Say what you want about the King of Pop, but don’t say he wasn’t individual and trend setting! Everything Michael Jackson did was ground breaking and demanded a mass following from colleagues and fans alike. Every artist from Chris Brown, to Usher, to Pharrell, to Beyonce has taken a page out of Michael’s big book of style. Take a ride with me, in not only remembering Michael’s great contributions to music, but to fashion:

Number 5, The Fedora Hat:

Whether he was on the stage being Bad, or defying gravity with his “Smooth Criminal” lean, he went nowhere and did nothing without his fedora hat.

Number 4, Military Jacket:

The military jacket, while he didn’t invent it, he brought it to the forefront and made it cool. So cool that Balmain made plenty military jackets in different fabrics and styles as part of his Fall 2009 collection. Everyone from Beyonce, to Rihanna, to Kanye West has rocked the military jacket, especially Kanye. But where do you think they got it from?

Number 3, Buckled Leather:

When Michael said he was bad, he wasn’t playing! Nothing says bad ass like leather, all buckled up. His jacket, his pants, his glove, everything! During his promotion of his 3rd solo album, “Bad”, he proved that the King of Pop was a certified rock star! Whether it was on his album cover, on the stage, or accepting an award. He proved that like his moves and music, his style had many dimensions and never failed to impress.

Number 2, Thriller Jacket:

Cause this is Thriller, Thriller night, and no ones gonna save you, from the best about to strike! You know it’s thriller… Man, what can I say about this? It’s Thriller! This ground breaking video (can we even call it that?) bridged the gap between the world of cinema and the world of music! His references to films like Night of The Living Dead and Dracula, gave this dance classic a horror movie feel. I remember when I was younger, not knowing that “Thriller” was just a video and being scared to death! And not to mention that red and black leather jacket with the sharp shoulders. To this day, stars like Victoria Beckham rocks the strong shoulders and even if you look at Beyonce’s Sasha Fierce character alter ego, she’s never seen without her sharp shoulder dresses and jackets!

Number 1, THE GLOVE!:

What can I say about this one? It’s the glove! That’s it. No description needed.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson! The King of Pop, the Gloved one. You will forever be missed and your legacy lives on.