The heir apparent to the west coast hip hop crown and creator of two of the biggest albums of the past 5 years (2012's good kid, m.A.A.d city and 2015's To Pimp a Butterfly), Kendrick Lamar is a different type of style icon.

While rap music in general is still sometimes associated with gaudy opulence, the Compton MC embodies a more accessible, relatable aesthetic that favours low-key essentials mixed with occasional flashes of high fashion.

Here are five simple steps to pulling off the same trick.

1 | Don't be a slave to brands

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One of Kendrick Lamar's most admirable fashion traits is his ability to step away from label-heavy brands like Supreme and Saint Lauren, instead opting for a go-to uniform of plain white t-shirts and straight-legged jeans, both on and off stage. Sometimes less is definitely more, just look at icons like Dean, Brando and Newman.

2 | Jewellery isn't necessarily the enemy

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We're not suggesting you re-mortgage the house for a platinum chain or pair of Premiership football earrings, but subtle jewellery has the ability to add another layer of interest to an outfit and shows a keen eye for the details, even if it's something as simple as a quality watch

3 | Embrace 'Athleisure'

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No longer are hoodies and sweatpants solely for hungover Sunday morning trips to the corner shop. You might have noticed sportswear - or 'Athleisure' - influences creeping onto the catwalk more and more over the past few seasons, and it's a trend that looks set to remain. Keep your colours neutral and the cut slim and sportswear can be one of your most versatile outfit choices.

4 | Know when to change it up

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Like Kendrick Lamar, you might not be the suit type, but knowing when to change things up for different occasions is an invaluable tool. As seen here, all it takes is the addition of a bold shirt to change an everyday uniform into red carpet cool.

5 | Retro white trainers will never go out of style

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With such an abundance of options out there, it's easy to overthink things when it comes to choosing trainers. If in doubt, look for heritage styles like the Adidas Stan Smiths, Common Projects Achilles and Reebok Classics - they're still in the spotlight for good reason. Just make sure they stay white.

Headshot of Finlay Renwick
Finlay Renwick
Deputy Style Editor
Mother, blogger, vegan, model, liar