HATS OFF PHA-real!

He's not just one of the G.0.A.Ts of music Pharrell Williams is a fashion legend too

- CHARLTON KNIGHT

Pharrell Williams has seamlessly straddled the realms of music and fashion, etching his indelible mark across both landscapes. Renowned for his Grammy-laden career (he's won 13 awards) in pop, hip-hop and R&B, his influence extends far beyond melodies.

First the music

He stepped onto the music scene in the 90s as part of production duo The Neptunes, with his friend Chad Hugo. Together, they were responsible for hits like 'Excuse Me Miss' with Jay-Z and 'Hot in Here' with Nelly.

They later produced Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' and worked with Justin Timberlake, Britney and Madonna.

"I'm a fan of music, first and foremost. So I do things from the perspective of a fan," he told CNN News. "I treat all of the artists that I work with like the way Da Vinci was looking at Mona Lisa - you know, there's an interesting backdrop." In 1999 the duo brought in drummer and rapper Shay Haley to form hip-hop/rock band N.E.R.D. Pharrell's ascent to stardom began with hits like 'Hot-N-Fun', and he quickly became a household name. After co-founding the record label Star Trak Entertainment, Pharrell released his solo single 'Frontin' (featuring Jay-Z) in 2003, followed by his debut album, In My Mind.

As amazing as his songs and collaborations with other artists have been over the years, it was the star's distinct sartorial choices and innate style that set him apart. While his contemporaries wore baggy jeans and hoodies, Pharrell's affinity for bold fabrics and prints foreshadowed a seismic shift in streetwear.

Birth of a fashion icon