Hip hop fashion is a style that originated from the young African-American, Latino, and Caribbean-Americans who were based in five districts, a city of New York. However, the hip hop was influenced later by many other places, contributing to what we know of fashion hip hop today. Of course, hip hop fashion is a reflection of their culture.
Since the 1980s, different brands have had on the hip hop scene, including the super sports brands, Adidas and Nike, Inc, which added to its popularity. Articles of clothing like leather jackets, Dr. Marten’s boots and sneakers were used, becoming his “uniform.”
However, hip hop fashion does not stop at the clothes alone, but is reinforced by different types of accessories like large glasses, labels the name large gold rings hanging from chains and multiple, with heavy jewelry suggests the wealth and prestige.
During the late ’80s, hip hop fashion, jewelry, and hairstyles reflected traditional African culture.chains from Africa, blousy pants, red, black clothes and green and put dreadlocks by rappers like MC Hammer. When the shot in the 90s, baseball caps, clothing and even neon back dresses became the new trend.
Hip hop fashion for men and women became different men continued to use blousy pants or baggy jeans, sunglasses and heavy work boots, while the women began to wear tighter jeans.However, women adapt to the style of men using them, and adding a feminine touch, the setting of lip gloss and makeup.
Brands such as Dickies, Chuck Taylors, and the Raiders have contributed to the popularity of jeans, sneakers and baseball caps, respectively. Even joined Chanel, models with the classic look of hip hop: black leather jackets and gold chains or black dress with silver chains.
A major change in the hip hop scene was the celebration of the 90s fashion styles of the thugs and gang members, including prisoners. Large was still the style for all, whether for jeans or cargo pants. Until today, the style wear their trousers so low, or “fallen” without the use of safety belts, is still a common practice. This practice comes from prisons, where belts are not allowed potentially lethal for their purposes (as reported by CNN), as well as urban poor communities who could not afford new clothes, so passing it under a member of the family, the younger, smaller members. Along with this are signs with their hands and territorial mentality, which were first adopted by young blacks in Los Angeles, but later extended.
Hip hop fashion designers continued to inspire more and more and big names like Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and DKNY sportswear created that showed this style, and glorified urban street wear. Opened FUBU hip hop fashion to the mainstream, from a domestic industry. Moreover, the traditionally African-American hairstyles resurfaced, as braids and Afros, the latter created by wearing a Du-rag on your head all the time, keeping the hair from being displaced. Over time, 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 jewelry hip hop, often adorned with diamonds.