Nicki Minaj is not only a platinum artist, but also a style icon. Her rap videos feature bright, outlandish costumes, earning her the nickname “Harajaku Barbie.” She prefers form-fitting clothing and designer fashion, so in order to dress like Nicki Minaj you must be confident a gutsy with your wardrobe choices.
Steps
Choosing Clothes
-
Start with a base layer of bright underwear. Choose a pushup bra and pair of panties that can be worn under tight clothing.
-
Visit Kmart. Nicki Minaj designed a line for Kmart that included patterned legging and shirt sets, bodycon dresses and deconstructed denim. Minaj loves animal prints and patterns worn head to toe.
- You can purchase each piece for $12 to $50, making it one of your least expensive options.
-
Try H&M or Forever 21 if you want to collect stylish separates that are similar to her designer threads. The following are good choices:
- Patterned tights. The more outlandish the better. Minaj has worn stained glass, chain link, color block and animal print leggings.
- Jeans that are pre-distressed or jeans you can distress yourself. Choose high-waisted jeans, jean shorts and denim jackets. Matching denim and denim jackets are preferred.
- Pick short skirts over long ones. With leggings on, the shorter the better.
- Choose fluorescent colors in shades of pink, green or yellow.
-
Buy a bodycon dress. These tight fitting “bandage” dresses are made to hug curves and enhance cleavage. You can buy a bodycon dress with cutouts similar to one that Minaj wore herself at Ax Paris.
Accessorizing
-
Find some fashion-forward high heels. Minaj usually wears four to eight inch heels. Although she is often seen in Giuseppe Zanotti heels that cost over $1,500, you can shop new styles by Fergie and Jessica Simpson. Try shoe warehouses, like DSW, to find designer heels at discount prices.
- If you can’t find stiletto heels, opt for platform boots and booties.
-
Pack a bright purse. Choose leather, metal studs and bright colors. Gold accessories and chains will also work.
-
Wear a hat. As part of her Kmart collection, Minaj has created military-style hats adorned with gold chains and studs. Find a hat at a thrift store and decorate it yourself.
-
Pick chains, pendants, bangles and dangling earrings. You can favor fashions from the 1980s with enamel and gold highlights. Don’t be afraid to wear all these items at once.
-
Purchase a wrist cuff. It can be gold, studded leather or patterned.
Styling Hair and Makeup
-
Bleach your hair. Minaj has worn long, cropped and mid-length styles in blond for several years. It allows her to dye her hair bright colors more easily.
-
Dye your hair a bright color. If you have blond, long or cropped hair, consider dying it fluorescent pink, green or several colors at once. Semi-permanent dyes may allow you to change it frequently, just like the rap-star does.
-
Cut straight bangs. The cut should been extremely straight, with the sides at 90 degree angles to the fringe. If you can’t pull off this look, buy a cropped bright-colored wig to create a more convincing look.
- If you don’t want bangs, wear your hair long and part it in the center.
- Keep it straight most of the time. Although she occasionally has worn wavy hair, she is usually seen with stick straight hair.
-
Wear your hair in pigtails. You can achieve a Harajaku schoolgirl look with this style.
-
Purchase fake lashes. You can find them at large makeup stores like Sephora and Ulta.
-
Do heavy cat eye makeup. Use a black liquid eyeliner. Start near the inside of your top lid and draw a line that extends outside your eye line.
-
Fill in your lids with bright blue, aqua or green eye shadow.
-
Pick a bright pink blush and lipstick. If you are wearing your Minaj outfit during the day, you can also pick a nude color.
Things You'll Need
- Bright underwear
- Kmart Nicki Minaj collection
- Bodycon dress
- Patterned legging
- Deconstructed denim
- Stiletto/platform heels
- Wrist cuff
- Bangles
- Large earrings
- Pendants
- Bleach
- Semi-permanent hair dye
- Cropped wig
- Fake lashes
- Liquid eye liner
- Blue eye shadow
- Pink blush
- Pink/nude lipstick