The year was 1999. Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes shimmied, arms raised, down the red carpet at the Source Hip Hop Music Awards. Her outfit: head-to-toe brown suede featuring a fur skirt with a thigh-high slit. More than two decades later, GloRilla reimagined Lopes's ensemble at the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards on Oct. 3 in Atlanta. A clear homage to the late TLC member, GloRilla's outfit featured a crisscross halter top and a similar floor-length fur skirt. She styled the '90s-inspired look with black boots, gold earrings, and a space-bun hairstyle.
TLC - consisting of Lopes, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins - were pioneers of '90s fashion, setting trends in everything from baggy jeans and overalls to chromed-out bikini tops. In fact, at the time of her passing, Lopes was working on a pajama line in collaboration with Kyle Young, according to an interview with Wendy Williams in 2000. Now, 21 years after Lopes's unfortunate death in a car accident, GloRilla's outfit serves as a reminder that the rapper's impact has not been forgotten.
Lopes's original look featured a tawny-brown suede crop top with a crisscross halter neckline, a lace-up bust, and oversize cargo pockets on either side of the chest. Past her exposed midriff, Lopes continued the monochrome look in a voluminous fur skirt with silk lining and a suede waistband. She completed the unique outfit with a pair of knee-high, square-toe boots and drop earrings.
Replicating Lopes's design, GloRilla strutted down the red carpet in a chocolate crisscross halter top and a textured fur skirt. Similar to Lopes's, Glorilla's skirt featured a strip of fabric around the waist mirroring her top. The skirt also included a thigh-high slit that exposed her pointed-toe boots. Though GloRilla's color scheme was noticeably darker than the original, her outfit was a beautiful nod to Lopes from every angle. GloRilla even took a moment to pose for the camera with her arms outstretched, just like Lopes did.
Ahead, admire GloRilla and Lopes's ensembles side by side, and see more era-defining fashion moments from the '90s here.