Hip Hop Fashion Trends: Then and Now

Hip hop fashion trends are not a newcomer to the fashion scene by any means. In fact, this style has been around since the 1980’s, when celebrities like Will Smith and Christopher “Kid” Reid showed youth how it should be done. Of course, hip hop fashion trends have evolved over the past two decades as tastes and styles have changed to correspond with the culture of the time. The following will offer you a brief but colorful history into the world of hip hop, with some of the current fashion design today.

Early Hip Hop
In the 1980’s, major brand names became synonymous with the hip hop fashion trends. Brands like Nike, Adidas and Clark shoes were sported with leather bomber jackets and brightly-colored track suits. Sports jerseys were a hot commodity, with Will Smith showing them off in his hit television show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire. This was the time when heavy gold jewelry and large sunglasses came into play, creating an image of wealth and luxury in the hip hop culture of this time. In the latter part of this decade, MC Hammer and other rappers introduced hip hop fashion trends like baggy pants and baseball caps.

The Gangsta Look
In the 1900’s, hip hop fashion trends shifted to the gangsta look in the fashion of the Los Angeles Chicano gangsters. This style sported baggy pants that were worn low and without a belt, shirt tails hanging outside the pants and bandanas on the head. In the midst of this fashion trend, designers were also providing something that the youth of this time liked, and brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Polo and Nautica also came into vogue. At this time, hip hop fashion trends evolved into urban streetwear, with names like Mecca USA, Lugz and Rocawear coming into play.

Flash and Bling
The turn of the century saw hip hop fashion trends switch to flashy ensembles and bling bling jewelry, made popular by the likes of Jay-Z and The Hot Boys. High end designers like Gucci came onto the hip hop scene during this time as well. Today, the hip hop look has toned down somewhat, with hip hop fashion trends that are more tailored and professional – preppie hip hop, if you will. However, since the hip hop fashion trends are primarily embraced by youth, this style will always be cutting edge and separate from the fashion mainstream. After more than two decades on the fashion scene, it appears that this trend is more than just a trend – it is a fashion icon that is here to stay.

Teen Fashion Design: Keeping up with the Latest Trends

Teens have long wanted their own look and style; whether it was the all new rock and roll of Elvis Presley and Fats Domino in the middle of the last century or the hip hop fashion trends of today. Part of a teen’s style is about breaking away from the surrounding adults to find a unique and individual identity. It is also fun, plain and simple, to keep up with latest and greatest in teen fashion design. After all, anytime is the right time to hit the mall! If you are a teen looking to update her look this season, we have the tips you need to hit the school campus or the mall in style.

Accessorize
Some of the pieces in your closet may look so yesterday, but what if you paired them with one of the trendiest new accessories? Whether it is a totally mod pair of earrings or a funky belt, you can update any of the basics in your closet with a whole new look. This allows you to keep up on the latest teen fashion design without spending your entire allowance amount to do so. Other great accessories to watch out for include a new pair of shoes, a fabulous handbag or an all the rage necklace to wear over your favorite tee.

Wardrobe Building 101
What’s your favorite color? When you begin to build a wardrobe for yourself, it is best to work it around a couple of basic colors that you love and that you look positively great in. From that base palette, you can build an entire wardrobe by adding a hot colored camisole or some wild beads. If you stick with basics like great-fitting blue jeans, solid colored t-shirts and a few sassy skirts, you will be able to mix and match in the latest teen fashion design. Don’t forget to add a couple of patterned pieces for a bit of variety, like a pair of plaid capris or a pair of vertical striped pants that are the rage right now.

Once you have assembled a wardrobe that you love for the current season, take care of it by keeping the pieces clean, pressed and hung properly in your closet. To ensure that you can find all of the necessary items for a complete ensemble before school, keep your closet tidy with the clothing hung on hangers instead of heaped on the floor. The latest teen fashion design can be yours with these simple tips and a little bit of shopping savvy.

Urban Fashion Trends for Today

Urban fashion trends have been around for the better part of a decade, and they don’t show any signs of going anywhere to soon. Instead, they seem to simply evolve; from the bright colors and bling bling accessories of the hip hop style to a more understated and profession urban fashion trend of today. When urban style first met hip hop culture in the 1980’s, the trend leaned toward bright, bold attention-getting garb that was particularly enticing to the African American and Latino cultures. Today, youth from all cultures are discovering the attraction of current urban fashion trends, as a way to break with the mainstream fashion with this teen fashion design and still fit in well in the academic and professional world.

Characteristics of Urban Style
The urban fashion trends of today lean toward comfortable style with a touch of spirit. Bright colors and tailored pieces with a cleaner, more professional look have come into vogue. While flashy jewelry is still worn by some, others have moved away from these sorts of urban fashion trends to protest the materialism that the looks suggest. The designer labels that used to be a must in urban fashion trends are not as important as they used to be, and some of fashion followers even find them a pretentious reminder of days gone by. Instead, urban outfitters are looking for separates that are basic, inexpensive and fit well.

The Rise of Celebrity Wear
Many celebrities have jumped on the bandwagon of urban fashion trends by offering their own lines of this clothing. Kimora Lee Simmons came out with the Baby Phat brand that is popular in many specialty boutiques and department stores right now. Russel Simmons introduced Phat Farm, Diddy offers Sean John and Damon Dash and Jay-Z offer Rocawear. This has become a popular urban fashion trend that many youngsters have joined, since they were familiar with the names behind the lines long before the clothing ever came into vogue. However, it isn’t cheap to boast a celebrity name on your clothing tag, so get ready to spend a hefty amount to dress like your favorite stars.

Urban fashion trends have come and gone over the past decade or two, but on thing is for sure. This fad has become more than just a fad; it is an entire culture and way of life for many of our youth today. Whether you like the urban fashion trends or would prefer to see them run their course, it appears that this style is going to be around for a good long while.

How to Keep up with New Fashion Style without Breaking the Bank

Sure, the most style conscious among us want to sail through the seasons in all of the new fashion styles. But purchasing a new wardrobe twice a year is a luxury that few of us can afford. Is there a solution to this trendsetting dilemma? Of course there is, as long as you know how to shop smarter instead of shopping more. With some retail savvy and a bit of patience, you can have new fashion style in your closet every season at a fraction of the money that you may be thinking you will have to spend.

Don’t Buy Clothing as Soon as it Appears
Retailers will bank on the fact that many women will pay full price for a new fashion style just to get the best selection or be the first woman on the block to flaunt it. This does not have to be you! With a bit of patience, you will soon see that must have tunic that will look just perfect with your favorite jeans at 30-50% off. Wait even longer, and you may find a coupon in the circular in the Sunday paper for an additional percentage off. Wait an additional month or two, and that adorable tunic will be offered at a clearance price that you are sure to afford.

Don’t Spend more on Trendy Items
There are plenty of places to shop for the new fashion style. Upper end boutiques and department stores will offer the latest crazes with a high price tag. Average department stores will offer similarly trendy merchandise for a much lower price. Discount house will provide comparable items for the best price of all. When it comes to new fashion style, spend less on the really trendy items that will only work for one or two seasons. This leaves money in your clothing budget to spend more on classic pieces like the wool blazer or black riding boots that will be able to get you through multiple seasons in style and quality.

Shop Online
There are some great bargains on new fashion style online. Whether you are into hip hop or urban fashion trends, you can find great selection and prices at many retailers on the Internet. These virtual stores usually have sales and clearance events just like the department stores in the mall. And you don’t have to leave home and fight the crowds to check out the new fashion style. The disadvantage to this method is that you can’t try items on prior to purchase.

Keeping up with new fashion style can be a lot of fun, and now it can be economical as well. With these tips, you can look up to the minute without breaking the bank.

Fashion Latest Trend: Keeping Up and Looking Good

Keeping up with the latest fashion craze is the goal of many women today. However, in the process of trying to look up to date, many become a slave to the fashion latest trend. This doesn’t work well for a number of reasons. First, today’s latest fashion trend may not be the most flattering style for your body shape or coloring. If you are uncomfortable wearing an item of clothing, it is not going to look right no matter what the style magazines may tell you. Finally, keeping up with every fashion latest trend can be expensive. If you love the latest styles but are unsure of how to wear them properly, read on for the best tips a trendsetter will ever need.

Know your Body Type
Are you an apple or a pear? Perhaps an hourglass is the best way to describe your figure. No matter what your body type may be, you can find a fashion latest trend that will flatter your figure and look great on you. The key is to choose clothing pieces around your own personal shape instead of simply what is stylish on the racks. If you don’t look good in flared pants, go with a narrower boot cut or straight leg instead. If low cut camisoles and tank tops make you uncomfortable, find similar styles with higher necks or wear a camisole underneath for more coverage. When you feel good about what you are wearing, your clothes are guaranteed to look better on you.

Buy to Coordinate
You may love that adorable baby doll tee on the rack, but what happens when you get that fashion latest trend home? You may not have any bottoms in your closet that will coordinate with the color and style, so the top goes unworn in the back of a drawer. If you are planning to dabble in a new fashion style, you will want to make sure the separates you purchase will have something to match up to. That’s why it is generally wise to purchase outfits together, to ensure that you will always have coordinated clothing in the fashion latest trend. It may seem like more of an expense to purchase a complete ensemble, but how much did you spend on that baby doll tee collecting dust in your dresser?

Most women love to dress in the fashion latest trend on occasion or every day. No matter how much shopping you do and how often you keep up on the latest fads, you can choose clothing that will fit you well and flatter you the best. Keep your body shape in mind and purchase the latest fashion trend in a complete outfit to ensure the pieces look good together. With these simple tips in mind, you are sure to step out of your house every day looking your best in the fashion latest trend.

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