On the Streets, Stage, or the Red Carpet, Cardi B’s Style Always Makes a Statement
Rapper, actress, and all-around cultural phenomenon Cardi B has had an incredible career trajectory. For Bronx natives and the Latinx community in particular, watching her rise from Vine comedian to Love & Hip-Hop star to Grammy-winning rapper inspires a groundswell of pride. Her music is uplifting, indulgent, and speaks to the truth of women’s sexuality in a way that is honest and celebratory.
Her style reflects her music powerfully. Cardi B loves bright colors and statement looks, taking up the female hip-hop tradition of experimenting with fashion in artistic, eye-catching magnificence. Infusing sexuality in her looks, she glorifies her curves with cut-outs, plunging necklines, and crop tops that demand our attention. But in the years since she’s become a global superstar, Cardi has also become a muse to many fashion designers, like Thom Browne and Marc Jacobs.
While her style has become more splashy as her fame has grown, she’s also stuck to a few constants. Cardi loves vintage shapes and silhouettes; she’s played with midi dresses, sleek mod bob hair styles, and giant gowns, in a nod to the Latinx quinceñera tradition. At her first Grammys appearance in 2018, after “Bodak Yellow” took over the world, she was a princess vision in a cool white Armani gown with layers of tulle. In 2019, at the next Grammy Awards, she won that coveted golden phonograph in an archival white Mugler with fringed gloves that reached down to the ground. Since then, Cardi has hardly stepped on a red carpet without making a statement, and as she continues to shatter barriers for rappers and Latinx women, we’re keeping track of her groundbreaking fashions and ever-evolving style.
Cardi wore a dress covered in thousands of hair clips by Dilara Findikoglu to the 2023 VMAs.
When Cardi left her hotel ahead of the 2023 Met Gala, she did so in a plunging Miss Sohee dress featuring an embellished pink bustier and tulle-covered addition on her back.
By the time she arrived to the event, however, the rapper had changed into a black and white Chenpeng Studio gown paying homage to Karl Lagerfeld and the Chanel camellia.
But two looks were not enough for Cardi, and she ended the night in a dramatic, pink and black houndstooth dress by Richard Quinn.
You may be surprised to learn that this corseted, draped dress is Robert Wun, as it doesn’t feature the peplum or pleating we’ve come to expect from the designer.
Cardi looked like a winner the second she stepped on the Grammys red carpet thanks to her sculptural Gaurav Gupta Couture dress.
While the rapper went very glamorous for the actual Grammys, at the preceding gala, Cardi opted for an edgier leather and lace look, courtesy of Roberto Cavalli.
Cardi B was covered in medusa motifs when she wore an Atelier Versace gown to the Met Gala in 2022.
Despite its bright color and shine, this Sol by Irena Soprano dress is fairly tame for Cardi.
Cardi started off her hosting stint at the 2021 AMAs in a Schiaparelli haute couture dress, complete with a gold mask.
Cardi B steps out in Paris on September 30th, 2021 in a fully studded and spiked outfit from Richard Quinn, seen just weeks ago on the London catwalks.
Cardi B’s second Schiaparelli look in Paris on September 29th, 2021 was a bit more sensible. She wore a black coat over a bodysuit with a beret. Though, pay attention to her statement earrings.
Wearing a surrealist look from the house of Schiappereli complete with a golden liquid metal headpiece and breast coverings, Cardi B steps out for a simple day of shopping with husband Offset on September 29th, 2021.
Cardi B wasn’t just there to support legendary designer Thierry Mugler at the opening of his "Thierry Mugler: Couturissime" exhibit in Paris, she wore an elaborate red, feathered fantasy gown straight from his ‘90s archives. Supermodel Eva Herzigova originally wore it on the runway.
For the exhibit’s after-party, Cardi B turned up in yet another vintage Mugler masterpiece on September 28th, 2021. This one is a black, leather gown inspired by the exoskeleton of an insect.
Offset and Cardi B are seen leaving a shop on January 22, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
US rapper Cardi B arrives for the Recording Academy and Clive Davis pre-Grammy gala at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California on January 25, 2020.
Cardi B is seen in a two-tone suit on October 10, 2019 in New York City.
Cardi B ravishes in purple on September 30, 2019 in Paris, France.
American rapper Cardi B is seen wearing grey skirt, blazer, black bag, heels, sunglasses outside Thom Browne during Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring Summer 2020 on September 29, 2019 in Paris, France.
Cardi B attends Rihanna's 5th Annual Diamond Ball Benefitting The Clara Lionel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on September 12, 2019 in New York City.
Cardi B presents an award onstage during the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on August 26, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey.
Cardi B wears vintage Jean Paul Gaultier at the Photo Call For STX Entertainment's "Hustlers" at Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on August 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Cardi B accepts Album of the Year onstage at the 2019 BET Awards on June 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Cardi B wears Thom Browne The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City.
Cardi B poses with the awards for Top Rap Song 'I Like It,' Top Hot 100 Song for 'Girls Like You,' and Top Rap Female Artist in the press room during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 01, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Cardi B, winner of Best Rap Album for 'Invasion of Privacy,' and Offset pose backstage during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Cardi B wears vintage Mugler at the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Cardi B attends the Fashion Nova x Cardi B collaboration launch event at Boulevard3 on November 14, 2018 in Hollywood, California.
Cardi B attends the 2018 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on October 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
Cardi B attends the 2018 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on October 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
Cardi B attends as Harper's BAZAAR Celebrates "ICONS By Carine Roitfeld" at the Plaza Hotel on September 7, 2018 in New York City.
Cardi B attends the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 20, 2018 in New York City.
Cardi B attends Birthday Bash 2018 at Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood on June 16, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cardi B attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City.
Cardi B attends the Marc Jacobs Fall 2018 Show at Park Avenue Armory on February 14, 2018 in New York City.
Recording artist Cardi B attends the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City.
Cardi B arrives at the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala on January 27, 2018 in New York City.
Cardi B performs onstage during Calibash Los Angeles 2018 at Staples Center on January 20, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
Cardi B wears a Moschino coat at Eden Roc Hotel on December 7, 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Cardi B attends Rihanna's 3rd Annual Diamond Ball Benefitting The Clara Lionel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on September 14, 2017 in New York City.
Cardi B attends NYLON's Rebel Fashion Party, powered by Land Rover, at Gramercy Terrace at Gramercy Park Hotel on September 12, 2017 in New York City.
Rapper Cardi B attends the Fenty Puma by Rihanna show during New York Fashion Week at the 69th Regiment Armory on September 10, 2017 in New York City.
Cardi B attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
Cardi B at the 2017 BET Awards at Microsoft Square on June 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Cardi B poses during night three of BETX Live!, sponsored by Coca-Cola, during the 2017 BET Experience at LA Live on June 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Cardi B attends the Tanduay Rum partnership with Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Nets celebration on March 12, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Tanduay Rum)
Musical artist Cardi B attends the Philipp Plein Fall/Winter 2017/2018 Women's And Men's Fashion Show at The New York Public Library on February 13, 2017 in New York City.
Cardi B is seen attending Gypsy Sport during New York Fashion Week wearing a white fur coat with Gypsy Sport dress on February 12, 2017 in New York City.
Actress Cardi B attends the Being Mary Jane premiere, screening, and party on January 9, 2017 in New York City.
Cardi B wears Gucci at VH1's "America's Next Top Model" premiere at Vandal on December 8, 2016 in New York City
Cardi B attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2016 Green Carpet at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on September 17, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cardi B attends Laquan Smith Presentation September 2016 during New York Fashion Week on September 14, 2016 in New York City.
Cardi B attends From Blitz To Hits 6th Anniversary Celebration at Stage 48 on August 16, 2016 in New York City.
Cardi B attends the VH1 Hip Hop Honors: All Hail The Queens at David Geffen Hall on July 11, 2016 in New York City.
Rapper Cardi B visits Music Choice on April 26, 2016 in New York City.
Cardi B attends The Blonds show during Spring 2016 MADE Fashion Week at Milk Studios on September 16, 2015 in New York City.
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