Kanye West’s Influence: How He Transformed the Styles of Kim Kardashian and Bianca Censori

Before meeting Kanye West, Kim Kardashian's style embodied the glamour of the late 2000s: tight mini dresses, shiny fabrics, bright colors, massive accessories, and high heels. She combined form-fitting silhouettes with bold makeup, emphasizing tanned skin and contouring. Her wardrobe often featured oversized bags, platform shoes, and dresses with deep necklines. In 2009, she was spotted in New York wearing a short blue ruffled dress, platform sandals, and a large Balenciaga leather bag. In 2010, on the cover of Ocean Drive Magazine, she posed in a black bodycon dress with gloves, highlighting the sexy aesthetic that was her signature. In 2011, at the Wendy Williams Show, she appeared in a black Gomez-Gracia fitted dress with a Judith Leiber belt, crafting a “boss lady” look.

The Kanye Effect: A Complete Transformation

After starting a relationship with Kanye in 2012, her style underwent a drastic transformation. He purged her wardrobe, getting rid of everything he considered outdated and replacing it with more refined and conceptual pieces. In an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, he invited a stylist and threw out nearly all of her clothes, selecting a new wardrobe for her. Kim began wearing minimalist outfits, neutral tones, structured silhouettes, and premium fabrics. She abandoned bright colors and large accessories, and her style became associated with luxury brands such as Givenchy, Balmain, and, of course, Yeezy. At the Met Gala 2013, she made her first Kanye-influenced appearance in a floral Givenchy dress, which sparked widespread discussion. In 2015, her wardrobe expanded with structured jackets, body-hugging dresses, and mesh fabrics from Balmain collections. In 2019, at the Met Gala, she wore the iconic Thierry Mugler latex dress that mimicked the effect of wet skin.

Post-Divorce: Rediscovering Her Own Style

After divorcing Kanye in 2022, Kim's style began to change again. She moved away from strict minimalism and returned to looks reminiscent of her earlier style, including pencil skirts, classic pumps, and more traditionally feminine silhouettes. She admitted that, at first, she struggled to find her fashion direction, as Kanye had dictated her aesthetic for years. Over time, she regained confidence and started trusting her taste again. Her stylist, Dani Levi, continues to work with her, helping to adapt her wardrobe to this new phase of her life.

Bianca Censori: From Subtle to Extreme

Bianca Censori, an architect and designer, joined the Yeezy team before her relationship with Kanye, but her style also underwent a significant shift after their marriage. Unlike Kim, her transformation took a different path—toward radical provocation. Before her relationship with Kanye, she dressed in more classic and understated outfits, but now her wardrobe has become as daring as possible. Her style is dominated by sheer fabrics, latex suits, skin-tight bodysuits, and bold combinations where clothing often borders on complete absence. She frequently chooses monochrome outfits, and experiments with headpieces such as fur hats and scarves tied into turbans.

Kanye’s Influence: Pushing the Boundaries

Kanye continues to dictate the rules, shaping her aesthetic in the spirit of conceptual minimalism, but with an even stronger emphasis on provocation. In 2023, at the Grammys, Bianca appeared in a fully transparent mesh dress, sparking public controversy. In the summer of 2023, during a walk in Los Angeles, she was seen wearing only tights, without shoes or outerwear. In the fall of 2023, at Paris Fashion Week, she wore a form-fitting gray latex bodysuit with a high neckline. According to sources, Kanye personally selects her outfits, using fashion as a tool to construct an image that aligns with his current vision of aesthetics.

A Tale of Two Transformations

While Kim’s style under Kanye’s influence became a symbol of luxury and minimalism, with Bianca, he has moved toward hyper-sexuality and radical experimentation. With Kim, he built an elegant and conceptual style that brought her closer to high fashion, whereas with Bianca, he focused on provocation and revealing silhouettes. His influence is undeniable in both cases, but while Kim has gradually distanced herself from his aesthetic post-divorce, Bianca remains entirely shaped by his vision.