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Street wear is an ever-evolving style of clothing that varies from the extravagant and eye-catching to the understated and effortless. Cultural influence on street wear trends is nothing new, but as the market for young millennial influencers grows, so does the mass appeal of casual luxury.
Today, brands such as Off-White and Vetements have placed wearable pieces like t-shirts and sweatshirts in the closets of elite celebrities and influencers, as well as savvy young millennials. Influences from popular culture such as the television show Miami Vice and the fashion-forward wardrobe of contemporary fashion icons have popularized this new style of effortless luxury. As a result of more experimental trendsetting in the 80s and 90s, styles such as the logo emblazoned t-shirt, casual blazer, and statement sneakers are now staples in the closets of many fashion lovers.
The underground streetwear label, Stussy, is credited with popularizing streetwear beginning in the 80s and 90s. Stussy began as an alternative brand that spoke to the growing Los Angeles culture of surfers and skateboarders and remained accessible with its branding and retail style. The brand even designed their shops with open areas in the center to allow customers to skate while shopping (Sengvanahn, 2019). Later, brands such as Supreme popularized this subculture of casual clothing that reflected the laid back culture of Los Angeles surfers and, eventually, the growing hip-hop scene in New York City. Supreme began a cycle of creating high demand with regular drops of new items, perpetuated by limited supply and steep pricing (Block, 2017). These items soon became a staple in many wealthy millennials' wardrobes, and the seemingly exclusive brand grew to be synonymous with status and style.
As these alternative brands grew in popularity in the 80s and 90s, so did the cultural significance of television shows such as Miami Vice, which features a blend of casual and luxury that was later seen on style icons like Kate Moss and Madonna. Pieces that fell somewhere between menswear, womenswear, and streetwear began to appear on television and runways alike. From fashion moments such as Madonna’s boho-inspired blazer ensemble at her Live Aid Performance to Miami Vice’s blazer and t-shirt combinations, modern streetwear styles have evolved to represent the tastes of a culture that’s comfortable with casual but still interested in status. Casual blazer ensembles are now regularly incorporated into the wardrobes of style influencers and can be seen on the likes of Alexa Chung and Rihanna (Billboard, 2015).
This trend has become increasingly popular with combinations of wearable styles like t-shirts and sneakers making appearances in the inventory of more classic luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci (Hoffower, 2019). In more recent years, there has been an explosion in popularity of this crossover between luxury and comfort resulting in contemporary labels like Off-White, Vetements, and even Kanye West’s Yeezy label making repeat appearances at New York Fashion week (Friedman, 2020).
Since the experimental style of blending more formal menswear with casual clothing began, the lines between menswear and streetwear have blurred. Today, updated combinations of suits and blazers are spotted on countless celebrities, even making appearances on streetwear icons like Alexa Chung and Gigi Hadid who show that traditionally formal pieces can be effortlessly combined with t-shirts, jeans, and slip dresses (Harper’s Bazaar, 2020; Petter, 2017).
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