Streetstyle has evolved immensely from the 1990s to the present day. It is a fusion of Urban culture and Luxury Couture with a blend of one’s personality, culture, trends, and technological advancements. Street style isn’t just fashion; it’s how people express themselves. Hip hop gave birth to streetstyle, from baggy pants and oversized shirts to baseball caps and gold chains, streetstyle has aced the fashion industry. What’s fascinating is that street style has come full circle, ending right where it all started, bringing back the old trends and fashions that now the current generation is obsessed with. The 20s have become the new 90s. Delve into this article and explore the journey of street style fashion.
History of Street Fashion from the 1990s to Present.
Streetstyle originated from hip-hop. The combination of sportswear, chains, baggy clothing, sneakers, caps, and accessories gave birth to street fashion. It is a casual clothing style that became global in the 1990s. It was considered bold to dress in a way that expresses one’s identity and is different from traditional, more fitting fashion norms. It became a culture, a vibe, a standard that was set and is now brought back to the 20s.
The 1990S – Birth of street fashion
This era boldly and confidently shifted fashion in a different direction, captivating a global audience. It was a style that didn’t just express one’s personality, it celebrated it. What was once a distinct category soon became the core of many, inspiring a new wave of self-expression and empowerment.
Hip-hop, emerging from urban communities, brought a new sense of identity and expression to fashion. Oversized t-shirts, baggy jeans, snapback caps, gold chains, and sneakers like Nike, Adidas, and Air Jordan became the elements of hip-hop fashion. Brands like FUBU, Tommy Hilfiger, and Karl Kani were embraced by hip-hop artists and became symbols of street style. This kind of fashion was not just rebellious, it was a statement of confidence, a bold challenge to the traditional fashion norms.
Pop culture: pop culture was influenced by movies, shows, and celebrities. ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ and ‘Friends’ were two iconic shows that played a significant role in popularizing street fashion. The Fresh Prince’s unique blend of streetwear and preppy style, as seen in Will Smith’s character, and Friends’ casual, comfortable fashion, as seen in Rachel and Monica’s wardrobe, resonated with audiences and influenced their fashion choices. These shows popularized oversized clothing, baseball caps, flair jeans, crop tops, and bold prints that became synonymous with street fashion. Also, one of the most famous teen dramas, ‘The Beverly Hills,’ set trends like flannel shirts, denim vests, skirts, and slip dresses. Chokers were another accessory that became immensely popular among women in the 90’s.
Grunge fashion: grunge originated from the Pacific Northwest, particularly Seattle. It is a music and fashion genre that influenced raw, unpolished, and aesthetic fashion styles. Bands like Nirvana, which is also a famous clothing brand now, were one of the faces of the grunge movement. Grunge was an anti-fashion statement with vital elements like torn jeans, flannel shirts, DIY and thrifted clothing, combat boots, and a sloppy appearance. Funky hairstyles were also one of the fashions that emerged in the 90s.
Skateboarding culture: skateboarding was another culture that greatly influenced the 90’s street style. Brands like Vans, Thrasher, and DC shoes became the core of skateboarding fashion. Graphic tees, fitted loose jeans, and sneakers were essential for skateboarding. Still, soon, it also translated into casual, everyday wear, becoming a trend. The skate community’s DIY attitude neglected the mainstream norms. It brought DIY into the picture as a trend, and it continues to this day.
The 2000’s – Luxury and Glitz, Evolution of streetwear fashion
Fashion in the 2000s was a mix of diverse cultures and trends. While the early 2000s were influenced by the 1990s, the mid- and late 2000s saw a shift in fashion. It was a new millennium era inspired by shiny fabrics, metallics, and new technological designs.
Y2K fashion came into the picture with low-raised jeans, belts, sunglasses, hoop earrings, and flip phones. It was a modern era influenced by materialistic things. Brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior became immensely popular.
Shows like “Sex and the City” and “Gossip Girl” also influenced the 2000s fashion, especially teenagers and young adults. While characters like “Carrie Brashaw” influenced eclectic style, love for Manalo Blahnik shoes and bold accessorizing, “Serena Vender Woodson” and “Blair Waldorf” brought preppy, Upper East Side aesthetic into the picture, headbands and designer handbags like channel became iconic and uniform style fashion also translated into mainstream. “Chuck” from Gossip Girls also influenced many guys to dress more subtly with coats, shirts, and formal pants along with branded watches, giving a rich look.
Also, Bollywood actress “Kareena Kapoor” starring as ‘poo’ became a new sensation in India after her movie “Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum” for a lot of teen and young adult women. Her short skirts, slim wear, and scarves around the neck became iconic.
The 2000s also influenced careers in fashion and modeling from shows like “America’s Next Top Model” showcasing different styles and fashion through photoshoots. The 2000s was indeed all about fashion and show-off.
The 2010s – Streetwear X Modern Fashion
By 2010, streetwear influenced even the most elite fashion houses. Drops and collaborations like Supreme x Louis Vuitton were in demand and sold out instantly. It was also an era of denim. Denim jackets, denim skirts, and basically everything else in denim became a trend. After the 2010s, trends changed like seasons.
In contrast to the loud, bright patterns, branded aesthetics, and shiny accessories, normcore was also in trend for a while. Normal wear like plain T-shirts and tops, along with skinny jeans and a minimal accessory, also emerged as fashion. It was also known as an anti-fashion approach, embracing basic and non-branding clothing that enhanced simplicity, quality, and practicality.
Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook have significantly shaped fashion and trends. Bloggers and influencers became online fashionists, spreading fashion as quickly as a disease. The rise of social media has made fashion easier, allowing anyone with a smartphone and a sense of style to become a trendsetter. It has also accelerated the pace of fashion, with trends emerging and disappearing in a matter of days, rather than seasons.
The 2020s – Nostalgia, The Genz, Or the return of 1990?
The 2020s brought back the 1990s, and it took us back to where it all started. All past trends made a comeback, and it became trendier than ever. We saw a revival of baggy pants and tees, chunky sneakers, flannel shirts, and even funky hairstyles. With today’s aesthetics and the comeback of the 90s style, fashion has spread like a virus. The 2020s became the new 1990s. The rise in platforms like TikTok and Instagram has accelerated fashion. Also, the use of AI in fashion shows the potential of future street style to be something we cannot imagine yet. Influencers try to post various styles online, and literally anything becomes a trend. Various brands collaborate with the influencers online to increase their reach, and new styles are created every new month. The 2020s is a generation called Genz, where anything can become fashionable.
Street style has indeed come a long way. With diverse changes, new fashion eras, and advancing technology, fashion has made its place in the world greater than anything else. The 1990s to 2020s have been a revolutionary journey in street fashion, and it will continue to evolve, bringing new trends and bringing back the old ones, too.
CONCLUSION:
The evolution of street style from the 1990s to the present is fascinating. The history of street style, how it emerged, how it transformed over the years, and how it ended exactly where it started. The street style fashion history has evolved a lot and will continue to evolve in the coming generations.
