We are kicking off our celebration of African-American fashion icons with none other than Prince.

Prince’s eccentric, often confusing style has made people question his fashion sense.

He remains almost asexual with his looks – vibrant feminine colors, makeup, super tight fitting clothes, a slim dainty physique – yet he always has beautiful female arm candy and tough rock star swag.

At 51 years-old, Prince has undoubtedly created a signature style that even young stars of today, like Rihanna, are strongly influenced by.

Prince was quoted saying “I went to see the Jackson Five when I was a kid, and they all wore flat shoes, and it didn’t work.”

Well those high heels, ruffled shirts, big hair, flashy suits and diamond encrusted walking stick are just a handful of looks that have made him stand out years after years.

His flamboyant style even translates into home decor. The New Yorker‘s Claire Hoffman visited Prince’s home to interview the star in November 2008, and described it as the following:

“The thirty-thousand-square-foot Italianate villa, built this century by Vanna White’s ex-husband, looks like many of the other houses in Beverly Park, a gated community in L.A., except for the bright-purple carpet that spills down the front steps to announce its new tenant: Prince.

“In the living room, he’d installed purple thrones on either side of a fireplace, and, nearby, along a hallway, he had hung photographs of himself, in a Moroccan villa, in various states of undress”.

Do you consider Prince a fashion icon?

Check out a short tribute video made for Prince on his 50th birthday, including highlights from his career, and of course some very funky outfits along the way:

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