Hip-Hop History
Misa Hylton
Misa Hylton
Misa Hylton is an American stylist and fashion designer. Known as a pioneer in the fashion industry, she has styled many hip-hop and R&B artists since the 1990s, most notably Lil’ Kim and Mary J. Blige. Hylton’s style, referred to as “hip-hop glamorous,” has been credited with influencing fashion trends in popular culture. Hylton is a global creative partner for MCM and was the centerpiece of the 2019 documentary The Remix: Hip Hop x Fashion.
She is credited with shaping the way women rappers dressed in the 90s, and those styles are thought to influence women artists today. While women emcees of the 80s wore more masculine fashion, Hylton “encouraged girls in the game to celebrate their sexuality through fashion.” Celebrities such as Rihanna have referenced Lil’ Kim, one of Hylton’s key clients, as
inspirations for their fashion sense. Cardi B’s gold chained headdress from the video “Money” and matching red fur and bob wig from “Backin it Up” are traced to Hylton’s selections for Lil’ Kim. Hylton encouraged her first professional styling clients, Jodeci, to wear modern, casual clothing including hoodies and backwards hats instead of the de rigueur formal clothes and hard bottom shoes. The look went on to influence R&B fashion and is said to remain a point of reference for contemporary artists.