Growing up in the 2000s, I wanted to be Enrique Iglesias. I was fascinated by the Spanish singer’s stage presence, and more importantly, his suave style. Not dissimilar to the flair of Puerto Rico’s Ricky Martin, Iglesias, who turns 47 today, cultivated a look during the decade that was all about leather pants, silky button-up shirts, and tight tees with sternum-baring deep Vs. His fashion sense embodied a certain type of confidence—his clothes clung to every inch of him, and his theatrical stage movements only made the clothes seem somehow tighter. I was obsessed with the whole vibe; it just seemed totally rockstar.
Even over two decades later, Iglesias’s distinctive style still seems fresh to me. (It likely has something to do with all of the fashion labels who are reviving Y2K style.) While looking through the new collections of Amiri and Saint Laurent, for instance, I instantly see Iglesias’s influence. Their runways are filled with tight leather pants and blazers and itty-bitty T-shirts. I just know Enrique would also approve of Diesel’s latest collection, whether it’s the sharp leather racing jackets, or the denim baseball caps (the man loved a hat—trucker hats, baseball caps, knitted beanies, you name it).
The 2000s may be trending, but what I love about Iglesias’s take on the era is it always veered more sophisticated and understated. He often relied on an all-black color palette (very The Row), which makes his wardrobe still look modern. Even today, Iglesias loves a muted ensemble. Just last year, he toured with Martin and performed in all-black. Sure, spring and summer may be all about embracing color, but I find myself drawn to dressing in tight-fitting, black clothes like Iglesias again (something I also did for much of my high school days during peak Enrique fandom). His super-slick style hasn’t changed in over 20 years, and it’s clearly still working. So why should mine?
Below, more of Iglesias’s best 2000s fashion moments.
