In his 57 years, Prince accomplished more than anyone could hope to achieve in several lifetimes, starting his music career as a teenager, reaching platinum at 21, and never relenting after that. He went through constant reinvention in both his music and his style, which harnessed a gender-bending exuberance that always dripped of sex. Vulture assembled 42 of Prince’s defining looks, in his performances from the beginnings of his music career in the early 1980s to the present, in a portrait of an artist who was rarely the same, but always himself.
At the Bottom Line in New York on February 15, 1980.
Photo: Waring Abbott/Getty ImagesMay 29, 1981.
Photo: Virginia Turbett/Getty ImagesMarch 22, 1981.
Photo: Ebet Roberts/Getty ImagesAt the Palladium in New York on December 2, 1981.
Photo: Waring Abbott/Getty ImagesAt Rosemont Horizon in Chicago on December 10, 1984, during his Purple Rain tour.
Photo: Richard E. Aaron/Getty ImagesAt Rosemont Horizon in Chicago on December 10, 1984, during his Purple Rain tour.
Photo: Richard E. Aaron/Getty Images1985.
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesAt the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, California, on February 19, 1985.
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesAt the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, California, on February 19, 1985.
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesJune 15, 1985.
Photo: Brian Rasic/Getty ImagesIn Hamburg, January 1, 1986.
Photo: ullstein bild/Getty ImagesAt Wembley Arena, London, August 1, 1986, on the Hit n Run-Parade Tour.
Photo: © Michael Putland/Getty ImagesAt Wembley Arena, London, August 1, 1986, on the Hit n Run-Parade Tour.
Photo: Michael Putland/Getty ImagesAt Wembley Stadium, London, August 13, 1986.
Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty ImagesAt Wembley Arena in London on July 28, 1988.
Photo: David Corio/Getty ImagesJanuary 1, 1990.
Photo: Frank Micelotta Archive/Getty ImagesCelebrating his birthday and the release of Purple Rain at 1st Avenue in Minneapolis on June 7, 1984.
Photo: Paul Natkin/Get...Celebrating his birthday and the release of Purple Rain at 1st Avenue in Minneapolis on June 7, 1984.
Photo: Paul Natkin/Getty ImagesIn Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 30, 1990.
Photo: Frank Micelotta Archive/Getty ImagesAt Wembley Arena, London, July 1, 1990, on Nude Tour.
Photo: Michael Putland/Getty ImagesAt Wembley Arena, London, July 1, 1990.
Photo: Frank Micelotta Archive/Getty ImagesAt Wembley, London, August 22, 1990.
Photo: Graham Wiltshire/Getty ImagesAt Earl's Court, London, June 15, 1992.
Photo: Scan Room/Getty ImagesAt Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on July 6, 1992.
Photo: Foto Rob Verhorst/Getty ImagesLondon, January 1, 1993.
Photo: Michael Putland/Getty ImagesAt Radio City Music Hall in New York on March 24, 1993.
Photo: Al Pereira/Getty ImagesPerforming wearing 'Slave' tattoo, on 'The Ultimate Live Experience' tour at Wembley Arena, March 4, 1995.
Photo: Peter Still/Getty ImagesAt the Ultimate Live Experience, March 1, 1995.
Photo: Mick Hutson/Getty ImagesAt Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, on October 10, 1997.
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty ImagesAt the San Jose State Event Center in San Jose, California, on April 19, 1997.
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty ImagesAt the 46th Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2004.
Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty ImagesDuring the American Idol Season 5 Finale at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, on May 24, 2006.
Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty ImagesPerforming during half-time at Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami, February 4, 2007.
Photo: ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty ImagesAt the 2007 NCLR ALMA Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on June 1, 2007.
Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty ImagesAt 'One Night ... Three Venues' hosted by Prince and Lotusflow3r.com held at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on March 28, 2009.
Photo: Kristian Dowling/Getty...At 'One Night ... Three Venues' hosted by Prince and Lotusflow3r.com held at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on March 28, 2009.
Photo: Kristian Dowling/Getty ImagesAt The Forum in Inglewood, California, on May 29, 2011, on the 'Welcome 2 America' Tour.
Photo: Jordan Strauss/Getty ImagesAt Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on July 8, 2011 on the 'Welcome 2 Europe' tour.
Photo: Brian Ach/Getty ImagesAt the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, on June 30, 2011.
Photo: BERTRAND GUAY/Getty ImagesAt Madison Square Garden in New York City on February 7, 2011, on the 'Welcome 2 America' tour.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images2012.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesAt the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2013.
Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesAt the 2013 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 19, 2013.
Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesAt the 2015 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, on November 22, 2015.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/AMA2015/Getty Images