Decades of Street Fashion – How the Street Fashion has Evolved

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Street fashion has never been about wearing fashionable clothes, but rather about self-expression, protest against what is normative, and how well a visual impression shows clearly what relates to the cultural heartbeat in a given time. Underground movements began taking control of the world, defining fashion, the way of thought, and even lifestyle, on their own. It is a street fashion passed down to generations and gifting street determination, innovation, and boldness one possesses and it also has a determination on their own style. 

 

Street fashion

Photo Source: Daily Express

1960s: Emergence of Street Fashion

This was the decade of great youth power in the 1960s. This counterculture revolution essentially bred street fashion from the period, as the youth’s uprising against the formality, and structured dress of their elders transformed it. The flowing fabrics, tie-dye, and peace symbol highlighted the hippie movement. This is in direct contrast with the sharp-suited Mods version of it-bright vests and sleek, chiseled hair very polished yet rebellious. It was the time when street style began to take form because people found ways to express themselves, their politics, and their creativity through clothes. Street became a kind of canvas for individuality, and what started as a movement became a lifestyle.

The 1970s: The Birth of Punk and Disco

Bold contrasts in the 1970s; on one hand, it was disco glamour – flared pants, metallic fabrics, and platform shoes of night owls; on the other hand, punk appeared as a vicious reaction to mainstream culture. Punk had complete dress attire – torn clothes, leather jackets with studs, and bright hair colors; absolute defiance. This is a protest visible to all against society and raw expressions of anger and frustration. This time, when street fashion became a symbol of rebellion, it could have been an even stronger expression of freedom and identity and the urge to break free from traditions.

The 1980s: Hip-Hop and the Golden Age of Street wear

Street fashion formed during the 1980s as hip-hop culture began to rise. That was the golden age of hip-hop where streetwear transformed into a new version: oversized, baggy clothes, athletic-wear-inspired outfits, and loud graphic designs. Three sportswear brands became the must-haves in the firmament of street style: Adidas, NikeKangol, and the iconic baggy pants, bomber jackets, and graffiti prints symbolized the place’s vibrant and colorful influence. Hip-hop icons such as Run-D.M.C. and LL Cool J didn’t do much to change the music business; they also changed clothes. This was the age when street style started gaining popularity, breaking the borders of music and culture to reach all over the world.

The 1990s: Grunge, Skater, and the Explosion of Logos

Street style entered the ’90s with a more relaxed, defiant touch. By the end of the decade, grunge and skate cultures became the avenues to getting into mainstream culture. Flannel shirts, band tees, ripped jeans, and combat boots were the trademarks of grunge. Figurative images of Kurt Cobain and teenagers in Seattle epitomized the whole grunge thing. Meanwhile, the skater look, marked by oversized jeans, graphic t-shirts, and sneakers, began to conquer the whole world.

Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren also brought logo-printed fashion into the ’90s. Hip-hop giants and celebrities emblazoned oversized logos to profess allegiance to the brand. Logos now became status symbols, an identity mark, and badge of belonging.

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Street fashion meets high fashion in the 2000s

Street fashion had evolved to a new place by the 2000s. It was mixed with high fashion like rubber and melted together. Celebrity culture fed by the internet and television brought streetwear into the limelight. Designers like Marc Jacobs and Jean-Paul Gaultier used pieces of streetwear and flowed them into their collections, making luxury and streetwear walk hand in hand.

This was also the decade of the “bling era,” when oversized jewelry, low-rise jeans, and flashy sportswear dominated. Hip-hop, born as a subculture, is now the dominant style in the global fashion world. The “street meets chic” era began with its prototype – an Adidas tracksuit perfectly coordinated with a luxury handbag and sneakers on the red carpet.

2010s: Sneaker Culture, Instagram, and the Rise of Street wear Brands

Sure enough, 2010 became the age of street fashion. Social media went viral, with Instagram overnight bringing street style on a global map. The commoners or influencers in turn, could then share their own definition of streetwear to the whole world. That meant, in turn, the streets would not be mere reflection of an urban life but turn out to become a runway of creativity with every opportunity given to present self-dress.

The world of sneaker culture entered new dimensions as streetwear brands teamed up with high-fashion houses at some of the most highly anticipated events in fashion. Street-to-catwalk Off White, Supreme, and Yeezy have also been adopted even by the highest luxury brands due to the recent features of streetwear from Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga in their lines.

Now: From Sustainability, from Tech to an Expression of an Individual

As we already move into the mid-2020s, street fashion has come together, this time with sustainability and technology. There are plenty of other requirements that are kind of similar, such as second-hand shopping, upcycling, or sustainable brands-so today is full of new fronts of street fashion with the integration of products like athleisure and tech-inspired garment 3D printing and smart fabrics.

At least, if nothing else, the street fashion of today is a space of individuality, diversity, and inclusiveness where all these words are not on paper but part of the actual living conditions. Be it oversized silhouettes or gender-neutral clothing, among numerous variations of self-expression through art, street fashion never fails to raise its voice loud in this chaotic world that rages around.

Conclusion: The Ever-Evolving Story

It was a beautiful journey of rebellion, innovation, and expression-from the flashy counterculture of the ’60s to today’s sustainable, high-tech streetwear. It shines like who we are, where we have been, and where we are going. Throughout the decades, it has proven that it’s not about the clothes but a story, community, and place carved out for ourselves in this world. And as fashion goes on, it is sure that one thing will be at the core of it: the streets.

Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in celebrity fashion, Our Fashion Passion, Pop Fashion, street style, Uncategorized
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