Selena Quintanilla's Most Iconic Outfits
When Tejano singing sensation Selena Quintanilla gained popularity in the late '80s, she was an upbeat, fun, and beautiful representation of what it was to be Mexican-American in a way that hadn't been celebrated by the mainstream before she came along. And her talent was only one piece of what made Quintanilla so appealing to fans.
She brought a colorful, rhinestone-studded aesthetic to her on-stage style that fused looks from her idols Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Paula Abdul, with Texan touches. The popularity of her look even spilled into the mainstream via retail stores. In 1993, she joined up with designer Martin Gomez to launch a clothing boutique with locations in two Texas cities. Tragically, that project along with her sensational music career, were cut short in March 1995, when Quintanilla's former associate shot and killed the Tejano star when she was just 23. But Quintanilla's legacy has survived, and that includes the singer's most iconic outfits.
Selena was sensational in white, then black, at the Grammys
In her short career, Selena Quintanilla made quite an impact. Because she wasn't on the scene for long, she made very few red-carpet appearances, but her look at the March 1994 Grammys has to be her most notable. At the event, she made history by becoming the first female Tejano singer to win the award for best Mexican/Mexican-American album. Unlike celebrities today, who enlist a top-tier stylist to curate their looks for major red carpets, Selena opted for a much simpler approach: She headed to the mall in Houston, Texas, and bought the now-iconic white Lille Rubin-designed gown, which featured gold beading and a halter neck.
After her gramophone trophy win, Selena ditched the white dress in favor of a netted number with a sweetheart neckline that she paired with statement earrings, and hit the after-party circuit, posing with legends like Bonnie Raitt. When it came to her beauty look, Selena proved why red lipstick is always a good idea. She paired the classic makeup with a nod to the 1920s with a kiss curl on the forehead, swapping out the piled-high hairstyle she wore to the ceremony.
Selena's stage presence was unrivaled in her sparkly jumpsuit
When fans think of Selena Quintanilla's fashion, this image from a show at the Houston Astrodome in February 1995 often comes to mind. It was both the outfit itself — the glittery maroon jumpsuit with ABBA-like flared pants and a bolero jacket over the top — and the fact that it was the singing sensation's final televised performance before her murder the next month.
Like fellow Texan Beyoncé, Selena mostly worked with her mother to create her stage outfits. In the biopic "Selena," starring Jennifer Lopez, there's even a scene about her outfits, where her strict father puts his foot down about her bustier tops; in the film, they compromise when she agrees to wear jackets with her looks. One such outfit, with a black leather jacket, leather pants, and a black bra, is on display at the Smithsonian in D.C., proving her enduring national significance.
Selena also brought sophistication to the stage with pinstripes
If you want tips for rocking pinstripes outside of the office, look no further than Selena. In January 1995, the Tejano sensation took to the stage at the Hard Rock Café in San Antonio, Texas, wearing pinstripes. But not just any pinstripes. This suit had sparkly silver threads to make it stage-worthy. They coordinated perfectly with her silver jewelry, including her ring. The singer eloped with her guitarist husband Chris Perez in 1992.
Selena was dubbed the Tex-Mex Madonna after often pairing bra tops with pants and cowboy boots on stage. Madonna made wearing risqué lingerie on stage a thing in the early '90s and Selena was a disciple of the look. For a performance at the Houston Astrodome in 1994, she donned her quintessential mix of a sexy bustier top finished off with Western touches. And just as Selena's legacy lives on, so does the 2023 Westerncore cowgirl-inspired fashion trend that we still can't ignore.