42 Of Mary J. Blige’s Most Iconic Outfits

Blige made her affection for all-white-everything outfits known early, like with this white dress and trench combo at the Soul Train Music Awards in 1995.

1995 or 2022? It’s hard to tell based on this photo of Blige performing at a charity concert in a pair of Fendi pants with a cropped jacket — in 1995.

Mic. Drop. Blige took home a Grammy Award in 1996, as well as our personal award for best dressed at that year’s award show, à la this head-to-toe leopard look.

Her monochromatic ensembles continued at the Soul Train Awards in 1997 with this gold and sheer number.

How great is this sequin, chainmail-esque outfit Blige wore to perform in Germany in 1997? The metallic boots are an amazing touch.

Having fun with mixed textures and prints, Blige looked gorgeous in this pink outfit at the Soul Train “Lady of Soul” Awards in 1998.

Purple > everything. Blige matched the jacket to the sweater to the sunglasses in this glorious look from the Soul Train Music Awards in 1996.

Blige loves a fur accessory, as displayed here with a white fur vest and hat at a pre-Grammys party in 1999.

How chic is this black, belted, zip-up leather look from the Billboard Music Awards in 1999?

More color! More fur! Blige rang in the new millennium in this hot pink gown and matching stole at the 2000 Grammys.

Opting again for an all-white look, the tailoring on this suit, from the My VH1 Music Awards in 2001, is perfection.

On the red carpet that same night, Blige opted for a black jacket over a revealing, peekaboo top. And of course, sunglasses.

Another monochromatic look, this time in butter yellow — bra, shoes, and all — for a Rock the Vote event in 2001.

Who doesn’t love a mini dress and thigh-high boot? This beige set was worn by Blige to perform at VH1 Divas: Live in 2001.

At the Essence Awards in 2003, Blige donned a patterned, off-the-shoulder, belted ensemble — with color-matched accessories, of course.

Carrying the ubiquitous early-aughts wristlet, Blige wore an amazing white vest and pants look with animal-print stilettos to the VMAs in 2003.

Yellow fur + sequins + metallic heels, oh my. This was a power play by Blige at the 2004 Grammys.

Even her more casual outfits feature a little something special, like this tan, belted suit with matching boots and a fur collar from an event in New York City in 2005.

Blige looked ethereal at the 2006 American Music Awards in a cream, one shoulder gown.

She wore a similar color to the 2007 Grammy Awards, but this time paired with some sparkle and a belt.

In 2007, she made a floor-dusting black gown anything but boring, thanks to the one-shoulder detail and elegant accessories

Blige reiterated her love of fur in a cozy coat and branded Louis Vuitton scarf in 2008. Plus, wearing LV to a Gucci event? Iconic.

In another welcome pop of color on the red carpet, Blige wore a pink gown with ruffled sleeves to a 2013 Emmys after-party.

The following year, she adhered to the pink family with a beautiful, strapless gown with ruffled layering at the 2010 Met Gala, whose theme was “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity.”

Behold: the camo, corseted, sparkly, turtleneck bodysuit dreams are made of. Blige wore it for a 2010 concert in London.

The performance hits just keep coming, like this white catsuit with a brown corset and matching brown boots in 2011.

There’s that leopard print again, this time via a floor-length gown, paired with a high pony at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards.

Blige paired sequins with feathers for this glamorous Golden Globes look in 2012.

In 2013, Blige wore a velvet, black suit with a white collar for a Christmas tree lighting.

She donned a glamorous black, sequined gown at the American Music Awards in 2014.

This sheer top with high-waisted, belted trousers and gold accessories brought down the house at a 2015 concert in Johannesburg.

Blige arrived to Vanity Fair’s 2016 Oscar Party as the picture of elegance in this long-sleeve gown with crystal embellishments, elevated with a black and crystal evening bag.

This sexy ensemble, featuring a corset-style black lace gown with thin straps and a high slit, comes courtesy of the 2017 Met Gala, where the theme was “Comme des Garçons’s Rei Kawakubo.”

For Vanity Fair’s 2018 Oscar Party, Blige looked gorgeous in a gold, sequin gown with beaded detailing.

Blige went full Palm Springs for a 2018 film festival there, courtesy of a light blue gown with puff shoulders and a bow.

To the EE British Academy Film Awards in 2019, she wore this half white, half gold suit with a train and matching pumps.

While sitting courtside at a 2019 basketball game, she rocked this epic hat-sweater-Gucci boot combo.

Blige brought back the fur — this time in yellow, and worn over a Balmain top and jeans — for a 2020 concert in New York.

This gown from 2021’s Met Gala has everything: A plunging neck line, a high slit, and so many sequins. (Last year’s theme? “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.”)

And here it is again, Blige’s beloved leopard print, seen here in a one-shoulder variation with black boots for a 2021 event in Miami.

In perhaps the best indicator of how she’ll dress on Sunday, Blige wore a white shorts suit with matching white sunglasses and tan boots to a Super Bowl press conference.

Blige performed classic hits at the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show wearing head-to-toe sequins designed by Dundas along with lengthy blonde waves and a bedazzled manicure.