Tracking Bad Bunny’s Evolution Into A Modern Style Icon
Here's a look at Bad Bunny’s maturation into a modern day style icon.
Bad Bunny is about halfway through his homecoming residency in Puerto Rico. To celebrate, we wanted to refresh your memory on his incredible style evolution. Whether he's rocking womenswear pieces or his collaboration with Adidas, Benito has consistently pushed the boundaries of his style.
Now, that doesn’t mean that Bad Bunny has always been the most conventionally stylish person. Frankly, some of his clothing choices a few years ago were objectively bad. But as Bad Bunny’s profile has risen from budding Latin trap artist to global superstar over the past few years, his style has evolved with him. He turned in loud floral print Gucci suits for sleek black suiting from Burberry. He’s gone from forcing streetwear grails into his colorful outfits to stepping out in clean workwear looks. He’s grown his beard out (and anyone knows the wonders that can do for certain people).
A lot has happened in eight years. So, we decided to take a look at Bad Bunny’s maturation into a modern day style icon.
Latin American Music Awards
When: 2017
Standout Piece: Rose-tinted Gucci sunglasses
Six years can do a lot for a person. Bad Bunny looks almost unrecognizable in this photo from the red carpet of the 2017 Latin American Music Awards. He’s still rocking a shaved head. That dark beard didn't come in yet. But the thing that’s impossible to take your eyes off here is his suit. The yellow floral number was courtesy of Gucci. Now, there’s nothing wrong with adding a pop of color or a bold pattern to your outfits, but this just feels like a bit too much. He complemented the loud suit with some red leather Gucci horsebit loafers and a pair of rose-tinted circular frames from the brand that feature “L'Aveugle Par Amour” (“Blinded by Love”) around each lens. We can’t forget about his ice either, which included various diamond rings and custom pendants like a golfer emoji and horse pendant. We may not co-sign this fit, but this wasn’t something the Latin artist was forced to wear. In 2019 he told Billboard, “this outfit looked great on me and it made me feel happy that day.” –Mike DeStefano
American Music Awards
When: 2018
Standout Piece: The third eye
Bad Bunny’s fit for this awards show was certainly one of his most peculiar looks. While the chunky white Prada sneakers and striped trousers looked fine, it started to get a little crazy from the waist up—a blue skull shirt by SSS World Corp with a third eye affixed to his forehead. Bad Bunny explained his odd styling choice in an interview with Allure: “The third eye idea occurred to me three days before the show and we flew a special effects makeup artist from Puerto Rico to do it." While it may not be his most fashionable look, it’s truly giving Dragon Ball Z Tien Shinhan vibes. –Lei Takanashi
Coachella
When: 2019
Standout Piece: Imran Potato sweatsuit
Bad Bunny certainly was never one to shy away from bright colors and striking patterns when it came to his outfits. And although he was rocking designers like Gucci and Prada since the early stages of his career, he also didn’t mind showing love to smaller creatives and rocking some bootleg gear every once in a while. For his set at Coachella 2019, he hit the stage in a pastel-colored bootleg Louis Vuitton set from one of the internet’s favorite creators Imran Potato. Fully committing to the bold look, he went with a giant visor shield to shade his eyes instead of a pair of more traditional sunglasses. At least he layered the jacket with a plain white T-shirt to really let his other colorful pieces do the talking. –Mike DeStefano
Sirius XM Town Hall
When: 2020
Standout Piece: Stussy x Nike SB “Cherry” Dunk Lows
Bad Bunny put on a heavy flex when he came in to do this interview with SiriusXM. Benito was already exuding quiet luxury vibes by wearing this $3,000 Staples hoodie by Louis Vuitton with a calm corduroy jacket and khaki pants. But Bad Bunny kept some heat on his feet by rocking a pair of rare Stussy x Nike SB Dunk Lows from 2005. Right around here is when we see Bad Bunny start to take more refined steps when it comes to his personal style. –Lei Takanashi
'The Tonight Show'
When: 2020
Standout Piece: Aimé Leon Dore x Woolrich jacket
Bad Bunny loves his Crocs. And he’s always loved Supreme. Here, he showed love to both brands. When he linked up with Jimmy Fallon or The Tonight Show in 2020 he wore a neon green pair along with brown corduroy pants, an Aimé Leon Dore x Woolrich jacket, and a white Supreme Box Logo T-shirt. Bad Bunny’s appearance on the Tonight Show that season was a special one because it was when he unveiled the album art for his second solo album YHLQMDLG. –Lei Takanashi
Grammy Awards
When: 2021
Standout Piece: A sunflower
A far cry from the colorful award show outfits that were expected from Bad Bunny just a few years prior, his look for the 2021 Grammys is one of his best to date. He kept things classic with an all-black look including a playful beanie with ears from Burberry by Riccardo Tisci, orange-tinted sunglasses by Bonnie Clyde, and a pair of black crocodile leather combat boots from a collaboration between Departamento and Premiata. Of course, he still had to make sure there was a bit of color by carrying a singular, long-stemmed sunflower in his hand. –Mike DeStefano
‘World’s Hottest Tour’
When: 2022
Standout Piece: Custom tie-dye sets
Bad Bunny’s 2022 stadium tour, “World’s Hottest Tour,” was huge. The 43-date event reportedly raked in almost $270 million. A stage design mimicking a beach with sand and palm trees added to the feel good summer vibes of each show. And Bad Bunny made sure to come correct with his wardrobe as well. Throughout the tour, he hit the stage in various custom sets that had been tie-dyed a certain way to create images of giant hearts. This one in particular featuring a green rugby shirt and shorts was one of our favorites. –Mike DeStefano
Coachella Headliner
When: 2023
Standout Piece: A head-to-toe outfit by ERL
Bad Bunny’s headline set at Coachella in 2023 was a memorable one to say the least. Bad Bunny was the first Latin/Spanish-language artist to ever perform as a headliner at the annual music festival in Indio, California. For his set on the first weekend, he aptly arrived wearing garments made by California-based label ERL. Benito’s outfit was a handmade patchwork “California” puffer with matching snowboard pants and gloves. Eli Russell-Linnetz’s look for Bad Bunny also included a diamond-encrusted wallet chain made in collaboration with Tom Binns. His backup dancers on stage also wore handmade sweatshirts, baby tees, and bell bottoms by ERL. An upcoming collaboration between ERL and Levi’s was also revealed later on during his performance when performing hits like “Safafera.” –Lei Takanashi
65th Grammy Awards
When: 2023
Standout Piece: Los Angeles Dodgers fitted cap
Bad Bunny was in the running to win the biggest prize at the 65th Grammy Awards in 2023. His 2022 album, Un Verano Sin Ti, was nominated for Album of the Year and would have been the first Spanish album to win the award. While Bunny lost to Harry Styles' Harry’s House, he did manage to take home some gold by winning the award for Best Música Urbana album. To accept his award, Bad Bunny came up to the stage in an unbuttoned suit but kept it chill by rocking a New Era Los Angeles Dodgers fitted cap with a gray under-brim. “This is really easy. It’s easy because I just made this album with love and passion,” he said in his acceptance speech. “When you do things with love and passion, everything is easier. Life is easier.” Un Verano Sin Ti brought Bad Bunny his third Grammy win and he showed everyone how to properly wear a fitted. –Lei Takanashi
Met Gala
When: 2023
Standout Piece: Rosette train cape
At the 2023 Met Gala, Bad Bunny really showed his glow-up as a fashion boy by arriving in an all-white look by the French label Jacquemus. His look was built around a double-breasted white tweed suit, white derby shoes, tweed trousers, a backless shirt, and a eight-meter-long rosette train cape. The look was elegant and fit the theme of 2023’s Met Gala, which was dedicated to the late Karl Lagerfeld. Although it’s hidden, the inside of Benito’s jacket also featured a custom-painted picture of Casa Malaparte, an architectural icon in Italy that became the subject of a photography book by Karl Lagerfeld in 1997. Clearly, Bad Bunny’s come a long way from wearing prosthetic third eyes and Supreme hoodies. –Lei Takanashi
Outside a Met Gala Afterparty
When: 2023
Standout Piece: Suede work jacket
Bad Bunny’s angelic all-white look turned heads at the 2023 Met Gala. But after wearing something a bit more unconventional to the event, it’s clear he just wanted to be comfortable to hit the afterparties with his girlfriend Kendall Jenner. This fit doesn’t include any crazy statement pieces or wild colors. Bad Bunny channeled some classic workwear vibes with a clean white T-shirt, light brown suede jacket, straight leg brown work pants, and a pair of caramel-colored suede boots. The simplicity of this outfit allowed the diamond crosses hanging from his neck to pop. If you are looking for a clean look for an upcoming date night, take some notes. Sometimes simplicity is key. –Mike DeStefano
Paris Men's Fashion Week
When: 2024
Standout Piece: Jean Paul Gaultier trompe-l'œil trench coat
On the final day of Paris Men's Fashion Week, Bad Bunny pulled up to Vogue World Paris in an outfit that bent every rule in the book. He wore a women’s Jean Paul Gaultier trompe-l’œil trench coat. The optical illusion has become one of Gaultier's signatures. Underneath, he layered a tailored jumpsuit designed by Pressiat, an unconventional choice in menswear. He accessorized the look with fiery red cowboy boots and orange-tinted cycling shades. It was an unexpected combo that somehow makes sense for Benito. If there’s anything to take from this moment, it’s that confidence is the secret ingredient to making experimental fashion choices look good. –Shinnie Park
NBA Playoffs
When: 2025
Standout Piece: Adidas x Bad Bunny Ballerina Shoes
Bad Bunny has built up an impressive track record of sneaker collaborations with Adidas. Earlier this year, the artist released the Ballerina, a shoe inspired by martial arts footwear like the Adidas Taekwondo. He was spotted rocking the low-profile silhouette sitting courtside at Madison Square Garden during a game during the Knicks' incredible playoff run. Bad Bunny kept the rest of the outfit pared back by wearing a vintage 1999 Knicks Eastern Conference Championship snapback, a black leather bomber, and wide-leg shorts. –Shinnie Park
No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí (I Don’t Want to Leave Here) Residency
When: 2025
Standout Piece: Adidas Box Hog 3 Boxing Shoes
Kicking off his sold-out, 30-night residency in San Juan, Bad Bunny returned to his playful roots. Complex had the pleasure of attending the 12th show of the homecoming where the artist stepped out in a pink polo layered over a blue three-stripe Adidas vest, bright green shorts, and a white headband. He paired the look with yet another pair of Adidas shoes, the Box Hog 3. The boxing boot has seen some rising popularity in fashion circles, so it makes sense why Benito would co-sign it. –Shinnie Park
