5 Iconic Menswear Moments in Music Videos
The music video gave rise to some of menswear’s most memorable looks, some of which influence trends to this day
Video killed the radio star
When music videos went mainstream in the ‘80s, thanks to the advent of American video channel MTV, they revolutionized how the world tuned in to songs. Visuals became as equally important as the music, adding another layer of storytelling and giving more visibility to the artists themselves.
Some music videos also became fashion shows, defining many memorable looks and trends. Many capture the style zeitgeist of the time, others defy conventions altogether, while some are just too visually striking to be unnoticed.
Prince and the Revolution – Kiss (1986)
Prince was on to something in the ‘80s when he sported a daring combination of masculine and feminine elements for the music video of Kiss. The cropped shirt with a leather jacket and high heels would join the ranks of David Bowie’s gender-bending fits in the ‘70s, but such looks were still highly ‘countercultural’ at the time—unlike today, where menswear has evolved to accommodate what was once avant-garde into daily wear.
Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal (1988)
The ‘King of Pop’ has no shortage of fashion and music moments, but Smooth Criminal stands out particularly for the ‘30s mob aesthetic that Michael elevated into sleek, dynamic glam. The white suit, blue inner shirt, fedora, and spats—this whole ensemble still resurfaces in numerous iterations on red carpets today.
The music video, the centerpiece of Michael’s most ambitious film project Moonwalker, shows Michael and his friends facing off against a notorious drug lord. It also debuted his iconic ‘anti-gravity lean,’ cementing the move and his outfit into history.
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
Perhaps the most anti-glam or anti-fashion entry in this list, but ironically one that also defined a whole aesthetic: grunge. Smells Like Teen Spirit departed from the glitz of ’80s pop and became a generational anthem for teenage angst. It screamed alternative, from how the music video was shot to the band’s gritty, disheveled, yet effortlessly cool looks: thrifted shirts, Converse kicks, beat-up jeans—the alt guy’s fashion fever dream.
Justin Timberlake – Suit & Tie (ft. Jay-Z) (2013)
The song’s title speaks for itself, but what Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z blend masterfully here are the classic aesthetics from ‘50s American jazz and film with modern motifs and themes. The black-and-white treatment also added to the music video’s Old Hollywood charm. Suddenly, tuxedos from the mid-century became cool again.
Harry Styles – Golden (2020)
Amid the pandemic, when people looked for ways to escape while stuck at home, Harry Styles delivered a visual feast that brought viewers to the coast—and he was dressed accordingly. Soft, relaxed, and vintage-inspired menswear: wide trousers, casually unbuttoned shirts, an aqua blue suit, all combining for a sense of sprezzatura. We speak of how menswear in 2025 leans now toward comfort and ease, but Harry was already doing it five years ago.
Photos courtesy YouTube
