Machine Gun Kelly transformed his wardrobe from Cleveland rap essentials to high-fashion pop-punk statements. Here is how his visual identity came together.
Machine Gun Kelly, born Colson Baker, never entered a room quietly. When the Cleveland-bred musician first broke onto the national radar, his physical presence carried the same raw voltage as his fast-paced rhymes. Tall, heavily tattooed, and permanently unbothered by fashion rulebooks, he turned getting dressed into an extension of his performance art. When he sat down with Young Hollywood early in his journey, his open approach to life on the road set the stage for a creative path defined by zero creative boundaries.
Young Hollywood has tracked his career across 47 stories since 2012, charting his leap from underground mixtapes to top-tier arena stages and major movie sets. Through every career pivot, his clothing choices shifted in real time to match the sound and energy of each project. Watch our full sit-down with Machine Gun Kelly below.
Cleveland Streetwear and Raw Performance Energy
During his initial run as a rapid-fire hip-hop artist, Baker leaned heavily into stripped-down, authentic streetwear. Distressed denim, combat boots, graphic tees, and vintage band shirts formed the foundation of his look. It was functional, rough around the edges, and built to survive chaotic club sets where he routinely climbed rafters and jumped off stage monitors.
Even within traditional hip-hop dressing, he added rebellious details. He tore necklines, mixed athletic jerseys with studded leather motorcycle jackets, and treated his extensive body ink as the primary accessory. His styling matched the grit of his early recordings, prioritizing movement and unmistakable hometown pride over polished runway coordination.
"I'm a gypsy, man. Everywhere is my home." Machine Gun Kelly told Young Hollywood during our studio interview, summing up the restless, touring lifestyle that shaped those formative years. That nomadic mentality showed in his wardrobe, which looked like it was pulled straight from an overpacked suitcase between tour buses.
The Pop-Punk Neon Pivot
When Baker linked up with Travis Barker to record the No. 1 album Tickets to My Downfall, his sound shifted into high-tempo rock, and his closet underwent a complete overhaul. Out went the subdued street neutrals; in came shocking hot pink, custom safety-pin embellishments, spiked collars, and plaid bondage pants. The transformation was deliberate, fully realized, and impossible to ignore.
The pink Schecter guitar became his signature companion on stage, paired with mesh tops, glitter-covered knit sweaters, and customized combat boots. He leaned into the bratty energy of 2000s rock while updating it for modern stadium crowds. By the time he dropped his follow-up rock record Mainstream Sellout, he added chrome accents, dyed hair rotations, and futuristic textures into the rotation.
The shift also reflected his expanding creative footprint across the film world. Landing roles in projects like The Dirt, Big Time Adolescence, and Taurus, he proved that changing his outward appearance came naturally. His rock wardrobe gave permission to an entire new crop of listeners to embrace neon colors and theatrical edge without apology.
Sculptural Red Carpets and Matching Aesthetics
No discussion of his wardrobe is complete without his headline-grabbing award show appearances. Alongside partner Megan Fox, Baker turned red carpets into high-fashion installations. The duo coordinated looks using rich jewel tones, sheer fabrics, structured corsetry, and elaborate manicure concepts that dominated social feeds for days after every appearance.
Baker increasingly experimented with avant-garde tailoring from top international fashion houses. He walked step-and-repeats in purple metallic suits covered in soft spikes, backless satin tailoring, and fully pearl-encrusted formalwear. Rather than playing it safe in a standard black tuxedo, he approached formal ceremonies as another venue to deliver visual spectacle.
His willingness to mix hard hardware with softer silhouettes helped rewrite contemporary menswear standards. Whether stepping onto an awards carpet or performing for tens of thousands of fans, Colson Baker treats personal style as an ongoing creative project that keeps everyone watching.
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