11 Reasons We'll Always Love Aaliyah's Tomboy Style

Before there was Ciara, Rita Ora, Tinashe or Keke Palmer, there was Aaliyah .

The late singer-actress, who topped music charts in the '90s with hits like "Back & Forth ," "If Your Girl Only Knew " and "Are You That Somebody? ," was an innovator of tomboy style . Aaliyah coupled her R&B hip-hop-infused vocals with a wardrobe consisting of oversized jackets, midriff-baring tops, boxer briefs and cargo pants, proving that you don't have to dress overtly sexy to be taken seriously as an entertainer. Despite the fact that she died in a 2001 plane crash at just 22 years old, Aaliyah's sound and style still lives on today.

In honor of what would have been Aaliyah's 37th birthday on Jan. 16, we remember her signature tomboy style. What is your favorite Aaliyah fashion moment? Tell us in the comments section.

1995

KMazur/WireImage

At the Urban Aid 1 concert in New York City.

1995

Fred Duval/FilmMagic

At Virgin Megastore in London.

1996

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc

At MTV's Rock n' Jock Basketball in Los Angeles, California.

1997

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Performance at "Aaliyah at The Forum" in Inglewood, California.

1997

Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Performance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

1997

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Performance at KMEL All Star Jam in Concord, California.

1998

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Performance at KMEL 106 Summer Jam in Mountain View, California.

1999

Warner Bros./Getty Images

On the set of "Romeo Must Die."

2000

Paul Drinkwater/Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Performance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

2000

Jeff Vespa/WireImage

At the "Me, Myself & Irene" premiere in Los Angeles, California.

2001

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Performance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in Burbank, California.

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