30 times Prince dressed like the coolest man in music

Prince’s impact and influence extended far beyond the realms of music.

Over the course of four decades, he consistently and defiantly challenged the status quo, ripping up the rule books of sexuality, of race and of style.

From frilly lace to crop tops, thick eye liner to skimpy bikini bottoms, Prince’s gender-blurring outfits shocked and inspired in equal measure, and paved the way for generations of musicians to follow in his high-heeled footsteps.

As the images below show, in more than 35 years in the limelight, Prince’s unique, unparalleled and unprecedented sense of style never dated and never stagnated. These are just a few of his most iconic outfits.

1980

Deborah Feingold/Corbis

1981

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

1981

Warner Bros.

1982

Scott Weiner / Retna Ltd.

1983

Ron Wolfson/Getty Images

1984

Ebet Roberts/Redferns/Getty Images

1984

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

1985

Getty Images

1985

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

1986

Roger Ressmeyer/CORBIS

1986

David Corio/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

1988

Getty Images

1990

Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect/Getty Images

1991

Dave Benett/Getty Images

1993

Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage/Getty Images

1993

L. Busacca/WireImage/Getty Images

1994

Cardinale/Sygma/Corbis
 

1995

Getty Images

1997

Mitchell Gerber

2000

Getty Images

2003

Getty Images

2004

M. Caulfield/WireImage/Getty Images

2004

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

2005

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

2005

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

2007

Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

2009

Getty Images

2011

Getty Images

2013

 Kevin Mazur/WireImage for NPG Records 2013

2014

Patrick Kovarik/AFP/Getty Images