Outdated Outfits Cardi B Has Been Caught Wearing

Certain performers venture so far outside of fashion norms that they simply float above trends, and we'd put Cardi B squarely in that category. Turning heads in everything from vivid, floor-length furs and romantic veils to sensual superhero costumes, we never know what the "Enough (Miami)" rapper is going to wear next — just that it'll probably be in-your-face sexy and heavily accessorized. Cardi B even delivers incredible pregnancy style, all while holding true to her endlessly over-the-top glamazon aesthetic.

So how does one begin to categorize so many larger-than-life looks? Much like trying to judge Katy Perry's most outdated outfits, calling out Cardi B's fashion is ultimately like accusing a circus performer of ignoring current styles — in other words, a little ridiculous. Still, even the most fad-defying fashionistas sometimes make sartorial choices that are clearly outmoded. For example, here are a few outfits that even Cardi's impressive swagger couldn't quite carry off.

Fringe has come and gone in recent style trends. However, not all fringed garments managed to reimagine this dated embellishment to create a contemporary look. Case in point, Cardi B wore a fringed mock-neck jumpsuit for her 2019 performance at the Real Street Festival. Featuring pink and blue fringe against a white, star-studded background, this piece was less modern performer and more "Sexy Stuntman" costume from Spirit Halloween. Just give her a motorcycle and Cardi B would be ready to jump the Grand Canyon like a knockoff Evel Knievel.

Cardi B had a good night at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, bringing home the award for Best Rap Song, but her two-piece marigold ensemble wasn't a win for us. While we wouldn't dare deny the "Bodak Yellow" rapper her bright colors or bling, this combination looked a little too fashion-backward. Maybe it was the ruched top and waistline, transporting us unpleasantly back to Charlotte Russe circa 2003. Or maybe it was the chunkiness of the jeweled embellishments, giving a Y2K "more is more" vibe. Either way, the look felt dated and obvious.

Speaking of turn-of-the-millenium nightmares, Cardi B's look at the 2019 photocall for "Hustlers" was a blast that should have stayed in the past. From the giant, red-tinted sunglasses and the cluster of tiny, Spice-Girl-worthy space buns to the trippy, geometric pattern of her long-sleeved bodycon dress, it was serving late '90s music video rather than current superstar. The dress itself was a throwback referencing a look from the Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 1995 ready-to-wear collection, but more could have (and should have) been done to modernize its impact.

Sometimes it takes decades for us to cringe at a former fad. Other times, it happens a lot faster. For instance, we're already shaking our heads at the inexplicable 2019 resurgence of bike shorts. We love athleisure as much as the next person, but Cardi B's 2020 take on the bike shorts trend had us doing a skeptical double-take. Adding glitzy jewelry and an adorable bow hairstyle did not an outfit make, and the shiny champagne shorts didn't even gel with her matte white sports bra.

Cardi B loves a theme, and she normally jumps in with both feet. But her 2020 take on cowboy style, while typically fitted and leg-baring, was curiously tame. "I ride it better," she captioned the Instagram post, but we're not so sure. Maybe we're biased by Beyonce's impeccable and creative interpretation of country-western fashion, but Cardi B's monotone brown color scheme and lack of embellishment made her cowgirl outfit fall flat. Instead of sassy, it just looked dated and a little dull — a rare disappointment from the usually bold performer.

As usual, Cardi B wasn't afraid to take style risks at the Messika by Kate Moss show at Paris Fashion Week 2021. However, her outfit's array of vintage touches went overboard. Up top, the full-coverage, gloved sleeves kicked off a touch of old Hollywood elegance. But the matching sunglasses and hairband ventured into the cartoony, and the shoe-engulfing pants were the final nail in the coffin. Instead of chic and classical, the total look came together like a forensic investigator trying not to contaminate a crime scene.

Remember those tacky old aprons and T-shirts with bikini-clad bodies printed on them? How would it look if someone tried to turn that concept into a modern dress? Cardi B found out in 2021, and the answer was: not good. While we appreciate the "WAP" singer's irrepressibly daring fashion sense, this dress took an idea that was already jokey and outdated, and then somehow made it worse. Red tinting gave the body print a gross anatomy text vibe, and the architectural white trim, while interesting, couldn't save the look.