Selena Quintanilla's Most Iconic Outfits We'll Never Forget

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Just as there are several '90s trends making a fall comeback, past decades provide plenty of moodboard-worthy style inspiration. For example, Selena Quintanilla's fashion influence continues to be felt decades after her death in 1995, with the late Latin-American singer having a lasting impact on both her community and mainstream pop culture. Not only has she been cited as an influence for celebs like Selena Gomez and Beyoncé, but she's inspired posthumous collaborations with brands like Mac and Forever 21.

Selena's fashion combined her Mexican heritage with modern trends, featuring plenty of sparkles, bright colors, and western motifs. The Texas native often sported elements like cowboy boots, bedazzled bustiers, and a signature swipe of lipstick, ranking among the celebs who've mastered the art of the red lip. At the same time, she demonstrated her ability to channel effortless elegance, cutting quite a figure at events like the 1994 Grammys.

While Selena majorly impacted the landscape of Latin music, being the first ever female Tejano artist to win a Grammy for the Best Mexican-American Album, she was also a trailblazer when it came to celebrity entrepreneurship. The "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" singer was one of the first to branch outside of music, utilizing her style icon status to launch two Texas-based boutiques and salons back in the '90s. With all this in mind, it's no surprise that Selena Quintanilla had some unforgettable ensembles.

One of Selena Quintanilla's most memorable looks appeared on the cover of her 1993, Grammy-winning album "Live!" or "Live: Selena." Photographed by Al Reardon, the Texas native wore a purple jacket with many pockets that was decorated with rhinestones along its notched lapels, with matching, knee-high boots similarly embellished with swirly designs. The standout pieces were paired with a signature bustier and high-waisted pants, featuring bedazzling on the bust and a western-style belt. The outfit was memorialized on a Selena wax figure at the Madame Tussauds museum in Hollywood, demonstrating just how iconic this glam Tejano look truly is.

Selena Quintanilla had another iconic outerwear moment with an edgy, leather look that is now housed at the Smithsonian American History Museum. The ensemble, which the singer wore on tour throughout the early '90s, consists of a custom-made leather jacket from North Beach, a satin brassiere, and Tex-Mex-style cowboy boots. While the top's revealing silhouette and the tight-fitting pants reveal how Selena was influenced by mainstream pop artists like Madonna, the studded detailing and western footwear show how she infused her outfits with Tejano influence for a truly trailblazing impact.

Not only does Selena Quintanilla's appearance at the 1994 Grammy Awards mark a major career milestone for the "Dreaming of You" singer, as she accepted the record-breaking award for Best Mexican-American Album, it also added a memorable look to her fashion catalogue. The musical icon wore a white, floor-length gown consisting of a silver, halter-style neckline and oblong beading, fashioning her dark tresses in a voluminous style that lands among updo ideas great for thick hair. While the red-carpet ensemble brought serious glamour to the event, it wasn't custom made like many of the singer's other iconic looks. Instead, Selena purchased the Lillie Rubin gown from The Galleria mall in Houston, giving the style moment an unexpected origin story.

Selena Quintanilla wore one of her most unique looks in 1994 when she attended the first annual Premios Furia Musical in Mexico City. She radiated confidence in a garment made of small, reflective squares connected by silver rings, which she wore over a black, long-sleeved dress. The playful vibes of the unconventional look were heightened by some signature styling, including bright lipstick and large, silver hoops. Photos of the rising star in the dress appeared inside the pages of the Furia Musical magazine as well as on the front cover of a 1995 tribute edition, making this a look that will truly go down in history. 

While Selena Quintanilla turned heads during the 1994 Grammy Awards, she also looked stunning at the annual event's afterparty. The Tejano singer posed in a dark, netted gown decorated with sparkly embellishments, with the floor-length piece featuring a sweetheart neckline, mermaid silhouette, and ruffled skirt reminiscent of flamenco pieces. She completed the lovely ensemble with elegant styling, adding diamond-studded chandelier earrings, winged eyeliner, and a slicked-back hairstyle. The entire ensemble has been memorialized among Selena's other signature looks, appearing at the star's tribute museum in Corpus Christi.

Long-time fans of Selena Quintanilla know how iconic her bustier looks are, with the Texas native wearing variations of the silhouette across some of her most memorable performances. Her all-white ensemble, worn at events like her second-ever Houston Astrodome concert, is a great example of a signature bustier outfit, with the stylish look even appearing in the Jennifer Lopez-starring "Selena" biopic. Still, that's not the only special detail about the outfit. "Selena sewed each bead on her now famous white bustier by hand in her dressing room just before the concert," wrote @selenaqofficial, the Instagram account run by the Quintanilla family.

Selena Quintanilla had another iconic leather moment on the cover of her "Amor Prohibido" album, which was released in 1994 as the final published work before her untimely death. While this fact alone makes it a memorable moment, the outfit is both stylish and worth recreating, featuring a white blouse trimmed with ruffled lace and layered under a leather jacket. Displayed at The Selena Museum in Corpus Christi, the rest of the ensemble is rounded out by matching leather pants and heeled boots, with the star adding signature gold hoops for the album cover. Overall, this definitely ranks as one of Selena's most iconic outfits.

Next, Selena Quintanilla added to the list of celebrity menswear outfits that will make you want to raid your boyfriend's closet at the San Antonio location of the Hard Rock Cafe. The legendary singer commemorated the 1995 opening with a performance, appearing alongside celebrities like Freddy Fender, and wore a sparkly, pinstripe suit for the occasion. She styled the chic 'fit with a pulled-back hairstyle, a swipe of red lipstick, and signature large hoops. The suit was put on display alongside other Selena memorabilia at the Hard Rock Cafe in 2023, ensuring that we won't forget this fashionable menswear ensemble anytime soon.

Lastly, Selena Quintanilla gave what would be her final live performance at the Houston Astrodome in February 1995, taking the stage in an iconic purple jumpsuit. The sparkly garment featured a cross-body bodice, a stomach cutout, and bell bottoms, with the memorable ensemble being designed by Selena herself. Not only was the look featured in the 1997 "Selena" film, it's also been recreated by celebs like Kim Kardashian and America Ferrera. Being a part of such a memorable moment in the legendary star's short life, this is definitely a fashion moment we'll never forget.