'Through the Wire' to the White House? 44 photos that chart Kanye West's style journey

From full leather suiting to plush velvets, the rapper has not been afraid to take a fashion risk during his 16-year career

will.i.am and Kanye West, in a knitted jumper, pose backstage during the MTV Europe Music Awards at Tor di Valle November 18, 2004 in Rome, Italy. Getty Images

Anastacia and Kanye West, in a pink golfing-inspired ensemble, attend the MTV Europe Music Awards on November 18, 2004 at Tor di Valle, in Rome, Italy. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a casual white outfit, arrives at the 13th annual MTV Europe Music Awards at the Bella Centre on November 2, 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a laid-back navy suit, attends a Fendi party at the National Stadium on November 30, 2006 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a plaid shirt, and Alexis Phifer arrive at the Christian Dior show on October 1, 2007 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in shades of brown, and Alexis Phifer arrive for the Stella McCartney show on October 4, 2007 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a polo shirt and cardigan, and Alexis Phifer arrive at the Chloe fashion show on October 6, 2007 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in checked tailoring, leaves the Louis Vuitton fashion show on October 7, 2007 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a grey trench, arrives at the Yves Saint Laurent fashion show on February 28, 2008 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in sneakers and a printed jacket, and Alexis Phifer arrive at the Chloe fashion show on March 1, 2008 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in retro tailoring, attends Elie Saab fashion show during on January 28, 2009 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a bow tie and denim jacket, attends the Narciso Rodriguez fashion show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City on February 17, 2009. EPA

Kanye West, in double denim, attends the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show as part of London Fashion Week on February 21, 2009 in London, England. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a bomber jacket and YSL tee, and Amber Rose attend the Givenchy fashion show during Paris Fashion Week on March 8, 2009 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a white tux, and Amber Rose attend the Givenchy show during Paris Fashion Week on January 26, 2010 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a classic tux, and Selita Ebanks leave the Grazia Masquerade Ball at Opera Garnier on October 5, 2010 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in all black, arrives for the Australian premiere of his music video 'Runaway' at the Hoyts Entertainment Centre Cinema on October 11, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a leopard bomber, attends the Vivienne Westwood show during Paris Fashion Week on March 4, 2011 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a chic tux, and Carine Roitfeld attend amfAR's Cinema Against Aids Gala during the 64th Cannes Film Festival at Hotel Du Cap on May 19, 2011 in Antibes, France. Getty Images

Chanel Iman and Kanye West, in a tee and blazer, attend the Givenchy show during Paris Fashion Week on October 2, 2011 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a denim jacket and chains, during London Fashion Week at Somerset House on February 20, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in all white, attend the Valentino show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 4, 2012 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in Dior, arrives at the Christian Dior show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 28, 2012 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in a crisp white suit, attend the Givenchy show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 3, 2013 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Givenchy, attend the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2013. EPA

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Givenchy, attend the Givenchy show as part of the Paris Fashion Week on September 29, 2013 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a fur coat, attends the Givenchy show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 17, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Lanvin, arrive for the Met Gala in New York on May 5, 2014. EPA

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Balmain, attend the Balmain show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 25, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Lanvin, attend the Lanvin show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 25, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in Haider Ackermann, attends the Celine show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 28, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in leather trousers, and Kim Kardashian arrive for the Lacma Art+Film Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles, California, on November 1, 2014. EPA

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Balmain, arrive for the 57th annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2015. EPA

Kanye West, in a white suit jacket, during London Fashion Week at St Paul's Cathedral on February 20, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, in Balmain, and Kris Jenner attend the Balmain show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 5, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in a black blazer, Olivier Rousteing and Kim Kardashian attend the Balmain dinner as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 5, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in Dior, and Lorde attend the Christian Dior show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear on March 6, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in Haider Ackermann, and Kim Kardashian attend the Louis Vuitton show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear on March 11, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in Haider Ackermann, and Kim Kardashian arrive for the Time 100 Gala in New York on April 21, 2015. EPA

Kayne West, in Yeezy, and Kim Kardashian arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on August 30, 2015. EPA

Kris Jenner and Kanye West, in Dries Van Noten, attend the Vogue 95th Anniversary Party on October 3, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in Balmain, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 2, 2016. EPA

Kanye West, in Louis Vuitton, and Kim Kardashian attend the Louis Vuitton show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2018 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Kanye West, in Duhill, attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party following the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, California, on February 9, 2020. EPA

If he is successful in his supposed bid to become the 46th President of the United States, Kanye West might just be the first man in the Oval Office to wear leather trousers on the regular.

The rapper and fashion designer this week suggested he would challenge Donald Trump for the US presidency, tweeting: "We must now realise the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States."

While it is unclear if West, 43, has officially registered to run for office, this certainly isn't the first time the Stronger star and Yeezy designer has courted controversy and created headlines.

And, as you can see above, West is no stranger to creating a talking point on the red carpet, too.

After rising to fame with his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, the rapper has gone on to collaborate with the likes of Rihanna and Paul McCartney.

And, as his star ascended, so, too, did his appreciation for outlandish fabrics and avant-garde silhouettes.

From full leather suiting to embroidered tunics, experimental tailoring and plush velvets, West has not been afraid to take a fashion risk during his 16 years in the public eye.

Here, we take a look back through his red carpet retrospective to see how the Flashing Lights star's style has evolved throughout his career.

Scroll through the gallery above to see more images of Kanye West through the years.