Misa Hylton
Misa Hylton is a renowned American fashion designer, stylist, and cultural icon which is widely credited with shaping the iconic looks of the ’90s hip-hop scene.
Known for her collaborations with stars like Lil’ Kim and Mary J. Blige, Misa has left an indelible mark on both fashion and pop culture.
With her unique style and visionary approach, she continues to influence the industry and inspire new generations. In this article, we’ll explore Misa Hylton’s life journey, from her career highlights and family life to her impressive net worth and vibrant presence on Instagram.
Misa Hylton Biography
Misa Hylton (formerly Misa Hylton-Brim; was born in January 6, 1974) is an influential American fashion designer and stylist.
She was recognized as a trailblazer in the fashion world, she has worked with numerous hip-hop and R&B artists since the 1990s, with prominent collaborations including Lil’ Kim and Mary J. Blige.
Hylton’s signature “hip-hop glamorous” aesthetic has left a lasting impact on mainstream fashion trends.
Currently, she serves as a global creative partner for MCM and was featured in the 2019 documentary The Remix Hip Hop x Fashion as a central figure.
Misa Hylton Wiki
Born Date: 6 January 1974
Age: 50 Years Old
Place of birth: Mount Vernon, New York, U.S.
Other names: Misa Hylton-Brim
Occupation(s): Fashion stylist, designer
Children: 3
Net Worth: $19 Million
Instagram: @misahylton
Early life
Misa Hylton brought up in Mount Vernon, New York, with a diverse background. Her mother is of Japanese and Jamaican descent, while her father is African American.
From an early age, Hylton had a keen interest in fashion and a love for hip-hop music. She would listen to hip-hop radio and imagine the outfits that artists might wear.
Her future partner, Sean “Puffy” Combs, also came from Mount Vernon and lived near one of her childhood friends.
Misa Hylton Career
Misa Hylton’s fashion career began at the age of 17 years old, while she was still in high school, when she got her start by assisting on a Jodeci music video. Her then-boyfriend, Sean Combs, who was working as an A&R intern, invited her to join him on set.
Together, they persuaded Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell to let the group wear combat boots, hoodies, and backward caps, a style that stood out. Through Combs, Hylton was introduced to other Uptown Records artists, who soon became her early clients.
Among Hylton’s most iconic clients were Lil’ Kim and Mary J. Blige, whom she considered her primary sources of inspiration.
She even began designing custom pieces for Lil’ Kim, who was 4’11” with size 4.5 shoes, to find the right fits and looks. One of her most famous designs was Lil’ Kim’s purple jumpsuit and pasty at the 1999 VMAs.
Hylton has said her early designs emphasized creativity and bold choices, a style she associated with her roots in the “hip hop generation.” For Lil’ Kim’s “Crush on You” video, Hylton drew inspiration from “The Wiz”, and she also styled Lil’ Kim for her solo debut album titled “Hard Core”.
At the age of 21, Misa Hylton launched Chyna Doll Enterprises, a business that supplied stylists for music videos, magazine covers, and public appearances.
Chyna Doll Enterprises styled numerous well-known artists, including Aaliyah, Faith Evans, Jodeci, Q-Tip, Foxy Brown, and Dru Hill.
By 25 years old, Hylton had reached the million-dollar mark in her career as a stylist. Her styling portfolio also includes names like Sean Combs, Missy Elliott, 50 Cent, La La Anthony, Mase, Terrence Howard, and Mary J. Blige, notably in the “Not Gon’ Cry” video.
Hylton has openly discussed the challenges she encountered as a young woman of color in the fashion industry. Her clients’ style, often described as “ghetto fabulous,” was something she preferred to call “hip-hop glam”.
This aesthetic was initially met with resistance from the mainstream fashion world. To support her vision, she would personally purchase luxury pieces for her clients using her own credit card.
As Lil’ Kim gained more recognition through campaigns like MAC Cosmetics, Hylton’s clients began attracting interest from prominent fashion houses, including Galliano.
In an interview with “Billboard”, Hylton shared that Versace was one of her favorite brands to work with, partly because they featured Naomi Campbell as a model during a time when major fashion houses rarely showcased darker-skinned models.
Hylton also collaborates frequently with Dapper Dan. Together, they created unique pieces like custom-made shorts for rapper Trina, crafted from actual twenty-dollar bills, and styled Fendi Zucca print suits for the “Let’s Get It” music video.
In 2012, Hylton launched the Misa Hylton Fashion Academy alongside co-founder and fellow stylist Jai Hudson.
She later starred in The Remix: Hip Hop x Fashion, a documentary exploring the impact of fashion in hip-hop culture. The film debuted at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.
In February 2020, Harlem’s Fashion Row celebrated Hylton, along with April Walker and Dapper Dan, for their significant contributions to the fashion industry.
Misa Hylton serves as a global creative partner for MCM. In 2018, she was the designer behind the wardrobe for Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s “Apeshit” music video.
She later created custom MCM chaps and a western hat for Megan Thee Stallion’s performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in July 2019.
Hylton also led styling and fashion direction for Paper magazine’s November 2020 editorial with Flo Milli, featuring custom pieces like a denim bustier, panties, pasties, and a headwrap.
In 2021, Hylton introduced her INC fashion line at Macy’s. This was part of the department store’s “Icons of Style” campaign, which highlighted influential Black American designers and creatives, including Ouigi Theodore and Zerina Akers, alongside Hylton.
Impact
In the 90s, Misa Hylton frequently styled her clients in Western-inspired outfits, including Mary J. Blige in the “All That I Can Say” music video. This look is seen as an early influence on the “Yeehaw” trend that reemerged in 2019.
Hylton is credited with transforming the fashion of women rappers in the 90s, impacting styles that continue to influence today’s artists.
While female emcees in the 80s often wore more masculine clothing, Hylton encouraged them to embrace and celebrate their femininity through their fashion choices.
Stars like Rihanna have cited Lil’ Kim, one of Hylton’s iconic clients, as a style inspiration. For example, Cardi B’s gold chain headdress in “Money” and the red fur with bob wig look in “Backin It Up” both trace back to Hylton’s styling for Lil’ Kim.
Hylton’s first professional clients, Jodeci, adopted a casual, contemporary style of hoodies and backward hats at her suggestion, departing from the formal attire typically worn by R&B artists at the time. This style had a lasting influence on R&B fashion and remains a reference for modern artists.
Personal Life
Misa Hylton has three children, a son with music mogul and producer Sean Combs, and a son and daughter with her ex-husband Jojo Brim.
Conclusion:
Misa Hylton’s influence on fashion and hip-hop culture has been both impactful and enduring. From her early days pioneering bold looks for music icons to her role as a mentor in the fashion world today, Misa’s journey is a testament to her creativity and resilience.
As she continues to break barriers and inspire others, Misa remains a celebrated figure whose legacy will last for years to come. Her story reminds us that true style transcends time and culture.
