As it turned out, Miss Israel, Ilanit Levy, decided to shuck the diamond-studded bulletproof vest/evening gown combo designed for her by Galit Levi for May 11's Miss Universe pageant. Still, that hasn't made the vests any less in vogue with hip-hop stars like DMX, Jay-Z, and Ja Rule. The high-security fashion may have started with Tupac Shakur, who often sported a bulletproof vest (though clearly it didn't help when it mattered -- he was reportedly wearing it when he was gunned down in 1996). Now designer labels like Antonio Ansaldi and Maurice Malone are selling look-alikes: They offer a sharp appearance, but no protection from sharpshooters. And since the California legislature banned the wearing of real vests by convicted felons -- perennial arrestee ODB was the first person collared under the statute -- the faux coats could come in handy. Anslem Samuel, culture editor for hip-hop magazine The Source, says rappers wear the vests both as a fashion statement and to convey street credibility. ''It's not as dangerous as carrying a gun, but still implies that you're living a dangerous lifestyle,'' he says. ''Hip-hop has an energy that takes abstract things and makes them the next cool thing.''
