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 Bellaire. 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 Nautical also came into vogue. At this time, hip hop fashion trends evolved into urban street wear, with names like Mecca USA, Lugs and Roca wear coming into play.

 

Flash and Bling The turn of the century saw hip hop fashion trends switch to flashy ensembles and 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.

fashion trends spring summer 2013

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Designer Fashion Hot Trends - J Brand Skinnies

 The hottest trend in casual designer fashion of 2011 has to be the J Brand skinny bright - they are flying off the shelves so quickly all over the world that there is a shortage and it is waiting list only in some stores. We're not talking the latest IT bag here, but very comfortable and flattering jeans. The difference this year is that J Brand are producing their stunning skinnies in a rainbow of gorgeous colors.

J Brand was launched in 2005 the brain child of experienced denim manufacturer, Jeff Rudest, and celebrity stylist, Susie Crip pen. They came up with a winning recipe that has been the top choice of many celebrities ever since - their mandate has always been a concentration of perfect fit and comfort, with great attention to details such as stitching and clean finishes. The jeans have always been kept simple with no excessive hardware or decorations and the secret of their success is that they look great with a stunning silhouette.

The first American premium jean brand to embrace the skinny leg, J brand is making huge waves this year with their innovative colorful skinnies. The whole fashion world is going crazy for them, seeing how hard it is to get hold of a pair these days! The gorgeous rainbow of colors available includes fuchsia, bright red, bright orange, bright purple, bright royal, bright turquoise, bright yellow and pretty pink.

Jeff Rudest says that he was inspired to create this colorful array by the Jill Sander catwalk collections and sees his mission as interpreting fashion through a jean. He's certainly hit on the cutting edge trend once again, after the huge success of his J Brand Houilihan cargo rousers last year.

The great thing about these particular skinnies is that they are so well cut that they work well with curvier figures as well as stick thin models. The important thing is to mix these genes into your wardrobe, pairing them with the right clothes and accessories that make curvy figures look fab in skinnies too, as long as you're daring enough.

If your local designer jeans store has sold out check out some of the online designer fashion stores where pre-orders can be taken and dispatched to you as soon as they are in stock again. You may end up getting them quicker this way than waiting for your local store to receive their deliveries.

Mens Designer Fashion

This season, men’s designer fashion is full of exciting trends to suit all tastes from casual to flamboyant and everything in between. For those who prefer a more understated look, there are plenty of chunky cable knitwear items to choose from including jumpers and cardigans in soft shades of grays, beige and browns as well as tight fitting long sleeved woolen sweaters in darker shades like black, navy and olive. Fair Isle and Aram knitwear patterns are also making a comeback and anything with shearling trim or detail such as a faux sheepskin gullet will also be a key trend.

For the younger and more style conscious, it has to be the military look, whether you go the full hog with combat trousers, three-quarter length coat or short jacket with full military-style lapels and brass buttons or keep warm and fashionable in an ultra-trendy aviator jacket. You can also mix in a bit of this trend with the more casual everyday men’s designer fashion. Again, the key colors for this look are mainly earthy shades like olive, khaki, beige mixed with various shade of chocolate and rich browns. Confused? There is a great site I found to help with simple and easy to follow tips and information.

Suits for men have moved away from the so-called skinny boy suit of recent years to a sleeker, smarter style that is more versatile for all ages. The new cut is, one that accents a sense of the masculine through three key silhouette elements - broad shoulders, a slim waist and slim trousers. Double breasted sports jackets and coats are also big news and are ideal to team up with jeans for a more dressed down look. There are a mixture of fabrics to choose from including tweeds and herringbone, pinstripes and satin to wool and even velvet. This was actually very big on the catwalks with many of the top designers including it in their collections for men’s designer fashion this season. While head to toe velvet complete with frilly shirt and even the biggest thing since the man-bag - a man brooch - will not necessarily be for anyone, the very brave and daring dandies out there will be sure to embrace it. However, for those who prefer a less flamboyant approach to this trend; why not team a velvet waistcoat or jacket with a plain pair of trousers or even jeans. Alternatively opt for just the velvet trousers with a shirt and sports jacket. If all that is still too much, add just a touch of velvet perhaps on the lapels of your suit jacket or a trim of it on your shirt or coat for a more subtle effect.

Designer Fashion Trends

Initially, creative thinking fashion designers gather their inspiration, whether it comes from popular culture, music, politics, a beautiful new celebrity, or something entirely different. Then, they design these fashions leaving us the end result, which will be a spring or fall designer collection. These perfectly crafted designs are then ready to be introduced to the world and sold. In order to sell their products fashion designers must advertise their collections. They do this at the runway shows or fashion shows. Models strut these designer fashions down runways in hopes that buyers will be intrigued enough to pay thousands of dollars for them. Of course, when a celebrity wears one of these designs the result is usually the next hottest fashion trend of that particular season. Especially one that is admired for being fashionable.

Celebrities have an enormous influence on trends in the fashion industry. Of course, they can afford to pay thousands of dollars for a Prada purse or let's say a pair of say $2,000 Jimmy Choo shoes. Where does this leave the average consumer, though? They try to imitate the high-end designs by purchasing fashions that are somewhat similar. Of course, owning the famous designer style ensures you that you’re getting the utmost quality. This is displayed not only in the workmanship but in the actual design and details of the product.

A good example of quality goods when it comes to designer labels would be Louis Vuitton. Be it a handbag or a wallet the quality is so outstanding that is obvious at first glance. This leaves the average consumer to buy handbags that are similar, like that of buying reproductions. Which is okay, because in reality they are getting the style that is most appealing to them? Delivering a particular design in a dress or a purse and leaving the consumer completely satisfied is the ultimate goal.

Refining your Working Wardrobe - Belts, Handbags & More

For women strapped for time by the neverending work day, trying to stay abreast of fashion trends is probably the first thing on your mind to do but that last thing you plan to ever check off the growing to-do list.  It’s a nice desire but realistically… who has the time to decide whether or not animal print or some kind of opaque tight would complement the professional wardrobe you have?

Women don’t push enough to try and add flavor and color to their traditional work pieces (suits, sheath dresses, etc.). but women can in fact easily accent their work outfits with a lot of  bold color and accessories that won’t take away from their look.  Truth be told - women don’t run out of clothing or accessories, they just run out of ways to put them together which leads to boredom.  Boredom leads to drab style and rushed morning which perpetuates the ugly cycle.  Try these tips to quickly spice up your work-wear without killing your daily schedule.

Belts

Belts are one of the most inexpensive ways to add a lot of flair to your wardrobe.  Amazingly, women don’t get creative with belts despite the creative opportunity.  These can be placed over suit coats even when there are no belt loops, or over a trench coat to replace the simple belt that came with the coat when they bought it.  You can do belts even without a small waistline - just try styles until you find something that fits (slim, metallic, patent leather, etc)

Leather

Leather can be a little on the tricky side for some women.  If you wear too much of it then you wind up looking like the better half of the Marlboro man.  If you do opt for leather, especially as part of a business outfit, match it to pieces that soften it.  For example, wear a soft sweater set with a leather skirt.  Just skip the motorcycle jacket.

Tights

It doesn’t matter what season you’re in, a pair of matching opaque tights (either matching or starkly contrasting) can turn a very simple business suit into something very chic and stylish.  While black tights are indeed sexy, they’re also done (and done again).  Try sharp colors like a plum, teal or pumpkin to add vibrancy to a neutral skirt.

Handbags

A handbag can do a lot to your business attire; especially if you’re feeling rushed and just don’t have a lot of time for putting a number of accessories together.  Handbags have a lot variety so you can certainly find something to accent your suit, just keep the basics in minds; color, size and design should come together to compliment not only your work outfit but also your body and type and the setting.  If a designer handbag is too high for your budget, consider used designer handbags at a fraction of the price.

Putting it All Together

You don’t need to attack your attire from every angle, carrying every accessory.  While fashion can sometimes be used to make a bold statement or idea it’s also about being subtle and supporting your look.  Accessories should do just that - support you.  While they’re made to attract the eyes, you don’t want them to be so magnetic that they dominate you.

How to Choose a Designer Used Handbag for the Right Season

Unless you live in a location where the weather is a perfect sunny seventy degrees around the clock, year round – no designer used handbag is going to look perfect all the time.  The weather and the seasons change as often as our styles (sometimes more frequently) and have an equal impact on the accessories we carry in order to make an impact.  The designer handbag, while not resting dead center on your body, is like the bulls eye of a target when it comes to fashion so it’s important to not only match the handbag to your style but also to the season.

Designer used handbags can be broken down into a number of variables that you’ll need to consider when you’re choosing your purse – whether from the closet or from a display:

Stun the Eyes with Color

The Lighter and Brighter colors will always suit warmer seasons.  If you’re in a climate where the warm weather lasts longer then you can get more play out of a certain handbag.  The darker and richer colors suit cooler seasons.  Not color seasons either, this is referring to the seasons of the year.  Those rich dark colors will create a magnetic draw against the dreary washed out backdrops of the winter seasons.

Toting the Weight

You might think the weight of a bag has little to do with the actual selection from a fashion perspective, but the weight (related often to the size) works both for convenience and elegance.  Lighter weight bags both look and feel better in summer months while heavier, heftier bags do very well to accent bulky clothing in autumn or winter.

Fabrication and Style

It pays to suit the style and fabric of a designer used handbag to the overall style you’re wearing.  For example, a straw handbag would go well in the summer months with the straw hat you’re wearing on the boardwalk.  Would it suit the felt hat you’re wearing in the cold winter months?  Not likely.  Cooler months are fitting for leather as well as fur fabrics or felt.  Keep in mind also that if it looks like it has the potential to protect you from the rain it would likely do well as a cooler climate bag.

Even still, consider the other factors of the handbag – even a cooler climate style can fit another season if other factors come together properly.

Finding Patterns that Attract

It’s not uncommon to see floral patterns (or something similar) in the warmer months.  Typically anything nature based fits the warm seasons well.  Neutral tones/patterns also work well for warmer months.  For cooler seasons you’ll see an increase in geometric patterns or simple textures.

Are there styles that function year round?  Certainly.  Designer used handbags are made to withstand the season – and more than just the fashion season or the current trend.  A bag that does well year round may be medium value in color with a fair weight that is easy to manage – allowing you to wearing both casually and formally.  It’s always better to have more than one handbag so that you can find the most appropriate handbag for the occasion.  If you try to wear the same bag at all times there’s a chance it may wind up letting you down.