Nicki Minaj Going into Fashion?

When a pop star develops a brand, why not run with it for the time being? After all, Britney Spears and Mariah Carey have successful perfume lines, Madonna, even with a 30-year career, has a fashion line, Gwen Stefani is now known for her style choices just as much for her No Doubt songs, if not more, and Jessica Simpson earns more through clothing and shoes than music. Nicki Minaj, the rapper behind “Super Bass,” appears to be next. Just profiled in the New York Times, the rapper/pop star (such careers are practically interchangeable these days) had a successful run with makeup brand MAC, has been on popular magazine covers already, and is often seen in the front row at Fashion Week. Now, one of her managers is courting a possible clothing line.

When working with MAC, Minaj came up with a Pink Friday lipstick, named after her debut album. The lipstick sold 3,000 in 15 minutes, and then sold another 27,000 in three weeks. More recently, the Times reported, Minaj is taking over for Lady Gaga as MAC’s Viva Glam spokeswoman. John Dempsey of MAC’s parent company Estee Lauder, said to the press:

“She was fun and cute. […] She’s funny, loves makeup and has a mashup style between Vivienne Westwood and a Harajuku girl.”

So, what do you think Nicki Minaj’s fashion line could look like? Making her own clothing but also sporting some high-end frocks, the rapper already has her own style, sometimes considered out there but always eye-catching. Could her line end up being practical, like Madonna’s Material Girl collection, or could it end up being like any artistic line on the runway – attractive but not practical for wear?