It’s odd to think that 21 years have passed since Selena tragically passed away. Dotting Instagram timelines and splashed across mood boards, the stunning Tejano singer remains a constant inspiration to women of varying ages, races, and ethnicities who are enamored not only with her infectious and chart-topping songs (Selena’s 1994 album, Amor Prohibido, remains the best-selling Tejano album of all time), but her showstopping ’90s style.
Dubbed the “Mexican Madonna” (despite being a native of Corpus Christi, Texas), Selena’s onstage costumes were a scintillating collision of Spanish inflections and modern trends. Bedazzled bralettes and crop tops became the “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” singer’s calling card, the barely there style shimmering underneath bolero jackets. She cinched in high-waisted, curve-hugging black denim with brassy Western belt buckles, while slipping shrunken leather vests over flouncy poet blouses—a look that wouldn’t be out of place on Rodarte’s Fall runway. Spinning about in embellished bell-bottoms, two-stepping in silver boots, and belting out her chart-topping tunes with that signature red pout, Selena dazzled her adoring audience at every turn—and she designed all her costumes herself.
It was no surprise, then, that the stylish star even opened two successful Texas boutiques—predating the trend of musicians turned designers by a good quarter century—along with full-service salons. Now that the singer’s MAC x Selena commemorative makeup line is set to launch this weekend, her fans will have another chance to scoop up Selena-inspired products: The company has designed three lipsticks, five eyeshadows, a blush, and a bronzer, all destined to keep her style living on even longer.