In 2019, Lil’ Kim delivered two dramatically different fashion statements—one on the red carpet and another on stage—proving once again why she remains one of hip-hop’s most fearless style icons.
At the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, she embraced theatrical glamour in a feathered mini dress by The Blonds paired with strappy stiletto heels. Just weeks earlier at the BET Awards in Los Angeles, the rap legend pivoted toward futuristic street-luxury styling with a metallic ensemble, towering booties, and a collectible Chanel basketball purse.
Together, the two looks capture the essence of Lil’ Kim’s fashion philosophy: maximalist, fearless, and always anchored by statement footwear.
Lil’ Kim Goes Full Glam at the 2019 MTV VMAs in Feathered The Blonds Couture and Strappy Stiletto Heels
Lil’ Kim solidified her status as a high-fashion risk-taker when she arrived at the MTV VMAs at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, in August 2019.
Wearing an avant-garde purple-and-black feathered mini dress by The Blonds, the rap icon leaned into a maximalist aesthetic, anchoring the voluminous look with classic black strappy stiletto heels and a metallic chrome manicure.
The evening served as a masterclass in statement footwear. Notable red carpet highlights included Taylor Swift in crystal-encrusted Christian Louboutin boots, Normani in fiery red satin Louboutin sandals, Rosalía in architectural gold Giuseppe Zanotti wedges, and Bebe Rexha in silver embellished 4.5-inch three-strap sandals.
Lil’ Kim makes a dramatic entrance at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, pairing a purple-and-black feathered mini dress by The Blonds with strappy black lace-up stiletto heels that highlight her legs on August 26, 2019 (Credit: FayesVision / WENN / Ivan Nikolov)
The rap icon styled her feathery dress from the New York-based fashion brand The Blonds with black strappy heels, a fresh chrome manicure, and glittering statement earrings.
Lil’ Kim’s choice of The Blonds for the 2019 VMAs wasn’t accidental. The design duo is famous for their decade-long partnership with Christian Louboutin, who has provided custom, sky-high footwear for nearly all their runway shows—most notably their 2018 “Disney Villains” and “Punk” collections.
This synergy between avant-garde apparel and luxury footwear is what makes Lil’ Kim’s red carpet appearances so impactful for shoe enthusiasts.
Lil’ Kim waves on the red carpet at the 2019 MTV VMAs, stunning in a strapless purple-and-black feathered dress by The Blonds with bold statement earrings
To date, “The Jump Off” artist has won three MTV Video Music Awards. She first earned the Viewer’s Choice trophy for “All About the Benjamins (Rock Remix)” in 1998, followed by two wins in 2001 for the iconic “Lady Marmalade,” which took home both Video of the Year and Best Video from a Film.
Lil’ Kim makes a dramatic statement at the 2019 MTV VMAs in a feather-embellished purple-and-black mini dress by The Blonds, paired with black strappy lace-up heels
The last time she walked the VMAs red carpet was in 2013 when she rocked yellow Christian Louboutin “Daf Booty” ankle boots.
Lil’ Kim Channels Futuristic Street-Luxury at the 2019 BET Awards With Metallic Affair Dress and Towering Booties
Earlier in 2019, Lil’ Kim hit the stage with Mary J. Blige for a performance of their hit song “I Can Love You” at the 2019 BET Awards in Los Angeles.
Lil’ Kim rocks a voluminous topknot and bold pink lips while posing in a futuristic metallic outfit at the 2019 BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 23, 2019
Promoting her upcoming new reality show, Girls Cruise, Kimberly Denise Jones styled a futuristic dress and bomber jacket by Affair with a messy updo, fingerless leather biker gloves, a basketball-inspired Chanel purse reminiscent of Andrea Bergart’s designs, and towering stiletto booties.
Lil’ Kim showcases futuristic flair at the 2019 BET Awards in a sculpted mini dress paired with black sock booties and a basketball-inspired Chanel purse
The Chanel basketball purse, famously carried by Lil’ Kim at the 2019 BET Awards, is a rare and luxurious collectible item that fuses high fashion with sports aesthetics.
Known as the Chanel Basketball with Chain Harness, it features a regulation-sized ball crafted from premium materials, such as lambskin or calfskin, suspended in a metallic leather harness adorned with the iconic CC logo. Originally released as part of Chanel’s 2019 Métiers d’Art Collection, this avant-garde accessory echoes a growing trend of sports-inspired fashion on the runway.
This bold fusion of athleticism and luxury is also central to the work of New York-based artist and designer Andrea Bergart. Like Chanel, Bergart brings a street-meets-high-fashion sensibility to her creations, particularly her signature basketball handbags crafted from NBA youth-sized basketballs and finished with luxe details like leather trims and gold hardware.
Artist and designer Andrea Bergart showcases her signature Basketball Purse—crafted from an authentic Spalding NBA ball with a gold chain harness—blending sporty streetwear with high-fashion flair
Lil’ Kim’s Bold Footwear Legacy: More Iconic Shoe Moments
From sky-high Christian Louboutin platforms to dramatic stage-ready booties and strappy stilettos on the red carpet, Lil’ Kim has built a reputation as one of hip-hop’s most fearless fashion risk-takers.
Over the years, her outfits have consistently paired maximalist silhouettes with equally striking footwear—whether she’s embracing colorful statement boots, towering heels, or couture-inspired stage looks. Explore more of Lil’ Kim’s standout shoe moments and fashion highlights below.
👠 Explore Lil’ Kim’s Best Shoe & Fashion Moments on Your Next Shoes:
- ✨ Lil’ Kim’s most iconic red carpet shoes trace her fearless footwear legacy across two decades, from statement boots to dramatic platform moments that helped define her style identity.
- 👗 Kim Kardashian and Lil’ Kim’s 2018 footwear contrast compares Kim’s minimalist Yeezy sandals with Lil’ Kim’s bold Christian Louboutin heels in a sharp side-by-side fashion story.
- 💛 Her standout 2013 MTV VMAs shoe moment revisits Lil’ Kim’s bold yellow Christian Louboutin “Daf Booty” ankle boots, one of the flashiest footwear statements from that red carpet.
- 📏 Lil’ Kim in YNS’s richest female rappers style roundup spotlights her 4’9½” (146.1 cm) frame, US shoe size 6, and bold red carpet styling, including Jessica Rich gladiator-style sandals and Gucci-era glam.