Written by Ashlyn Sorrells

Photos of Mikayla Buneta, Alexis Loftis, Vivian Rodriguez, and Ashlyn Sorrells by Nia Harrison

There are three ways I would describe Tyler, The Creator: an independent thinker, a visionary, and a fashion inspiration. Tyler is not only a fashion inspiration in a visual sense, but he has taught many of his fans, including myself, the significance of self-expression through clothing. Tyler has always held a reputation as a style icon, even more so after starting his clothing and apparel companies, GOLF WANG and GOLF Le FLEUR*. Tyler’s sense of style has fluctuated throughout his career, and we tend to see this style change correlate with each album release. 

Before his personal debut, Tyler was a member of a group called Odd Future. He first appeared on a track in 2007 and released his first independent album, Bastard, in 2009. After this album, Tyler released three more albums, Goblin (2011), Wolf (2013), and Cherry Bomb (2015). At the beginning of Tyler’s independent career, he didn’t have the best reputation due to his obscene lyrical tendencies.  It wasn’t until he released his album, Flower Boy in 2017, that the larger public started to approve of his music. 

Although all of his albums have their own sound and feel, Flower Boy was a huge shift in his music style. Along with this new sound, Tyler’s fashion sense started to change. Previously, his style consisted of colorful t-shirts – typically Odd Future merch or GOLF apparel – snapback hats, and the famed tennis shoe/white tube sock combo. After Flower Boy, we started to see Tyler frequently wear slacks and collared shirts. Not only was his music style starting to shift, but Tyler was starting to mature. This maturity was expressed through the clothing he was wearing and his lyrical growth. He honed in on personal emotions and experiences––including his sexuality––through his lyricism, which added depth to his product. 

In 2019, Tyler released IGOR––an even bigger variation in his music style. Between this album and his latest, Call Me If You Get Lost released in 2021, Tyler’s typical look has notably changed. Leather loafers, brown and cream slacks, puffers, and hugger caps are what we see him wearing most. Tyler’s move toward styles traditionally associated with luxury is another nod to his upward trajectory, both personally and musically. 

Let’s circle back to Tyler’s entrepreneurial endeavors, Golf Wang and Golf le Fleur. Golf Wang was created in 2011 and has continually gained popularity since its startup. They sell apparel such as sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, jackets, socks, even lighters, and pocket knives. Recently, GOLF has extended their market to the public, opening a store in Los Angeles, and another in New York. Golf le Fleur, founded in 2017, is a collaboration between Tyler, The Creator and Converse This brand has released multiple unique collections of shoes designed by Tyler. Golf le Fleur also recently started to expand with new products such as perfumes, nail polish, and apparel. 

Tyler, The Creator has gradually become more expressive of himself and his fashion sense during his career. Through his music and featured interviews, he has consistently held a nonchalant attitude toward others' opinions.​​ This is and has always been something I've personally admired. Tyler is a true connoisseur, someone who puts passion toward various enterprises; producing music, designing clothing and shoes, and running multiple companies. His journey to conquer multiple talents is inspiring, influential, and is what many of us look up to.