Shutter shades

In his Graduation album era in 2007, West’s signature look was a twist on collegiate style that often included a blazer, tie and shutter shades. And thus, shutter shades became the sunglasses choice of festivalgoers everywhere for about the next four years.

Geek chic

The rise of geek chic, as illustrated in this newspaper last year, was the result of a decade in which technology became the new rock‘n’roll and “the outsiders won”. Ergo, it became cool to dress like you had more serious things to think about than how you dress (see also: normcore, geek chic’s progeny). West went through that phase in 2008, as it spread through hip-hop culture, the NBA and beyond.

Men wearing womenswear

As identified by Guardian Fashion in July, men wearing womenswear is a bona fide ‘thing’. Jared Leto, Marc Jacobs and Pharrell all give it a good go, but the birthplace of this particular trend took place onstage in Indio, California, in 2011, when West performed at Coachella in a blouse from Celine’s spring/summer 2011 collection. That moment marked the beginning of an epoch, after which rappers wearing leather skirts and fluffy pink onesies just seemed like, “Yeah, of course.” No small thing to bring femininity to one of the most macho art forms in the world.

Leather jogging pants

“We brought leather jogging pants six years ago to Fendi and they said ‘no’,” the rapper calmly explained during the Frost/Nixon of hip-hop interviews with Zane Lowe last year. “How many motherfuckers you done see wearing a leather jogging pant?” Lots of motherfuckers, it turns out. Lots. Not to mention the leather jogging pants’ close personal friend, the harem pant.

Health goth

Alexander Wang’s new collection for H&M has finally given rise to a name for the merging of aggressive street/sportswear that is, frankly, everywhere. That name is health goth, and Kanye was on it in 2008. His latest take on the trend includes a full face mask and tie-dye, so get ready for that.