TLC's Most Stylish Music Videos
Famed '90s girl group, TLC have announced a Kickstarter campaign to fund their next and last record, the first without Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who died in a car accident in Honduras back in 2002 (their previous album 3D was released after Lopes’ death, however she had already recorded vocals for several tracks). The band has also announced that it will go on tour with that other monumental boy band group of the late '80s and early '90s, New Kids on the Block. TLC has had a lasting musical influence, but they also had a fashion legacy all their own. Here’s a look back at their most stylish music videos.
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1992, Ain’t Too Proud 2 Beg
Their debut single “Ain’t Too Proud 2 Beg” introduced Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, to the world, and what an introduction! The girls are decked out in colorful clothes and accessorized with condoms. The baggy fit of their clothes would become a trademark look throughout their career. Their oversized jeans worn with suspenders to hold them up are taken to a next level by leaving the fly open, to show off the colorful boxers they are wearing underneath. They take the oversize theme one step beyond, by wearing giant toy sunglasses, hats, and pacifier necklaces. There’s so much going on, and yet somehow they all made it work.
1994, Creep
The debut single from their second record album CrazySexyCool, “Creep” took the girls away from their cartoon-ish image and into grown-up, sexy women – that still liked to have fun – territory. Their signature oversized wardrobe is still there, this time in the form of giant silk satin pajamas, the better to float behind them like superhero capes while they dance in front of some wind machines. When not in their pajamas, the girls are rocking their take on grunge, menswear pieces combined with sports bras and crop-tops. You just know Alexander Wang has watched this video plenty of times when searching for inspiration for his next collections!
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1995, Red Light Special
For their second single, the women took their image further away from the fun style that had become their calling. The song was sultry and sexy, but this being TLC, the ladies remained cover up in their oversized menswear-inspired gear, while the guys writhed around them wearing nothing but baby oil and hot pants. Best look definitely goes to T-Boz’s white crop top and gold belly chain situation.
1995, Waterfalls
Perhaps their most famous song and video, “Waterfalls” is the one that cemented the band’s musical reputation and signature style. Wearing their trademark wide leg trousers – this time in a gauzy fabric, with a sarong tied around them – and tiny tight cropped tops, the girls dance around the water in perfectly 90’s frosted makeup.
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1999, No Scrubs
For FanMail, which debuted in 1999, the band was deep into that kind of late 20th futurism that was all metallic colors, and unnatural textures like feathers and plastic. Inspired a little bit by Thierry Mugler, Left Eye is a maginificent cyborg in blue metallic armor while delivering her lines. T-Boz meanwhile, seems to be taking inspiration from Milla Jovovich’s character “Leeloo" in The Fifth Element. Their Japanese Manga-inspired make-up is the icing on this delicious millennial cake.
1999, Unpretty
The other big trend at the end of the 20th century, was the embrace of Orientalism, particularly as it related to spiritualism in India. For “Unpretty”, they’re all shown meditating or laying in a field of flowers, like they are goddesses telling us to love ourselves more. There’s gold hand bracelets, gauzy, pleated trousers, beaded details and rainbows galore. Chilli definitely had the best look of the three with her liquid gold long-sleeve crop top and matching skirt.
