Outkast Hip Hop Artist Andre 3000 Rated Best Dressed By Esquire Magazine

Article written by: Rodrick Rainey
Posted on: August 12, 2004

Andre 3000 is the world’s best-dressed man, according to Esquire magazine.

Nick Sullivan, Esquire’s fashion director said “He’s a complete individual,” Tuesday.

What some call “weird and unusual” in the hiphop fashion world, many find Andre’s style to be quite refreshing because he is not afraid of being different. And while many credit Jay-Z with starting this button-ups craze, it’s been noted that Andre 3000 was long wearing these before Jay-Z, he just did it in a more subtle manor.

Along with Andre 3000’s style, he has been known for wearing retro costumes in his videos that keep his career very interesting and versatile.

Some of Andre’s most memorable “get-ups” to the hiphop fashion world include his extra-unique, multi-colored, thick fur pants in the Outkast video “Rosa Parks” which he up with a set of football shoulderpads. His latest video memory was a patched red sweater and blue jeans outfit in the video “Roses”. Andre presented a very slick, 80s cool guy outfit at the MTV awards for 2004. An all white suit, minus the sport’s coat, with green suspenders, a matching tie, Andre topped this off with a straw hat that reminds you somewhat of what American TV depicted as a banjo player’s stereotypical hat.

Sources of his fashion inspiration include clothes from period flicks such as “Legends of the Fall” and “The Great Gatsby” and the “old men” in his neighborhood.

With the versatility of Andre’s wardrobe, you would think this hiphop artist would have no time to design his own clothing as well, but he does. Andre 3000 has his own clothing line called Andre Benjamin. Release dates are uncertain, but Urb1 has heard from somewhat creditable sources that the official site for his clothing might be Andre3000.com.

“They’re kind of like a uniform, which I’ve always been into,” Andre 3000 says in the September issue of Esquire. “To me, that’s real style, anything that feels comfortable and expresses your personality and makes you stand a little taller.”

Although the magazine has compiled best-dressed lists in the past, this year’s list is the first worldwide affair. Other best-dressed men include “Today” co-anchor Matt Lauer, Prince Felipe of Spain, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom.

The list was compiled through a set of criteria by a panel of fashion experts and Esquire editors.