From the Bronx to the Runway: Cardi B’s Fashion Revolution
“What makes Cardi B so special and her fashion taste so unique is how she uses her fashion sense to reclaim stereotypes and negative narratives that people have against people in The Bronx.”
Have you ever seen a Birken Bag paired with baggy jeans? No? This creative fashion choice establishes how Cardi B has proven herself to be a Bronx fashion icon.
Cardi B is more than just a musical sensation, she is a walking representation of The Bronx itself. Her fashion choices act as a bold statement that show off her identity; they reflect her energy, and the creativity of the borough she grew up in. She could easily rock large glitter gowns and oversized streetwear and make both look incredibly stylish and natural. Her style is unapologetically loud and herself.
When Cardi B was growing up as a teenager in the Bronx, she was already making fashion statements out of her style. She mixed whatever she could afford from the shops on Fordham Road, wearing them with confidence and turning cheap outfits into full-blown fashion moments. Look at her now. She always rocks long nails, bold colors, and 8-inch heels. She has always believed fashion was a form of self-expression in a way that reveals the heart of the Bronx.
Cardi B's streetwear choices are equally as impactful, and they offer a lens into how fashion reflects her community and its identity. For casual looks, Cardi wears oversized hoodies and Jordan 1s, and she often sports tracksuits as everyday staples that showcase her connections to hiphop culture that her roots in The Bronx. She transforms these everyday outfits from basic to fabulous by adding flashy accessories: extra large Birkin Bags, and different, colorful fabrics. She elevates her style and adds her own flare that also honors the streets of the Bronx. For her, streetwear is not about blending in and disappearing, it is about exaggerating her individuality. By doing this, she encourages people to take more risks and embrace their own personalities.
Cardi rose quickly through social media into a superstar personality; her wardrobe evolved right beside her. In her early Instagram videos and her breakout role on Love & Hip Hop, she always wore tight bodycon dresses, huge jewelry and wigs in every color imaginable. Her style has always been confident and a reflection of a woman who isn't afraid to take up space.
The moment that truly solidified Cardi as a fashion icon was an iconic look from New York City during Paris Fashion Week in 2019. She was dressed head to toe in a Thom Browne gown; ever since then she's always worn the most expensive high fashion designers, such as Mugler, Schiaparelli and Balenciaga.
What makes Cardi B so special and her fashion taste so unique is how she uses her fashion sense to reclaim stereotypes and negative narratives that people have against people in The Bronx. She celebrates her curves, exaggerates her Black and Latina Beauty, and uses her platform to uplift new designers. She has collaborated with fashion Nova, also proving that fashion can be stylish and accessible at the same time.
In everyday life in The Bronx, Cardi’s influence can be found everywhere you turn. In your local bodega, you’ll find teenage girls dressed like her. On the 6 train, you see her influence even in men's style, when they wear baggy clothes and heavy jewelry. For young people, seeing someone coming from an underrepresented part of New York sends a message. Her style reinforces that your background is part of your aesthetic, instead of it being something you leave behind. By blending luxury labels with more affordable fashion, Cardi B makes her style feel accessible to anybody walking down the same streets she's walked on before.
