Rocky@matthew.hensonUnder the vision of the New Jersey native and former Complex editor, A$AP Rocky has transformed into a walking editorial. As the current face of Dior Homme, the rapper hit Fashion Week in Dior’s slick black suits with pins dotting the lapel and “mosh pit”–patterned denim, while at this year’s Met Gala, he donned blacked-out denim on denim from Raf Simons’s 205 Calvin Klein collection. Henson chooses similarly luxe items for Rocky to wear off-duty, like a J.W.Anderson teddy bear fur designed in collaboration with Rocky’s creative team, AWGE.
Photo: Courtesy of Stephanie Hall2/7Olori Swank
Famous for Dressing: Rae Sremmurd@oloriswankLos Angeles–based Swank is a master at accessorizing for brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi of Rae Sremmurd, elevating their laid-back style with energetic extras like candy-color Cartier sunglasses and furry Gucci slides. Alessandro Michele is a favorite for his sense of color: For a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, Lee sported a whimsical pink Gucci top hat and Jxmmi bounced around in a long-haired, banana-yellow fur that had as much impact as the duo’s high-octane performance itself.
Photo: Courtesy of Wiz Khalifa/@Wiz Khalifa3/7Lauren Matos
Famous for Dressing: Wiz Khalifa@lauren.matosMatos has been dressing Khalifa since 2015, and in that time, she has elevated the Pittsburgh rapper from skater kid to consummate best dressed list headliner. Khalifa’s tall, slender model proportions make him ideal for tailored suits, like the black-and-white Thom Browne tailcoat and cropped trousers he wore to this year’s Met Gala. Matos often pairs Khalifa’s favorite “party shirts” (silky patterned button-downs from designers like Dries Van Noten) with Saint Laurent denim—a perfect fit for the rapper, thanks to the lengthy hems. And accessories like Gucci loafers and a vintage gold Rolex make for the ultimate DILF swag.
Photo: Courtesy of Stefon Allen / @zoedupree4/7Zoe Dupree
Famous for Dressing: Young Thug@zoedupreeChances are, anything you’ve seen Young Thug wear, he’s probably one of the first. And that’s because Dupree tirelessly hunts for unconventional finds like rainbow furs, cow-print jackets, and metallic bombers from emerging designers on Instagram. For the Atlanta-based stylist, there are no rules when dressing Young Thug, who is as comfortable in Fendi and Alexander McQueen as he is in a simple gold beanie and Champion sweatpants. Dupree recently outfitted him in a flower-appliquéd Moschino tuxedo jacket accessorized with red Princess Leia buns and a collarbone dripping in diamonds.
Photo: Courtesy of / @zoecostello5/7Zoe Costello
Famous for Dressing: Migos@zoecostelloThe British stylist is a wizard with combining luxe textures and patterns to indulge the decadent style of rap trio Migos, comprised of members Quavo, Takeoff, and Offset. Whether she’s slipping Quavo into a ’70s-inspired floral blazer by Roberto Cavalli or pairing Offset with a pink satin Fear of God bomber, Costello keeps the group in high-energy separates that match their flashy personas. For a recent performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she dressed the trio in a head-turning combination of pastel furs by Landlord, Oakley goggles, and patent leather pants. And for this year’s Met Gala, the trio accentuated their crisp black Versace tuxedos with their signature heaps of diamond Cuban-link chokers for the red carpet before changing into vinyl Comme des Garçons slickers for their performance.