22 fotos

Shakira’s unique style in 20 photos: Short tops, hip scarves, bare feet and lots of leather

The Colombian artist has developed a trademark look that effortlessly blends elements reminiscent of Xena the Warrior Princess, belly dancers and rock stars. In her highly personal fashion world, everything goes with everything

Amaia Odriozola

Oct 16, 2024 - 16:30CEST

The Colombian singer's career spans three decades and she has been faithful to a uniform that is as personal as it is recognizable, so much so that it is easy to say that no other artist dresses, dances or has that look on stage. This image shows her at the Latin Grammy Awards held in Seville in 2023. Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images (Getty Images for Latin Recording)

Shakira may have tried the most daring garments and the most unimaginable combinations, but she has certainly achieved something that all stars aspire to and do not always achieve: to be identifiable in a particular fashion. It's what happens when we see a white glove and think of Michael Jackson, a robotic helmet and we think of Daft Punk, or a cone-shaped bra and Madonna pops up in our head. It's on that level.Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images (Getty Images)

On February 2, 2020, the artist took the stage at the Super Bowl halftime show held in Miami. That night she probably wore one of her most memorable looks: she chose red (the color she usually opts for at major events) and it was Peter Dundas who made her this set of miniskirt and top decorated with Swarovski crystals. The singer usually performs with low-heeled boots and, according to what she said later in 'Vogue', she could not find ones that were comfortable, so she had boots lined that she had in her closet for more than 10 years.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images (Getty Images)

“I thought red was going to be a memorable color,” said Shakira to 'Vogue' magazine, explaining why she chose the color that night. Another strong point of the look is the silhouette of the bodysuit she wore, specifically designed to enhance the movement of her hips and waist when dancing, although the star of the outfit is undoubtedly the hip scarf, typical of oriental dancing. Frank Micelotta/Getty Images (Getty Images)

Shakira has gone through many phases and in 2001 she explored earth tones and surprising accessories like this Amazonian goddess tiara: “I look like Xena the Warrior Princess,” joked the singer in 'Vogue' when she saw her photo years later.Scott Gries / Getty Images (Getty Images)

The singer has been wearing the same uniform for 30 years (low-slung pants with very short tank tops) and yet it seems she hasn't repeated it once: here, in 2005, looking for ways to innovate with her top.Chris Polk/FilmMagic/Getty Images (FilmMagic)

Sexy tousled' hairstyle, as she defined it, khaki pants, belt with beads and coins, and a bra decorated with metallic mesh: Shakira's war uniform to sing her hit song 'La Tortura' with Alejandro Sanz.Kevin Winter/Getty Images (Getty Images)

Shakira performed with Bizarrap on the Sahara stage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2024 in California. And she chose a frayed crochet dress, which dilutes the colors. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images (Getty Images for Coachella)

Usually Shakira needs comfortable clothes to move around the stage, but at the Latin Grammy ceremony held in Seville in 2023 she sang a ballad ('Acróstico') and for the occasion she chose a golden dress made up of a corset adorned with crystals and a Virgin Mary motif, and a long skirt, a custom-made design by the Italian firm of Dolce&Gabbana.Kevin Winter/Getty Images (Getty Images for Latin Recording)

Argentina and Colombia were playing at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and Shakira took the stage at halftime. Wearing a silver outfit covered with countless crystals, the artist wore a short top and a miniskirt with a strategic opening on one side, which allowed her to dance to some of her greatest hits, such as 'Hips don't lie'. A look reminiscent of the early 2000s.Omar Vega/Getty Images (Getty Images)

Shakira's pants are never quite complete (they always appear ripped, with transparencies, safety pins or strings) but she has probably never worn lower-waisted pants like these jeans of pure 2000s aesthetic, without a waistband or zipper, knotted with crossed laces.M. Caulfield/WireImage/Getty Images (WireImage)

The 'Waka Waka' era not only raised the singer's popularity from the atmosphere to the stratosphere, but also gave her the opportunity to innovate in her wardrobe, adding details from African folklore and adapting them under her personal taste. Feathers, tribal motifs, bracelets, anklets, bare feet and fluorine touches: with Shakira everything is possible at the same time.JEWEL SAMAD/AFPGetty Images) (AFP via Getty Images)

Shakira's belts and hip scarves are a genre of their own: here, combining gold tones with her top, at the music festival held in Madrid in 2010. Jose Perez GEGUNDEZ/Gamma-RaphoGetty Images (Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Shakira has a type of top (cropped at the sides, longer in front) that she has worn for three decades in every possible version: this time, on stage at the Palasport Olimpico in Turin she wore it in gold, halfway between chain mail and a fishnet. The leather bracelet with large studs is another of her distinctive elements.Francesco Prandoni/Mondadori/Getty Images

Before Taylor Swift, there was Shakira and her guitar covered with Swarovski crystals, pictured here at a concert in Paris in 2007. The rocker look has always been part of her style.Dave Benett/Getty Images

What other Disney princess could fit Shakira's ethnic princess look better than Yasmine from 'Aladdin'?Richard Corkery/NY Daily News ArchiveGetty Images (NY Daily News via Getty Images)

This was undoubtedly the period in which the artist delved into belly dancing and designed a wardrobe along the same lines. The image is from 2006.Scott Gries/Getty Images (Getty Images)

The low-waist cargo pants could not be missing in the artist's wardrobe. Combined, of course, with a tank top always knotted to one side.Peter Kramer/Getty Images (Getty Images)

The combination of skin-tight, black vinyl pants with an oddly shaped waist, knotted with two provocative buckles, bras with rhinestone bangs and a long gown with lace sleeves might seem impossible, but Shakira defended it on stage in California in 2005.Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images (Getty Images)

Tight, ripped pants, leather leggings, bare feet, a wide studded belt, a very short top and leather bracelets adorned with metal studs: Shakira's uniform in 2002.Scott Gries/Getty Images (Getty Images)

The singer has said on occasion that when she can't find the clothes she is looking for, she designs them herself. Among her favorite pieces, besides the hip scarf, is the bodysuit with cutouts or transparencies on the sides, which helps to create a greater sense of movement when she dances. In this photo, taken in London in 2002, she wore it with very tight leather pants (decorated with lace on the thighs) and long gloves.Dave Benett/Getty Images (Getty Images)

Despite all her Amazonian, jungle or desert references, Shakira does not dress bohemian, nor 'hippie': in fact she always carries a rocker halo.Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Getty Images)