A deep dive into Janet Jackson’s iconic wardrobe
Since the late 1970s, the singer – who appeared this weekend at Shoreditch House – has been recognised for her larger-than-life, genre-fluid looks
Monday 10 October 2022 By Zak Maoui
While MJ might be the most famous of the Jackson clan, there’s no denying that his younger sister Janet had her own influence on popular culture. Last year, Lizzo took to Twitter to describe the singer-songwriter as the ‘Queen Of Pop’, suggesting that she has had even more of an impact on the culture than Madonna, or even Britney Spears. For shame.
Jackson’s debut album was titled Janet, and the star has gone on to record a total of 11 pop-cum-R&B feature-length LPs. Her most famous songs – ‘Scream’, ‘All For You’ and ‘Rhythm Nation’ – earnt her coveted Grammy Awards, while she was also selected to perform at the Super Bowl in 2004. No wardrobe malfunction to hear about here.
Particularly influential in the late 1980s and 1990s – though she’s still making waves today, as evidenced by the enormous crowd that turned out for her at Shoreditch House this weekend – Jackson’s style was as recognisable as her unique sound. A mixture of bold patterns, high-shine leather, and grunge and beat elements (plaid, ripped jeans and berets), nothing has ever been off limits for the 56-year-old. On stage, the singer prefers boxy and masculine military-inspired uniforms, affording them feminine twists with cleavage-flashing crop tops and in-your-face jewellery.
Below are 11 times that Jackson cemented her style icon status…
1. Power tailoring
Talk about 1980s power suiting. JJ turned up and proved that she was the boss bitch of the decade in this bold, orange tailored number and that spangly OTT jewellery. The nerve!
2. Regal gowns a-go-go
On hand to scoop the Rock Star Award at the Black Girls Rock Awards in 2018, Jackson’s Christian Siriano gown was a regal choice that simply sang ‘bow down’ to her contemporaries.
3. Hell for leather
Arguably the most talked-about look in Super Bowl history, Jackson went full ‘popstar goes to a West Village leather joint’, setting the bar high for any follow-up acts.
4. Ear ear
Pharrell Williams has his towering hats, Britney Spears rocked slogan T-shirts, Prince was rarely seen without a suit and tie. Janet? Throughout the 1980s and 90s, she famously wore a quirky hoop earring with a key attached to it. No reason, just J doing J.
5. Thom Browne in town
At 56 years old, Jackson showed up and shut down New York Fashion Week this September in a slick Thom Browne suit and badass bangs. Hadid, Ratajkowski? Who? MVP behaviour.
6. Child of the 1990s
Fuzzy mohair knit, oversized cargo pants, clompy boots. The 1990s was Janet’s time, and no one (no one) else could compete.
7. Smoking
The Vanity Fair Oscars® party always brings out the biggest ‘fits, and Jackson wasn’t about to let anyone outshine her when she shunned the typical formalwear dress code and served up a sexed-up, ab-flashing look for the books. That’s star power.
8. C’est chic
The power shoulder. The popped collar. The cherry lip. Peak Jackson, peak cool, peak style.
9. Costume party
Jackson has that magical talent of donning costumes, on stage or off, without looking pastiche-y. Somehow dressing like Daisy Buchanan’s supremely chic cousin works wonders for her.
10. Grungy gowns
A grungy counterpart to Kurt Cobain, Jackson proved throughout her career that she was just as much about plaid shirting and ripped denim as she was high-octane gowns.
11. Teen dream
If only we all had this much attitude at 11 years old. Diva status, certified.