The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul burst onto the music scene in 1992 with a unique sound and image that effortlessly merged NYC’s rough-around-the-edges aesthetic with girlie grace. And as she said in an MTV interview that same year, “There’s only one Mary J. Blige.“

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With more than 30 years in the entertainment industry, the Bronx-born songstress remains a style icon. From the Hollywood hills to the corner of any hood, MJB could teach a class on how to seamlessly move between worlds and always look damn good doing it. Here’s a crash course on style according to Mary J. Blige.

Lesson No. 1: Fly ass footwear! Be it sky-high boots or casually rocking Jays, Mary’s shoe game is top tier!

Lesson No. 2: Be a hair chameleon. Mary’s hair is almost never black, but it’s always styled to perfection. Case in point below!

“I change the color of my hair a lot because I like color, I like fashion, and I like being different,” she told MTV during an interview in the ’90s.

Lesson No. 3: Designer sunglasses are mandatory.

Lesson No. 4: Big earrings and other bold statement jewelry, often a Jesus piece, because Mary always put God first.

Lesson No. 5: Makeup must be beat to the gawds.

Lesson No. 5: Curved, short, long, French—don’t matter, but nails did. Always!

Lesson No. 6: Animal everything—print, skin, fur, and anything in between!

Lesson No. 7: Be able to dress it up and bring the class to the red carpet and appropriate occasions.

Lesson No. 8: But don’t be afraid to get a little gully when you need to.

Lesson No. 8: Never forget your roots and always represent where you’re from.

Lesson No. 10: Personal style is not just about expression; it’s also about the experience. So, don’t forget to enjoy the ride and have some fun!

Now that we’ve covered some of the basics of Mary’s style mantra, let’s celebrate her 55th birthday and iconic style evolution with 55 of her most “Amazing” fashion moments below.

The post 55 & Forever Fly: Celebrating Mary J. Blige’s Birthday And Iconic Style Evolution appeared first on MadameNoire.