Nicki Minaj’s Style Inspiration: Dessert and Toys!
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Kevin Winter/Getty Images; MyLittleWiki.
Like her genre-defying music, Nicki Minaj’s style can be difficult to describe. “She’s the Barbie of hip-hop, complete with interchangeable wigs,” goes one attempt. Others have said she has “Irish alien fail hair” and resembles “the spawn of R2D2 and Jane Jetson.” Here at Slate, we’ve never been able to succinctly summarize her look. It was only as she released her sophomore album, “Pink Friday … Roman Reloaded,” Tuesday that it came to us. The guiding principle to the sartorial chaos is nothing other than toys and desserts.
Exquisite Equine
In My Little Pony lore, Princess Sapphire can bring snow to Ponyland with a wave of her wand. Likewise, Nicki Minaj can make it rain with a shake of her booty. Here she is in 2011 at the Grammy nominations live concert in Los Angeles, Calif.
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Mike Coppola/Getty Images; Cheryl Hicks.
Troll Chic
This hair is troll doll by way of Lisa Frank, with a New York street vendor twist. Minaj chose it for September’s Betsy Johnson Spring 2012 fashion show in New York City.
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Mike Coppola/Getty Images; CREDIT: newwavegurly.
Dippin’ Dot Couture
On the red carpet as well as in her brash, allusive verses, Minaj loves to confound distinctions between high and low culture. At the Carolina Herrera spring 2012 fashion show, she stood out among a sea of skinny fashionistas with this nod to freeze-dried ice cream.
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Gary Gershoff/Getty Images; Disney/Amazon Toys and Games.
Can You Feel the Superbass Tonight?
Don’t be misled by the Barbie pendant around her neck, this outfit is truly an homage to the Lion King. Only Minaj would dare to mix Simba and sexy at an Oscar de la Renta show.
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Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images; Thinkstock.
Robo-Sherbert
Rainbow sherbet just doesn’t get the love it used to, so we were pleased to discover an interpretation of it on Minaj’s head. The rap princess wore this origami-esque confection to accept the MTV Video Music Awards statuette for 2011’s best hip-hop video.
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Isaac Brekken/Getty Images; Flod logic/Wikimedia Commons.
Hostess Sno Ball Barbie
Minaj strikes a ferocious pose with nods to the nuclear-bomb defying marshmallow and coconut snack at the iHeartRadio Music Festival on Sept. 24, 2011 in Las Vegas.
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David Livingston/Getty Images? [Getty info for bracelet image]; CREDIT: Dylan’s Candy Bar.
Accessorizing With Lollipops
At the release party for Lil Wayne’s new album, Tha Carter IV, Minaj’s wrist pays a sweet tribute to Whirly Pops.
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Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Lime Tree Kids.
Red Riding Hood 2.0
Red Riding Hood dolls may not be the big sellers that Bratz or Polly Pockets are, but maybe if they took a few tips from Minaj they would become a new Christmas-list-staple. At the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Nicki’s cape was rich and luxurious enough for a modern fairy tale.
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Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images; EBay.
Star Light, Rainbow Brite
Minaj was a child of the 80s, so it’s only fitting that her dress conjured up the colorful young heroine from Rainbow Brite at the Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards in March 2012.