Fashion Rdtas

Even though men’s fashion is more understated than women’s fashion, it is still very important. You may not hear about it as much, or see as many ads with men as the fashion models, but fashion IS a man’s world too, especially in the realm of hip hop.

Men’s clothing has changed over the years, but there are a few staples that have not really changed. The b-boys know what they are. Baseball caps, under tees, t-shirts, loose fitting jeans and white sneakers seem as if they will never go out of style.

Of course, as with anything (especially fashions) even the most classic things get updated. New color schemes and textures come into play. Right now you see a lot of bright, almost neon colors, whereas in the early 90′s it was blacks, reds, and greens, and other muted primary color, a tribute to the colors of Africa. In the 80′s, the beginning of hip hop, it was black and leather.

Baseball caps are not just a hip hopstyle, but an American classic that will never go away. The only thing that has changed is the fact that an actual baseball team need not be advertised on the hat. They can be plain, make a political statement, or have a brand or band logo on them. They are in fact a major money maker for many hip trend clothing labels.

Plain white undershirts are worn by many more people than people in the hip hop world as well, but rock bands made it popular to wear them alone. Many a woman will tell you that it looks very sexy to see a man in nothing more than a clean white under tank, or “wife-beater”, jeans, and white sneakers on.

The t-shirt is another American classic that has been commandeered by the hip hop world. Many people think of tees as strictly casual, but the world of fashion knows how to dress them up. Matching your t-shirt to your hat and shoes is, and has been for some time, quite popular in hip hop. Tees come in varieties never thought possible and aren’t just casual any longer. Every major clothing brand has a plethora of tee shirts available to choose from.

While loose fitting pants are still “in”, they should not be as loose as they have been worn in the past. In the 1990′s, it was not uncommon to see a man walking down the streets with his pants so low that most of his boxer shorts were showing. Now, to wear your pants that way is generally considered tacky, and isn’t seen much anymore. It is, however, acceptable and stylish for the top band of boxers to be seen above the tops of pants.

The most common type of footwear in this trend is white sneakers. Nothing can beat them; they go with everything, and are best if kept spotlessly clean. Some famous artists have been known to walk very gingerly in their shoes so as to keep them clean and not crease them in any way. The sneakers do not need to be white, though. Sneakers today come in every available color scheme, and are carefully matched by the fashionable man to his hat, shirt, or both.

Men’s fashion may have fewer choices than women’s and not be as stressed in our society, but it is far from obsolete. It is just not as public. Hip hop clothing is no different. It is a spectrum. The men of hip hop can make looking put together an art, without it being girlish at all, using the above staple items. Yet, even the most low maintenance man already owns gear considered by many to be “hip hop”.

Tags: Hip Hop Fashion, Loose Fitting Jeans, Undershirts

Hip hop fashion is a style that originated from African-American, Latino, and Caribbean-American youth who were based on The 5 Boroughs, a city in New York. However, hip hop was later influenced by numerous other places, which contributed to what we know of hip hop fashion today. Naturally, hip hop fashion is a reflection of its culture.

From the 1980s, different brands have taken on the hip hop scene, including sports super brands, Adidas and Nike, Inc, which added to their popularity. Clothing items such as leather bomber jackets, Dr. Martens boots and sneakers were worn, becoming their ‘uniform’.

However, hip hop fashion does not stop at clothing alone; it is enhanced by different kinds of accessories such as large eyeglasses, oversized name tags made of gold hanging from chains, and multiple rings; with heavy jewelry suggesting wealth and prestige.

During the end of the 80s decade, hip hop fashion, jewelry, and hairstyle reflected traditional African culture. Africa chains, blousy pants, red, black and green clothing, and dreadlocks were donned by rappers such as MC Hammer. When the 90s rolled in, baseball caps, neon clothing and even wearing clothes backwards became the new trend.

Hip hop fashion for men and women became different; men continued wearing blousy pants or baggy jeans, sunglasses and heavy workboots, while women began to wear tighter jeans. However, women adapted the men’s style by wearing them, and adding a feminine touch, such as putting on lip gloss and make up.

Brands like Dickies, Chuck Taylors, and Raiders contributed to the popularization of pants, sneakers, and baseball caps, respectively. Even Chanel joined in, featuring models wearing the classic look of hip hop: black leather jackets and gold chains, or black dresses with silver chains.

A significant shift in the hip hop scene was the 90s celebration of the fashion styles of street thugs and gangsters, including prisoners. Oversized was still everyone’s style, whether for denim or cargo pants. Until today, the style of wearing pants so low, or “sagging” them without wearing belts, is still a common practice. This practice comes from prisons, where belts are not allowed for their potentially-lethal purposes (as reported by CNN), as well as from poor urban communities who could not afford new clothes, therefore passing them down from one family member, to younger, smaller members. Accompanying this are hand signs and territorial mentality, which were first adopted by African-American youth in Los Angeles, but which later spread.

Hip hop fashion continued to inspire more and more designers, and big names like Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, DKNY created sportswear that showed this style, and glorified urban street wear. FUBU opened hip hop fashion to the mainstream, beginning an industry of its own. Moreover, hairstyles that were traditionally African-American resurged, such as Afros and cornrows, the latter created by wearing a Du-rag over the head all the time, keeping the hair from being displaced. Eventually, Du-rag became a hip hop fashion accessory on its own. By the mid to late 90s, instead of gold, platinum became the choice of metal for hip hop jewelry, which was often studded with diamonds.

Tags: Fashion Styles, Hip Hop Fashion, History Of Hip Hop