Shakira is known as the “Queen of Latin Music,” having gained fame in the Hispanic world during the mid-90s before achieving international pop stardom with her English-language debut album, Laundry Service, and hit song, “Whenever, Wherever.” Her success has made her one of the best-selling music artists of all time, selling millions of records in both Spanish and English. As a versatile and eclectic artist, Shakira’s music spans various genres and cultural influences, ranging from rock ‘n’ roll and tango to reggaeton and electropop. Her unique style is also notable, with her fashion choices evolving from Latin, rock-infused boho looks in the early 2000s to more current and statement-making outfits seen on the red carpet and at fashion events. With Shakira recently receiving the Video Vanguard Award at the VMAs, we celebrate her iconic outfits from the early 2000s.
Back in 2001, Shakira became a household name in the US after her performance on MTV Unplugged. This was before the release of her famous album, Laundry Service. During the concert, she sang popular tunes from her best-selling albums, Pies Descalzos and Dónde Están los Ladrones?. What made her performance unique was that it was the first-ever Unplugged concert where all the songs were sung exclusively in Spanish. The album recorded during the concert created history by breaking records and even won Shakira a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album.
In 2001, Shakira gained global recognition with her MTV Unplugged album. She then decided to release her first English-language album, Laundry Service. The album included popular songs such as “Underneath Your Clothes”, “Objective (Tango)”, and the timeless classic, “Whenever, Wherever”. Shakira attended the album’s release party in her signature boho-rock attire, wearing a purple slip dress, fishnet stockings, and a studded belt. The hit song “Whenever, Wherever” skyrocketed Shakira to international stardom, with everyone knowing the famous lyrics about her small and humble breasts. The music video for the song became iconic, featuring Shakira dancing and shaking in various locations such as the desert, mud, and on top of a mountain, wearing a laser-cut leather bralette and low-rise lace-up pants.
The image captured at Madison Square Garden in 2001 showcases Shakira’s iconic Laundry Service era style. Her outfit includes an unbuttoned bustier, studded cuffs, and a heavy crucifix that perfectly encapsulates the Y2K aesthetic. Her cut-out pants and black hair extensions complete the look for a truly stunning ensemble.
In 2003, Shakira went on her first global tour called The Tour of the Mongoose after the tremendous success of her album Laundry Service. The reason behind naming her tour after mongoose was its unique ability to defeat venomous snakes with just one bite. In an interview with MTV, Shakira explained that she chose this name to encourage people to channel their inner mongoose and combat everyday hatred, resentment, and prejudice. The tour featured some memorable looks, such as leather and lace attire, and an intricate candelabra headpiece.
Shakira made another iconic fashion statement at the 2003 Latin Grammys, showcasing her boho style with a shredded denim outfit paired with a lovely floral top and a pink fur stole. This look embodied the Y2K era, which was characterized by unique and daring fashion choices. The photo captures the essence of Shakira’s style during that time.
The 00s Grammys saw some truly iconic outfits, and one star who always knew how to make a statement was Shakira. The singer is known for her love of showing off her midriff – a style choice that likely stems from her passion for belly-dancing. Since bursting onto the scene with the hit song “Whenever, Wherever”, Shakira has been just as famous for her yodeling contralto as she is for her swiveling hips (which never lie!). Her signature dance style combines Latin and Middle Eastern belly dancing, drawing on her Lebanese heritage. In this performance of “Hips Don’t Lie”, Shakira wowed the crowd in a molded bustier and gold hip-huggers that perfectly showcased her incredible moves that have captivated audiences around the world.