1996
This is a fantastic place to begin. It's SO dramatic. "I AM A MYSTERY TO YOU, PLEASE LOOK AT ME." I believe she won this Grammy for a collaboration with Method Man.
1997
Maria Von Trapp eventually REALLY broadened her definition of "play clothes."
1999
This is amazing. All of that, and she has the slide-up sunglass lenses. They are Glam Dwayne Wayne.
2001
This whole thing looks like it came from one of those random stores at the mall that also sells a lot of silver and turquoise jewelry.
2001
Do NOT piss off the common housecat.
2001
So many buckles, and I don't think any of the three is actually doing anything.
2002
I guess one way to deal with people who scream HEM YOUR PANTS is to build in a curtain-raiser system.
2002`
Something about this looks like she could wear it in a very cool store on Mos Eisley or something. (There's gotta be a mall near the Cantina.)
2003
So do we think this is another belt that's for show only? It LOOKS like it's strapping two things together but I actually think it's jus tone two-tone denim... jacket/shirt thing... with a leather wrap. I don't know. Why were clothes so puzzling back then?
2004
Big Bird WAS extremely chic, it's true.
2005
This was... a low point.
2005
I just love this era when people actually dared to throw on a cardigan at the Oscars if they were cold .I don't hate the dress, until we get to the spot where it changes textures. It didn't need to.
2005
Sometimes she looks like a cool jockey.
2006
And then other times she looks like she's the lawyer riding next to the jockey, talking about contract minutiae.
2007
"It's a nice offer, Thomas. But I live my life by the rule: Never get audited. Not by Scientology and not by the IRS. But thank you for coming."
2007
Her blazer looks like it's wearing its own vest.
2007
That's very simple and effective on her.
2007
And that's NOT simple, yet still effective.
2007
That necklace is NOT MESSING AROUND.
2008
Does this need a hoik? It's kind of RIGHT on the line. The cuffs are fantastic though.
2009
This is her performing at Obama's inauguration, and looking amazing.
2010
Gorgeous. We've turned a very fancy corner here.
2010
I MOSTLY like this. The fit is a little funky, and the top is a bit of a boob cage, but that color does a lot of good work.
2011
I am not sure the designer QUITE finished the job here.
2011
But THIS. This is great.
2011
I also like this. And the shoes kind of match her hair.
2012
I can't decide if I like this dress's descent into feathers, or not.
We interrupt to bring you a photo that Informative Caption says is, "Mary J. Blige portrait made from her junk." Do they mean.... actual junk she threw away or donated? Did she need to be WORRIED or flattered? It's a GREAT piece, at least. It's actually gorgeous.
2012, with Solange
Mary looks great, but yes, I DID download this mostly so we could coo over Solange's dress. It's perfect.
2016
Those shoes look like a chafing, pinchy pain in the calf.
2017
This looks great on her bod, but I also think it's a hideous garment.
2017
Yawn.
2017
These are the opposite of Easy Spirits. They look like a sneaker but VERY MUCH feel like a pump.
2017
She REALLY got into this style of dress here, huh? This one isn't good either.
2017
This holiday season, DRAPE YOURSELF IN TINSEL.
2017
This is mega. She looks like the star she is. The bow brooch at her neck is the perfect finishing touch.
2017 in Zuhair Murad
This looks like a chest tattoo.
2017
I like this a lot, BUT the way it looks like the belt is being pulled off her body -- it's the effect of the cutout -- is a little jarring.
2017 in Julien Macdonald
I am delighted to inform you that this is the last such inanity we shall see in this slideshow.
2018
Cute suit, cute sparkly shoes. But should they be silver?
2018 in Ferretti
This looks like she put one side of her dress on inside-out.
2018 in Vivienne Westwood (I think)
Delightful.
2018 in Jean-Louis Sabaj
AND THEN. I adore this. It's marvelous.
2018 in Azzaro
Meh.
2018
This is very pinchy on one side.
2018
She should have worn this the whole night.
2018
This is appropriately dramatic.
2019
This would've ruled without the drape.
2019 in Ferretti
This is pretty, but it comes off like she's in some kind of Greek Mythology costume. Still, I think we can all agree that Mary J gave us a LOT of varied entertainment in this gallery. Thank you and happy birthday, milady.