Exactly two years ago, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West got married. It was the wedding weekend heard around the Interwebs replete with a Valentino brunch, Andre Leon Talley coverage and wall of roses. And a carefully edited Instagram photo, courtesy of Mr. West. But for the sartorially inclined, there is another, more important day in the trajectory of the #WorldsMostTalkedAboutCouple: when Mr. West cleaned his future wife’s closet.
Since that cleaning, Mrs. Kardashian-West has stepped into the forefront of the fashion stage. Her team includes not only Kanye but Monica Rose, who Kim was working with before meeting her husband, as well as Christine Centenera, an Australian stylist that she reportedly pays $720,000. Together, they’ve convinced even the likes of Vogue that Kim deserves the “Fashion Icon” label. “I really think that my relationship with my husband Kanye [West] really changed everything,” Mrs. Kardashian-West told CNN Style. “I mean, back in the day I thought I had the best style. I look back at outfits and I’m, like, mortified.” Here, we etch out five ways that Kanye West has improved his wife’s style.
1) Kanye taught Kim about restraint
Before Kanye, Kim had no problems in piling things on. Bedazzled stilettos? Huge chandelier earrings? Missoni printed scarves matched with tons of ropey jewelry and jewel toned separates? All of the above were part of her daily wardrobe B.K. (Before Kanye). Now, Kim focuses on one standout accessory, if that.
2) Kanye showed Kim the power of monochrome
Kim used to be a huge fan of jewel tones or a prints. But these days, much like the Yeezy line, Kim has adapted a color palette of mostly neutrals and black. In fact, when speculation mounted that Kanye had axed Monica Rose from Kim’s team she posted to her blog in 2012 “[W]e’re adding color back in!” adding “I’ve worked with Monica for years and we’ve never stopped working together.”
3) Kanye introduced Kim to a lineup of new designers
Alaïa. Givenchy. Balenciaga. Those weren’t really names in Kim’s repertoire before her husband came along. Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci, who dressed the bride for her big day, has admitted that he caught a lot of flack for his early support of the reality star, but held on because of Kanye. After seeing a huge marketing boost from that relationship, Kim is on to Balmain, who is similarly benefitting. Most recently she was spotted in a Cavalli Couture number by Peter Dundas; should we expect another long and involved partnership?
4) Kanye helped Kim dress for her shape
There was a time where Kim Kardashian would wear a shoulder pad. That was obviously B.K. These days, the star is more of a natural shoulder, pinched waist sort of girl. It’s an aesthetic that accentuates the star’s best assets and has arguably played a part in the industry’s current size diversity conversation.
5) Kanye made Kim unafraid of being different
When Kim stepped on the red carpet at this year’s CFDA Awards in a sheer, studded Proenza Schouler frock it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. And that’s fine. Mr. West himself has no problems with standing out (denim at the Met Gala anyone?) and neither does Kim. “What I love most about fashion is that you can just really express yourself and your moods depending on what you wear, I think it’s really I think fashion is subjective but I also think that you can just really be who you are and show your personality from the clothes that you wear,” she told CNN Style.
