What is Street Fashion, How to Style & Wear It Effortlessly?

All photos: Rodnae Productions

With the growth of mass media, social networks, and apps, and the spread of consumerism and logomania, people are often divided into different social and cultural groups. Some of these people go with the flow and accept the rules, while others search for their own path. Still, everyone seeks authenticity – a quality of being honest, and true in all your actions. Street fashion, just like many other "alternative" ways to live your life, is all about this quality. Thus, let's find out what is street fashion style, how it was born, and how it looks today.

What is Street Fashion?

Generally, street fashion is considered to emerge not from the offices of world fashion brands, or editorial studios, but from the streets. It became a global movement in the 90s thanks to the New York hip-hop and surf cultural movements. Some say street fashion emerged in Britain, but I believe it existed throughout the whole 20th century. Street fashion is a part of our life, yet it never had a particular name up until its influence grew and overtook the fashion industry itself.

Nowadays the street style is usually associated with youth and can be spotted in large urban centers of cities. Photos of street style icons, who aren't professional models, but regular fashion lovers, are featured in various magazines like Vogue, Elle, i-D, and many others. There are a whole bunch of independent fashion and jewelry brands, which inspire and be inspired by street fashion. They are well-received by critics and get support from influencers and celebrities.

How to Describe Street Fashion Style?

A peculiar phenomenon about street style is that you can't put it under one particular label. Unlike high fashion, street fashion has no rules or canon, it is all about comfort, independence, and self-expression. Street fashion lovers are never afraid of provocative slogans, they aren't shy of bright colors, or see-through fabrics. They are all about experimentation and personal identity, and can easily turn cute dresses for women into a whole new concept of street style look.

Another interesting aspect of street style is how people use fashion to reflect their own views on traditional socio-cultural divisions such as class, race, religion, ethnicity, regionalism, or nationalism. Due to the worldwide pandemic and, as a result, the lockdown, fashionistas tend to shop for women's clothes online. These particular reasons create a unique view of streetwear and add rarely-worn, but important personal hygiene accessories such as gloves, face masks, sanitizers, and other post-pandemic details.

What are the elements of streetwear?

• Graphic tees: Bold graphic designs, typography, and logos are essential in streetwear fashion;

• Sneakers: Sneakers play a crucial role in streetwear fashion. They are often colorful, high-tech, and eye-catching;

• Hoodies and oversize: Hoodies are a staple of streetwear fashion. They come in various styles, sizes, and colors;

• Joggers: Comfort is a key element of streetwear fashion, and joggers provide the perfect balance of comfort and style;

• Denim: Denim jackets, jeans, and shorts are classic streetwear items that never go out of style;

• Accessories: Accessories such as snapback caps, backpacks, and sunglasses are essential in streetwear fashion;

• Layering: Layering is a key element of streetwear fashion, as it allows you to mix and match different items to create a unique look.

Vibrant and Eclectic Asian Street Style

Korean, Japanese, and Chinese streetwear deserve very special attention, as it serves if not the main, still the leading inspiration for the rest of the world, especially in recent years. Let's use a team of Asian street fashion to describe the fundamental idea behind the style, but, of course, there is much more to every particular country and urban center in terms of fashion. 

Asian streetwear became particularly famous with the development of K-pop music, video-streaming, and cinematography. However, let’s not forget the continuing influence of anime series and manga on growing minds. It can sustain diverse fashion movements, combining them into one ultimate, distinctive streetwear style. You can easily witness the kawaii element of Lolita style combined with the darkness of Visual Kei, and some traditional ethnic clothing on one person.

Streetwear Trends Constantly Evolving

Street fashion has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many fashion designers and brands incorporating elements of street style into their collections. Streetwear is not only about looking good but also about feeling comfortable and confident in what you wear. It is a style that celebrates individuality and encourages people to express themselves in their own unique way.

Streetwear is a constantly evolving fashion category that is heavily influenced by music, art, and youth culture. As consumers become more conscious of their environmental impact, sustainable streetwear is becoming more popular. Brands are using eco-friendly materials and production methods to create streetwear that is both stylish and sustainable. Gender-neutral clothing is another common feature in streetwear. For instance, deez nuts apparel offers a wide variety of designs and styles to choose from, so there really is something for everyone.

Mainstream fashion always appropriates street fashion trends through influencers. It is getting more and more popular each and every year, slowly washing out the boundaries between certain subcultures, high fashion, and counties. Despite being very different around the world, street fashion is always centered around the big urban hubs, where fashionistas borrow, take and reflect the style. Street fashion trends may vary from season to season, and from big city to city, but it is always about the original look.

Final Thoughts

Street fashion is a constantly evolving form of self-expression that has been heavily influenced by music, art, and youth culture. It is hard to separate individual streetwear trends of 2021, as the lockdown stays relevant almost in every county of the world. Still, it is possible to catch a glimpse of stylishly dressed attendees of Fashion Weeks, and Instagram bloggers.

At its core, street fashion is all about showcasing one's individuality and personal style through clothing and accessories. The key to effortless streetwear styling is to focus on creating a cohesive look that reflects your personality and tastes. This can be achieved by combining bold statement pieces with classic basics, experimenting with different textures and prints, and accessorizing with items like hats, bags, and jewelry.

Lots of love,

Liz