Streetwear Outfit Evolution Over The Years

Streetwear is a casual clothing trend that gained popularity worldwide in the 1990s. It evolved from Californian surf culture and New York hip hop fashion to include aspects of sportswear, punk, skateboarding, and Japanese street fashion. Haute couture eventually started to have an impact. It frequently emphasizes exclusivity through deliberate product scarcity, as well as "casual, comfy pieces like jeans, T-shirts, baseball hats, and shoes." Limited edition releases are sought after by enthusiasts who follow specific brands. From Billie Eillish, JLO, Sherol Carrol or Shakira had been seen wearing streetwear outfits, you can see the latest photos here, but how exactly this fashion trend evolved?

70 and 80s

Most people agree that streetwear style evolved from New York City hip hop culture in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with influences from Los Angeles surf culture.

Hip hop, the DIY aesthetic of punk, Japanese street fashion, new wave, heavy metal, and the co-opting of established legacy athletic and workwear fashion companies like Schott NYC, Dr. Martens, Kangol, Fila, and Adidas were further sources of influence for early streetwear in the 1970s and 1980s.

Shawn Stussy, a creator of bespoke surfboards, started selling printed T-shirts with his unique signature in the late 1980s. Stussy started off by selling the goods out of his own car, but as his success grew, he started selling them in boutiques.

90's

Rising record companies like Tommy Boy Records, Def Jam Recordings, and Delicious Vinyl started selling branded apparel embroidered on letterman coats and workwear jackets created by firms like Carhartt in the early 1990s. 

Skateboarding and gangster rap were influences in the mid- to late 1990s. With their production of oversized team jerseys, boots from The Timberland Company, and the most recent shoe design releases from Nike, Inc., professional American sports franchises are having a significant impact on the scene. In particular, the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Raiders, and Chicago Bulls caps and jackets.

The senior executives of record labels then launched their own brands, including Sean Combs of Bad Boy with Sean John, Russell Simmons of Def Jam with his Phat Farm label, and Jay-Z and Damon Dash of Roc-a-Fella Records with Rocawear. A few years later, rap icon 50 Cent unveiled his G-Unit clothing line, with Reebok receiving the sneaker rights.

2000's

Established luxury labels entered the market in the 2000s with the rise of "bling" culture, with Burberry, Gucci, and Fendi making cameos in hip hop videos and movies.

Some streetwear companies were now as sought-after in the 2010s as the most prestigious fashion labels in history. As the leading streetwear brands, according to Complex Magazine, Stüssy, Supreme, and A Bathing Ape collaborated on prestigious high fashion capsule collections like Supreme x Louis Vuitton, Fila x Fendi, A Bathing Ape x Commes des Garcons, and Stüssy x Dior.

Modern streetwear, which has been influenced by runway presentations, is having an increasing impact on haute couture. Through their influence on hip hop and popular culture, designers like Raf Simons have significantly contributed to the development of streetwear. Other designers supported trends like clunky shoes, such Demna Gvasalia, the creative director of Vetements and Balenciaga.

Given that it is gender neutral and frequently created by people from many racial and ethnic origins, streetwear is one of the most diverse fashion trends.