Sunday, August 2, 2009

Street Trends Meets High Fashion

The 80-90’s brought in another trend called hip-hop, which made a bold statement, which was influenced by a rap/gangster genre of music. However jewelry {big gold chains {padlock}, rings} remained the most distinctive symbol of the hip-hop fashion. Hip Hop clothes {Adidas, Tracksuits, sneakers, etc} have been firstly worn by hip hop stars Run-DMC and LLCool J.In addition to the haircuts like; Jeri curl and high top fades. Currently hip-hop trends have transformed into famous labels like Sean John, Phat Farm and Roca Wear with more sex appeal, edginess, and contemporary American look.

Roca Wear collection founded by Jay-Z/Damon Dash and launched in 1999, which is a reflection of hip-hop, and their lifestyles. The collection consists of men’s, women’s and kids collection along with sneakers and jewelry.

When I think of high fashion in regards to hip-hop I think of House of Dereon and Kanye West Louis Vuitton Sneakers. Beyoncé has transformed hip-hop styles into renaissance high fashion with attitude and confidence. Her fabrics consist of silk charmuese, chiffon and satin crepe. Kanye West collaborated with Louis Vuitton creating some edgy sneakers that took the fashion world by storm. The style of sneakers can been worn with almost anything and anywhere. The high top sneakers come in colorful variations that are well balanced and toned. These looks are current street trends that categorize many in differ social status.

Theme: Hip-Hop

Fashion Designer: adidas, Beyoncé & Tina Knowles, Kanye West, Louis Vuitton

Era: 80/90’s-present

Run DMC wearing Adidas


LL Cool J looking mad fly in the 80's.


Roca Wear Campaign Ad’s



Kanye West with his 2009 Louis Vuitton sneakers, I love these sneakers.





Beyoncé & Tina Knowles in “House of Dereon Collection” a very luxury high fashion look.




The Zoot suit has been around since the 1930’s and gained popularity among the fashionable youth in the jazz music and dance scene. The Zoot suit style: long jacket, wide shoulders, double breasted, pleated, phenomenal stitching, trim cut by the waist and baggy pants which attracted attention in its own way. Plus the style was for dance and parties. Presently the Zoot suits are now simply considered as fashions wear sported by famous men like Audrey 3000. Classiness and refinement the modern look of Zoot suits present today, which are tailored, made to fit perfectly. These street trends are current in many music videos and in the clubs.

John Galliano is an extravagant fashion designer that capitalized on the Zoot suit for his high fashion collection that stood out on the runway. His collection tells a story that is very funky, flashy with wide denim embroidery, colorful graphic designs and over the top blazers. He has brought a new concept to high fashion that I can appreciate.

Theme: Zoot suit

Spring 2002 Ready-to-Wear

Fashion Designer: John Galliano

Courtesy: Style.com

Era: 1930’s

Two men posing looking very professional in there Zoot suits.

John Galliano 2002 Ready-to-Wear Zoot Suits




The Teddy boy style was influenced by Edwardian period. The Teddy Boy clothing consisted of long draped jackets, mainly in dark shades, velvet trim collards, pocket flaps, high waist trousers and bright colored socks. These suits were generally tailored made at the customer’s expense. Another look that was popular among the teddy boys was greased up hair at the front and on the sides. The Teddy boy look was acceptable for young people to care about how they looked especially in their Sunday best.

Comme Des Garcon collection was inspired by the 1950’s Teddy boy look, which is captivated on the high fashion runway. Her Teddy boy look was triggered by brightness, hexagonal cutting, frilled edges, transparent undershirts and multi-textured layers. I like how Comme Des Garcon stuck to the concept but changed the style and color scheme up a little bit. The Teddy boy look is current in street trends that are worn everyday and dominant in the church.

Theme: Teddy Boys

Fashion Designer: Comme Des Garcon

Collection Type: Spring RTW {ready to wear}

Era: 1950’s/present

Teddy Boy Looks in the 50’s


Comme Des Garcon 2007 Spring RTW {ready to wear} Teddy Boy Collection



Disco era in the 1970’s emerged fashions like the mini skirt, maxi dress, hot pants, halter neck cat suits, exotic and tropical prints. When I think of disco, I consider John Travolta in the film “Saturday Night Fever” that helped creature a subculture to many young people to dress in heels to chucky to dance in and loud costumes. He had on a very flashy suit that fit perfectly. Some inspired street trends were: Afros among African American, open neck shirts, lunge pants, chucky beaded jewelry and woven handbags.

Disco Meets Glam-Rock with Balmain Designer Christoph Decarnin in his high fashion Fall 2009 ready to wear collection. The modernist eighties movement inspired Christoph fashion collection. Christoph collection stands our mostly with sparking studs, shimmering slim dresses, razor slashed bleached jeans studded sandals, pointed shoulders and over all glam. Disco trends are very popular on the street and in stores like bebe, forever 21 and vintage stores as well as the party scene.

Theme: Disco Fashions

Fashion Designer: Christoph Decarnin

Collection Type: Fall 2009 ready-to-wear

Era: 1970’s

John Travolta in his Disco attire in the film Saturday Night Fever

Christoph Decarnin Fall 2009 ready-to-wear Disco Collection




Mod fashion styles was adopted in the 50’s/60’s by French styles which were smooth, sophisticated look that pushed the boundaries of miniskirts that became shorter and shorter. The mod style look exemplified high fashion with decreasing the hemline of mini skirts, leggings, bright colorful patterns, big lashes and high boots.

Twiggy the first teenage supermodel became the idol Mod look in the sixties. She launched her first line of high fashion clothing, which was created by Mary Quant. She appeared in Vogue magazine and campaign ads for Louis Vuitton. The mod look has taken over street trends and the high fashion runway.

The Chanel 2006 Spring collection by Karl Lagerfeld conveys a swinging mod styles that are vey popular among Cameron Diaz and on the high fashion runway. This collection was a bold shift and a fashion forward look.

Another designer that created a mod style look is Matthew Williamson with his collection Pucci. He is known for his signature swirling prints in dresses, bright pants, flirty mini’s with accents of large bangles.

Theme: Mod Style

Fashion Designer: Pucci designer Matthew Williamson

Collection Type: Spring Ready-to- Wear

Courtesy: style.com

Twiggy posing in her Mod Style Look that took modeling and fashion to another level.



Chanel 2006 Spring collection by Karl Lagerfeld {Mod Style}

Pucci designer Matthew Williamson 2009 Spring Ready-to- Wear Mod Collection


Punk style was a movement in the 70’s/80’s built on a social quo in society. Safety-pinned, destroyed clothing {black jeans, leather jackets, white t-shirts}, piercing, Mohawk hairstyles, cosmetics, spikes and dark colors were the ideal looks for men and women. The punk style was popular among rock bands and other musicians. I think punk styles have not changed in street trends today but differ in more graphic looks and styles but keeping the over all concept.

Luella Bartley showed her high fashion flirty punk posh look during London’s Fashion week. School uniforms, a little military with a touch of British punk, inspired her collection. Luella’s since of details with zippers, beautiful shapes and sheer fabrics was very classic on the runway along with velvet jackets and tailored pants. I liked how she added crystal gold stockings to her preppy look.

Theme: Punk Styles

Fashion Designer: Luella Bartley

Collection Type: Autumn-Winter 2009/2010 at the London Fashion Week Punk Collection

Era: 1970’s & 1980's

Punk style of a young in girl in a rock band.




Hippie subculture was a youth movements dressed in a way to express rebellion at fixed and commonly accepted notions and social norms during the 1960’s, which made Woodstock Festival a historical moment in music. Men and women’s grew their hair out in longer lengths, they wore colorful tie-dye clothing which was very popular and is still present today. The hippie wardrobe consists of Hip hugger bell-bottom jeans, flower patches theme shirts, skimpy halter-tops , mini skirts and accessories included peace symbols that were very popular. The hippie street trends continue to come and go which stay in stores year round with the same concept of fashion.

Diane Von Furstenberg embraced the hippie ideal that took high fashion by storm. The collection was very feminine, whimsical, fun tops, wrapped with flowers, prints, silk with many candy color graphic designs. Diane’s free spirited collection inspired by: hippie rock goddess” with attitude and extravagant headpieces.

Theme: Hippie Styles

Fashion Designer: Diane Von Furstenberg

Collection Type: Spring 2009 read to wear

Era: 1960’s

A couple in 1960’s with their Hippie Look

Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2009 read to wear Hippie High Fashion Look





Beatnik’s was a social movement in 50’s/60’s that stressed self-expression and reflection of society. The word beatnik was coined by Herb Caen, which means beats.

Beatnik’s fashions for women included: leotards, long hair, which was rebellion against the middle class standards at that time. Black was the central color of choice for clothing and the uniform was black slacks worn with tight t-shirts and dark glasses. Women wore black eye makeup and flat shoes. Some wore rave apparel, which were the fashion equivalent of gibberish and a precursor to hippy clothing. Beatnik’s current street trends today are very popular among young teenagers and musicians.

Anna Sui is a phenomenal fashion designer that captivated the 1960’s Beatnik look on her collection. I concept was extremely strong and fresh. The Beatnik look is very popular on the high fashion runway, which brings a new everyday look that most people can wear to work or even out on the town.

Theme: Beatnik Style

Fashion Designer: Anna Sui

Collection Type: Beatnik ready to wear Fall 99 Collection in Bryant Park

Era: 1950’s & 1960’s

Group playing instruments in there Beatnik look.


Anna Sui Fall 99 - Fashion Show in Bryant Park - 1960's Beatnik Look




New Trends:

When considering two new trends I think of a more edgy knee high boots fro women with a stiletto heel or platform and stiletto’s made from the concept of a luxury car. {Lamborghini: }

This look can be worn in several ways like: underpants, over pants, with a sexy dress, shirt or shorts. There are endless colors, materials and looks that can complement the outfit. The new high boot can be fastened in various ways like: zipped, bucked or lace. High boots are very common on the high fashion runway, concert costume attire and music videos.

When I first saw this heel I was amazing how the shoe was unique and unconventional. These pumps are will pretty well thought out right down to every little detail. The Lamborghini shoe has NOT hit stores anywhere yet. This shoe is a ruff draft created by talented designer Modo Illustrator Tim Cooper which a concept product buzz for the car. The company is still contemplating if they’re going to create a fashion collection of this show. I think they should cause it will be a brand new concept and trend into the fashion world.

Autumn (Fall)/Winter 2009/2010


Madonna in long knew high stilettos boots coming this fall by Chanel

Over-the-knee boots by Loewe.

Christian Siriano collection with stunning knee high boots.


Lamborghini stiletto’s