Prince: the reign of a fashion icon | CNN

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 07: (Exclusive Coverage) Prince performs during his "Welcome 2 America" tour at Madison Square Garden on February 7, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage) *** Local Caption *** Prince

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Story highlights

The musician Prince has died at the age of 57

He had a successful career spanning four decades

His image was a crucial facet of his creative output, with many of his outfits becoming iconic

CNN —

His Royal Badness, the Purple One, “the artist formerly known as Prince” and of course, simply Prince, has died at the age of 57. With a career spanning four decades, and many monikers, the legendary musician will not be soon forgotten.

Nor will he be remembered solely for his music. Ever the showman, his image was a crucial facet of his creative output. From-head-to-toe sequins to ruffled collars, nudity and a well-publicized penchant for purple, Prince’s outfits became as legendary as his music.

Rising to prominence in the 1970s, he pioneered “the Minneapolis sound”, a mixture of funk, rock, pop, synthpop and new wave.

Loose hair and bare chested -- the cover of Prince's 1979 self-titled sophomore album.

From NPG Records

"Purple rain, purple rain" -- The color which he became known for was best represented in the 1984 film "Purple Rain".

From Warner Bros.

Rockstar dandy -- From the Purple Rain 1984 tour.

Ebet Roberts/Getty Images

Naughty and nude -- The cover of Lovesexy, his tenth album was released in 1988.

From NPG Records

Showing some skin -- Prince and The New Power Generation perform "Gett Off" at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles. This revealing yellow jumpsuit was arguably one of his more outrageous outfits.

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images/Kevork Djansezian/AP

True blue -- Coordinating an outfit around one color was a Prince signature. Here he is in electric blue at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.

KMazur/WireImage/Getty Imges

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Nudity and the color purple: in fashion, Prince reigned supreme

Story highlights