Urban wear is very popular these days. However, many people are still confused and misguided about the real definition of this fashion trend. The phrase ‘urban wear’ could be associated to its root, the word ‘urban,’ which pertains to a city. Thus, urban clothing is usually defining particular wear in a location or inner city. Modern urban clothing has grown to be a culture rather than a specific fashion in a particular inner city.



Urban wear could be literally translated into culture clothing that pertains to trends and fashions symbolizing urban culture. This usually grows from music or sport into a full cultural brand that could spread to any country. Urban fashion is not anymore associated or identified with only one nation. It is worn by men and women, from anywhere in the world, who are very much into fashion individuality and influence from music and sports icons who are into urban clothing.



Who is wearing urban clothing? Technically, urban wear could be categorized or linked with hip hop, alternative, or skate clothing. Thus, it is usually worn or followed by men and women aged 14 years to 36 years. What is most notable about such clothes is that they do not discriminate creed, age, or color. The clothes just strive to logically and obviously express personality and individuality chosen and preferred by people who follow the urban wear trends.



How could anyone distinguish hip hop, skating, and surfing clothing? Apparels in such activities are almost alike that they are easily categorized into urban fashion. However, anyone could define specific clothing through the activity it symbolizes. For instance, skate clothing is preferred by skaters; hip hop clothes illustrate the trendy music; while surfing clothes could be worn while enjoying the beaches.



However, urban fashion is unique because it spurs creativity. For example, a hip hop shirt could be worn on top of a surfing short to come up with a unique getup. People could easily, fashionably, and creatively mix and match clothes and accessories to express their own individualities.



Where could you find and buy urban wear? There are many brands for urban fashion that are operating actively in the current fashion market. The brand and vendor that you would pick should define the culture that you aim to express. For example, a unique brand Chilly-O could feature a mixture of hip hop, skate, surf, and street clothing that could be worn by a diverse mix of people. Many brands in the market could blend in any culture and stand out as clear definition of the phrase ‘urban culture clothing.’



Urban wear today is not just about clothing. Many brands are also offering fashion accessories like action sports apparel, hats, and wristbands. Thus, urban fashion lines are on the bandwagon of fashion but they are usually not providing customers with only clothes. Instead, urban fashion brands are striving to sell an entire different culture for people in different nations. This is the reason urban wear in New York could be similar to urban wear in Tokyo or in other cities in the world.

The Japan fashion scene is always interesting. The array of styles and genres has always found itself influencing the fashion scene of the rest of the Pacific. Urban wear in Japan or the way the Japanese are doing it is not without influences. As most of the world, the fashion industry in Japan has at one point influenced by Westerners. It was in the 1950s when Japanese began imitating what were hip and new in America and Europe. But decades later, Japan fashion has grown into something different and has defined urban wear as “street wear/street fashion” often combining current and traditional trends to come out with something elegant, outrageous or simply unexpected.



Some American and European designers have even come to observe closely the Japanese fashion scene before releasing their clothing line. Some trends have indeed started in Japan first like the camouflage pants and the unmistaken cosplay looks or wearing costumes, makeup and accessories to imitate popular Anime or Manga characters. Japan urban fashion is known to be quite unusual often combining clothes that are worn independently. For example, Tokyo urban fashion scene is characterized by women wearing mini skirts over tight denim jeans with high heels. There are different kinds of Japanese street fashion among them are Ganguro, Lolita, Kogal, Kawaii, Decora and Cosplay.



Lolita has a lot of subculture style. First is the Classic Lolita which is a mature fashion style which uses light colors and much of blue, red and green combinations. There’s the Gothic Lolita which is known to implement dark colors, knee length socks, boots, brooches, parasols, bats, spiders and crosses along with other established gothic icons. There’s the Sweet Lolita which focuses on childlike attires including fantasy or fair tale themes.



The Ganguro is a street fashion style that uses outfits with bright colors, mini-skirts, bleached hair, dark tan, earrings, rings, necklaces and platform shoes. It is not uncommon to see fake eyelashes and black and white eyeliners for women sporting the Ganguro street style. This became popular in the beginning of 2000. Kogal or kogyaru was popular in 90s and uses the typical high school uniform modified with shorter skirt and loose socks. Kawaii, on the other hand, it the use of plush toy costumes and Decora uses heavy accessories as decoration.



And of course, there’s the Cosplay style which has become popular and well known not only in the Pacific but as well as in the US and Europe. This is understandable due to the popularity of Japan’s Anime and Manga series which has quite a following in American teens.



Probably the best place you can see these variety of fashion styles is by going to Harajuku on a weekend. Harajuku is the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo. During the weekend, you can see teens dressed up in different styles socializing with each other. This has become a popular place not only for Tokyo’s teens but for tourists as well. Urban wear, the way the Japanese are dong it is definitely unique, no one can argue with that.

Urban wear is more than just fashion and clothes, over time it has become personal statement. The person who is wearing it is stating their individuality. Before urban wear was only associated to hip hop artists. Now, not only hip hop artists are donning on the colourful style, it has become a worldwide fashion trend.



As mentioned, urban wear signifies the individuality of the person wearing it since they could individualized their style and make it stand out. With urban wear undergoing changes, it has become a hit not only to teens or young adults. It is also garnering appeal from higher age groups. It is also starting to transcend socio-economic classes. Hip hop artists, influential and public people can be seen wearing this style from time to time.



What makes it appealing is the variety. There are different clothing styles to choose from like t-shirts, jeans, shorts, Capri and cargo pants, and hoodies. These styles could stand out it the crowd weather it is because of their contradicting styles, colors, graphics, or messages. An evidence of the growing market would be the many and different urban clothing brands in stores and in people’s cabinets.



It has developed so much that these people already have their own sub-culture. Clothing designs and style reflect the mannerisms, way of talking and even walking of those people who wear urban clothing. But this sub-culture has been accepted and became part of American society, and even the world.



However, the biggest critic on urban clothing is how pricey it could be. There are several hip hop artists who are insistent on wearing inexpensive urban clothing and accessories as their statement against materialism. Urban clothing and hip hop is not about the clothes and jewelries you wear, but the attitude that you wear.



With the popularization and mainstreaming of urban clothing and hip hop, there are numerous stores, whether on-ground or online that are offering various options for urban styles. There are some urban clothing followers who may not be into bright colors, baggy pants or loud accessories. But these people are able to mix urban clothing with their traditional styles, creating another genre of fashion.



Urban clothing followers have developed great sense of style since they were able to mix traditional and urban wear together. They are becoming adventurous is exploring fashion and breaking rules to express themselves. It can be a miss or hit for different people, but the fact that they were able to assert their individuality is truly courageous.



Fashion designers are already paying attention to this sub-culture and starting to capitalize on it. Urban clothing designers would build a close relationship to street consciousness, identifying what urban wearers want. After all, fashion trends would always pick up what is hip and in demand on the street.



Currently, urban clothing designers are addressing or shifting their attention to young and street savvy generation or urban fashion customers. Some would refer to urban wear as “contemporary” or “metropolitan” style. But whatever name it would be, the style, the person’s individuality and the statement that they would like to make would still stand out. Colors can change but the soul could not.

In pretty much all fashion styles accessorizing is as important a feat as choosing the clothes themselves. The heavy influences of hip-hop culture in urban fashion are also transferred to how men and women accessorize. Urban wear is to accessorize is not an understatement. Urban fashion accessories are as edgy or hip as the clothes they are matched with. They show innovative, unique and brilliant designs that are rooted in individuality, cultural and ethnic influences.



However, one must differentiate urban fashion from street wear. Although, street wear has some degree of influences on urban fashion, the main genre that constitutes urban wear is the hip-hop culture that began in the late 70s. It was the hip-hop music that gave birth to the urban wear that we know today. This is why urban wear accessories are pretty much rooted on hip-hop as well. The accessories actually evolved from the simplistic colorful bracelets and earrings to the shiny, metallic bling blings.



The 80s hip-hop culture developed accessories the leaned towards the bold, gold and silver, attention-grabbing accessories showing influences of African and Latino cultures. But further evolution of the style brought a more sophisticated and mature evolution of accessories as well. Accessories for the urban dwellers can now perfectly fit academic and professional environments unlike the loud bling blings before.



Today's urban women can use accessories like leather boots and bags which come in different colors and designs. Combining designer scarves, wide belts, clutches and tote bags with jeans, skirts, blazers and heels pretty much adds into glamorous urban attire. Wearing large and dangling earrings and multiple necklaces are considered acceptable accessories for urban wear as well. These accessories add hip and style to an otherwise boring wardrobe.



Moreover, recent trends have also seen the accessories from the 70s ad 80s making a come-back. It is perfectly okay to get your influences from that era. The hippie look is an acceptable subculture style of urban fashion. The loud colors and the use of tie dyes are present in the urban hippie accessories.



Urban fashion prides itself from having no rules to follow. It is not constricted by mainstream fashion and bases its style on the individuality and creativity of the designers and their cultural and ethnic influences. Nonetheless, when choosing accessories for urban wear it is necessary that you do follow some basic guides such as using dark tones like copper or gold colored accessories for people who have light complexions.



And just as urban wear reflects the personality of the wearer, one can go with less “loud” accessories if his/her personality is more subdued. This is in contrast with people who have bold characters which connote some daring outfits and more defined urban accessories.



Urban wear is to accessorize also means following the needs of the wearer. This concept revolves around the idea that everything in urban fashion should be functional and comfortable. Accessories for urban wear is highly dependent on personal styles and although do not follow any rules should adhere to some basic guides on aesthetics. It's just having a good fashion sense.

The city is the melting pot of all the is new, old, trendy, unique and even weird. So it is not surprising that urban fashion originated in one of the biggest, busiest and the most urban placed in the world, New York. This is where all the urban fads began. But urban wear developed differently as it went around the world. Each city incorporated their cultural and individual influences into this free flowing fashion style. And this characterizes the overall urban fashion scene: unique, trendy and practical. And it follows that urban wear for the ladies need to be hip and in style very functional and can adapt to the ever changing environment of the urban scene.



Urban lifestyle is different. It is dynamic and one needs to be ready with every eventuality. This is the reason why mainstream fashion or the clothes paraded down the catwalk in Paris are not very well suited for the urban ladies. The stiff designs and the materials used is going to be a hassle in the fast paced city environment. An urban woman should therefore should wear something chic and edgy, something bold yet functional and with some hints of ethnic influences. These are just some general guidelines of urban fashion for the ladies.



Becoming edgy is not as hard as it seems. If you have a set of comfortable clothes but overall looks boring, you just need to spice it up a little by pairing them with hip shoes like high-heeled boots or some great accessories like belts. You need to make your clothes stand out a little to make it urban-looking. Other accessories that are considered urban fashion includes large earring, necklaces (wearing a couple with varying lengths can give you that urban look), cardigans and large belts. Some clothes show hints of ethnic elements whether the colors, prints or patterns. Combining these kinds of clothes with the right accessories will accomplish you that urban fashion style.



Now it is not enough to be an eye-catcher. You can wear all the clothes and accessories you like to make you stand out but if everything you wore hinders your movement or day to day activity they it defeats the purpose of the urban wear. Urban fashion needs to be functional and practical as well. Some accessories like the tote bags are very handy and quite fashionable at the same time. Other basic urban clothes for the ladies can also include skinny jeans, pencil-thin skirts, tweed blazers, pumps or stilettos and, of course, boots.



Urban wear for the ladies offers a wide array of choices. The urban woman can tap into the classic more light, prim and proper fashion style or go with the urban hip-hop, funky or rock style which are characterized by bold accents, unconventional colors and funky styles. Or they could go with the very casual (golfer clothes type) look or the quirky and eclectic clothing styles. Or they could combine the elements of each fashion style to create their own unique wardrobe which adapts to the present urban landscape.

Urban wear can be defined as a fashion style that combines culture, lifestyles and ideas. Urban fashion sprung up from the hip hop culture of recent years. In the late 80s and until the 90s, hip hop clothing lines came out designed by no less than the music artists themselves. They tried to add their own personal creativity and style into a fashion that is already unique in itself. Urban fashion breaks away from the mainstream by embracing exactly that individuality and by not conforming to the trends. Even though it is said that urban fashion originated in New York, it quickly spread and developed integrating influences from Europe, Asian, Caribbean and African cultures as well as a variety of music genre like hip hop, punk, rock, and even indie music along the way.



Urban clothing line also embraces the practicality of things. The design and concept of urban fashion makes it possible to wear them on a normal day. It is often referred to as the fashion of the streets. But urban fashion is not street wear. The latter is often associated with vintage sneakers and school dresses which in some places have developed into the punks, gothic and hippies subcultures. Urban fashion is more edgy and often incorporates the words “practical”, “functional” and “comfortable”. Urban clothes are light and yet they should be durable and look good as well.



The idea is create a clothing line that can work well in normal urban environment. The sophisticated and extravagant mainstream fashion produces stiff, formal and even constricting clothes not very suitable in an environment where you need to move and adapt quickly to changing situations. And because each urban environment is a little different, urban styles are different from city to city. Take the urban fashion of Japan for example. Innovative designs, the use of the most practical of materials and the unique mixing of personal and commercial styles characterize their urban clothes. You can find in Japan fashion subcultures like Lolita, gothic and the now popular cosplay fashion style.



Speaking of culture, the differences of urban fashion around the world is highly distinct. Because urban fashion is rooted on culture, the type of urban clothes in one country embraces the influences of their specific culture. For example, at one point in the American urban fashion scene hip hop artists which more often than not are African-Americans dove into their African cultural heritage and borrowed a lot of elements and integrated them in their clothes. The very loose and baggy pants, the use of African bright color combinations, the use of African patterns were at that time became a trend among artists and trickled down to the consumers.



In summary, urban wear and how does it differ lies mainly on the cultural heritage of the place and on their own uniqueness. Compared to the mainstream and traditional fashion style, urban wear is more practical with emphasis on comfort, individuality and aesthetics. The designs also focus on the needs of the average urban dweller and follow no fixed rules that we know of.

Urban fashion began from the hip hop artists with their baggy pants, sneakers, bling bling and African cultural influences. But today, urban wear has gone up from its rather “shabby” and limiting beginnings to a more mature and sophisticated style today. There are a number of urban wear styles that people can choose from. There's no wrong and right style here. Everything depends on personality and individual preferences. But urban fashion for men always boils down to having clothes are are hip or stylish, durable and very comfortable.



Unless the event is a black tie one, men urban wear more often than not includes “denims”. The word denims in urban vernacular do not mean jeans alone but already includes a wide array of clothing like jackets and even the more casual pants. The important element of urban wear lifestyle is to imbibe your personality in the clothes you wear. Maintain a nice hairstyle and always keep a good pair of shoes handy.



It is also fashionable for en to have the right accessories for their clothes. Belts, wallets, bags, briefcase, cufflinks, hats, handkerchief, scarf and even the right perfume are some of the most basic accessories that men should care about. However, do not be swayed by celebrity wardrobes but stick to the things that you want and feel comfortable wearing. Nonetheless, you have the luxury to choose from men bracelets, earrings, pendants and chains in today's men's accessory area of shopping malls.



Urban fashion also means incorporating ethnic influences like sherwanis and kurtas. Cultural heritage influences are part of the uniqueness of urban fashion style. In the 1990s, African cultural influences were so strong that hip-hop artists began wearing customized clothes that shows obvious design similarities from African clothes like baggy pants and the use of bright African colors in their clothes.



Latest urban wear fashion news, however, indicates that leather jacket will continue to be the trend among the urban men. Similarly, tracksuits are seen to make a comeback and winter will bring the multi-colored thermal clothing. Not only colors but shirts with funny messages are becoming popular again for the urban dwellers. Vintage fashion is also making a comeback as an urban fashion style. And for the office, men clothing includes the usual formal office attire, casual clothing like cargo pants, jeans and comfortable shorts for the spring and summer season and stylish sweaters, pullovers during winter.



But just as when urban fashion began, the hip-hop clothing line will never disappear from the urban fashion landscape. Men who wish to make a fashion statement can do so by wearing hip-hop influenced wardrobes. The typical urban men will have a choice of a variety of scarves, blazers and slacks in a wide range of colors, patterns and designs.



Urban fashion for men is not a simple product line but rather a sophisticated clothing setup that fits every urban situation like street wear, office environment or casual events and every imaginable season. The clothes, of course, vary from city to city but all the same include the urban fashion elements of functionality, aesthetics and individuality.

When it comes to clothing, women choose only the right clothing type that matches their attitude and taste. They are very meticulous and mindful. Thus, for female urban wear, the demand is usually sensitive to brand and hottest fashion trends. However, many women find it hard to find and buy the right brand for them. That is why fashion experts in urban fashion advise women to consider the top and most popular brands instead if they want to make sure they are always choosing and wearing the best and the hottest apparel. Here are the most in-demand urban fashion brands specifically for women.



Apple Bottoms



It may be odd that this brand is founded and owned by men (rap superstar Nelly and his cousin Ian Kelly). However, for quite some time now, Apple Bottoms has already made its own mark in women’s urban fashion wear. It is currently one of the very few brands for women that offer fashionable plus-sized clothing. The brand is very much in line with its owners’ belief that women must not fit clothes; instead, it must be the clothes that should fit them.



Apple Bottoms was an exclusive denim label when it was launched. Since then, it has gone though major line expansions. It currently designs, manufactures, and markets footwear, eyewear, accessories, intimates, and handbags on top of urban wear items.



Lei



Lei is a popular clothing brand exclusive for women. The clothing lines in the brand are intended to provide girls with fashion items and accessories that would make them feel and look more feminine for their age. The jeans collections include junior pants and tops like sweaters, hoodies, and blouses.



Aside from the jeans collections, the brand is also offering oversized or plus-sized clothing lines, which include tops and bottoms. Other than young girls, Lei is also becoming a popular urban wear brand for female teenagers who find it hard to find and buy urban fashion apparels that are best suited for them.



House of Dereon



This is an urban clothing line founded by pop superstar Beyonce Knowles. House of Dereon is unique not just because it is owned and operated by a contemporary entertainment icon. It is outstanding because the concepts and styles used in all their products are inspired by three generations of women in Beyonce’s family. The name Dereon is actually a tribute to her grandmother, Agnez Dereon.



House of Dereon has become popular as an urban wear brand for women because of its specialty and ability to show what true women possess to be showed off and boasted to the world. The clothes in the brand are all designed to accentuate natural feminine curves and to enhance the way women usually wear clothes. Together with sister Solange, Beyonce recently expanded House of Dereon through launching junior line Der’on, which is logically targeting younger women, teens, and girls. The new line is also more reasonably priced when compared to the brand’s other fashion lines for women.

Urban wear started as clothing or fashion for hip hop artists and followers, eventually it has become one of the most popular fashion trends worldwide. A lot of clothing lines, designers and stores focused on urban fashion have emerged in the past, providing customers a lot of choices.



What makes urban fashion so popular is its hip and casual look. It could be interchanged and mixed traditional fashion styles which could transform urban clothing into something formal. It is a great idea to capitalize with such high fashion demands.



But when venturing into clothing business, the biggest question is how to start and what you need to start the business. Aside from that, those who are interested in opening a clothing store would often be apprehensive on the stability of the economy and the market. When starting, you could think about getting a business partner to ease the starting capital that you may be shelling out by completely owning the store.



Before renting store space and buying merchandize, it is also important to talk to the agencies issuing business permits. There are business requirements and taxes that you need to know and settle properly. Also to ensure that you would not forget important aspects, create a business plan detailing business name, start-up costs, time frame, wages, taxes, insurance and other important business needs.



Once you have settled this, then here are some useful pointers for starting an urban clothing business.



• Location



When looking for an ideal location, consider the traffic passing through the location. Make sure it is visible, convenient and accessible especially for people who are doing their shopping. Getting a position in malls and shopping centers, which is very ideal, is expensive. Low-budget and starting retailers could look for more affordable places.



Get to know established and new urban clothing stores in the area. In a shopping mall, for instance, it is best to avoid being located near another and more established/ longer running urban clothing store. Stay clear from branded retailers and stores since they do not need much advertisement to attract customers. Knowing the competition would also include learning about their product price range. If they are capable of selling lower prices than your merchandise’s products then that would be a problem for you.



• Items for sale



There are people who are interested in marketing and selling their own urban clothing designs. If you are designing the clothes for sale, then consider mass production and its aspects. That would mean getting somebody else to sew the clothes for you. You could also look for urban clothing wholesalers and buy stocks or supplies form them. Before buying any merchandise, consider your budget and the profit you will be earning from the supplies.



The internet hosts a lot of websites for popular urban clothing brands and wholesalers which you could contact. Companies would often have fairs and shows, where they would showcase their latest products and fashion. Take this opportunity to learn about their clothes and at the same time, get acquainted with its market.



• Hiring people



Companies are downsizing, people with experience are now unemployed. This is a great opportunity for you, since you would be able to hire people who can contribute and help in building your business. You could just start with a couple or few people with retail experience.



The number of people you are hiring would depend on your store, if it has two or three floors, then you would need more than two people. Store hours should also be a consideration. Other positions to consider are inventory, displays, and stocks.



• Promotions



Even before you open your shop, you should already do initial marketing and promotions. Distribute flyers, placing posters in community boards, local newspaper advertising, and big announcements on the store locations. You could involve your friends and family in promoting your shop.



Urban wear is not only a chance to express your individuality, it could be your road to financial success.

The urban wear market is definitely unique because its customers purchase items out of a greater sense of popular or contemporary appeal. This is instead of practical considerations. In comparison, customers in the business attire market are buying based on practicality. They adhere to corporate dress codes and current client interactions. The urban wear market has its own set of unique criteria.



Buyers of urban clothing usually opt for oversized clothing. Through the years, many features of this fashion also change. Thus, if you are a seller of such fashion wear, you should try to follow these helpful guidelines.



First, try to focus on large sizes. In urban clothing, always remember that customers prefer oversized apparel. Include extra large looking and baggy clothes in your portfolio of items. Your customers may need small or medium sized shirts, for instance, but they would surely look out and buy twice larger shirts if they are seriously into urban fashion. If you notice the way hip hop artists dress in their music videos, you would get a clearer grasp of what urban clothing is all about.



Second, remember that in urban wear, bright colors rule. Flash appeal is the real name of the game. Thus, the louder the color of the clothing is, the more it is set to stand out. Urban wear customers always intend to wear clothes that are undoubtedly noticeable.



Third, sell urban clothes that carry popular and premium brands. In the urban wear industry, name is truly considered as gold. Check the name first and foremost before you consider the overall quality of the clothes you sell. Urban clothing retailers should know exactly how important the brand name is to their customers. Buyers of urban wear are always updated and aware about which names are hot and which are not. They would always invest in the hottest urban brands no matter how pricey the items get.



Fourth, do not forget to include jeans in the urban fashion items you sell. When it comes to urban wear, remember as a cardinal rule that jeans definitely sell. Hip hop and urban jeans are staples of urban fashion. They are considered as intrinsic elements of any urban wear wardrobe. Sell oversized and loose-fitting jeans instead of the skinny and tight-fit ones. Customers surely want to buy a pair of jeans that matches urban fashion for $100 or more.



Lastly, to generate greater sales, stock up on sets. Retailers in the urban wear market should remember that outfits in urban fashion outsell single pieces. The customers are unique in that they are most likely to buy complete ready-to-wear sets. They may also be willing to purchase assorted clothing so they could put together their very own sets for variety.



Are you aiming to get into the urban wear retailing business? It could be a good decision to take because you surely would generate significant amounts of revenues and profits. However, be sure to know the market really well before getting into it.

Urban wear is apparently and logically associated directly with the hip hop culture. Thus, the elements of urban fashion style involves the capability of wearers to move around more freely and at the same time use the clothes for various practical reasons. It is also noticeable that several urban wear trends tend to shift frequently, while there are specific styles that stay and remain ‘in’ for a long time.



Are you into urban wear? By this time, you should have already realized that choosing, buying, and wearing the right accessories is as important as wearing urban fashion itself. It is clear that the overall urban getup is completed only with the use of urban fashion accessories. Thus, it is very important that you learn how to appropriately and correctly accessorize your urban wear. Here are several tips that would help you do so.



1. Wearing fashionable and clean pair of sneakers is considered very important to urban fashion. However, you may opt to save on costs by switching out or replacing laces with new ones more frequently. You would be surprised at how your sneakers would look different every time you do so. You may choose the lace style and color according to what is appropriate for your overall getup. Thus, it is advisable to invest in several sets of shoe laces so you could be able to change them whenever you like or whenever fashion commands you to do so. Urban fashion style is about staying fresh, getting daring, and being innovative to be different.



2. You could achieve a total urban look by wearing a fashionable baseball hat (or fitted hat). It is a usual practice for urban stylers to pull their hats all the way down to fit the head tightly. Let your hat rest lightly on your head’s crown. You may also turn it to the side even for just a bit. Remember to point the rim of the hat upward. Always strive to match the style and color of your hat to the shirt you are wearing.



3. Experiment to infuse popular fashion accessories from the 1970s and 1980s into your getup. You could use tie-dye belts or shoe laces to complement your outfit. Leg warmers are also possible accessories you should take. They were popular in the 1980s, but they could still be worn over leggings to create a more complete urban look.



4. For women, do not just opt for any standard urban wear sold by major urban clothing makers. You could still use your creativity by mixing and matching your accessories with your clothes. For urban fashion, you may be surprised that anything goes. You could buy old items, purchase men’s accessories for your own use, or practically find useful items from your parents’ or grandparents’ closets and wardrobes. Remember that dressing in urban fashion is most of the time about swagger and confidence.



Is urban wear your kind of fashion? You should not worry about the right accessories that would match your clothes. In urban fashion, as mentioned, anything could be acceptable as long as you are comfortable and you are confident about your own getup.

Urban wear has become an international lifestyle. From the clothes to the accessories, people around the world has assimilated hip-hop culture and integrated their own personal influences to fit specific urban landscape. There has been no major change in the urban fashion scene in recent years but instead people have managed to mix and match past and present as well as various different urban styles together to produce something unique. But despite the subtle changes with both the apparel and accessories, there are always a couple of element that remains like shoes, jewelry and sunglasses. Sunglasses in your urban wear seem to be a mainstay necessity.



If you’re into urban fashion then having some serious eyewear is simply a must. Nowadays, you can find different kinds of sunglasses to fit your personal preferences and even your personal quirkiness. From plastic to metal to glass, take your pick. In terms of style, it seems that oversized sunglasses are the most popular for urban fashion. The large bug eye sunglasses are reminiscent of the eyewear of the 70s. Ask your parents or grandparents on the kinds of shades or sunglasses they have back then and you’ll see some similar designs to the ones that are popular today.



The idea behind urban wear is to make things stand out and bring your own personality and style. You can see hip-hop singers wearing those designer oversized eye wear but you don’t have to emulate them if that’s not your style at all. If the oversized glasses are not your thing then you can move to the more traditional kinds. There are head hugging shades that follow the contours of the sides of your head. There are rimless glasses, half rimmed, dark ones, light ones, coated ones, reflective, colorful rims and even glasses that have patterns in them. You probably can find the perfect glasses for you from the assortment of sunglasses available today so there’s absolutely no need to imitate anything that is uncomfortable.



As basic guide in picking eyeglasses, you must consider the shape of your face. This will limit your search and makes the actual selection of the sunglasses faster. Take your skin color under consideration as well.



For the shapes of the face, a round one needs sunglasses that are quite narrow. These kinds of shades will help make your face longer to compensate with the more or less even length and width. If you have an oval shaped face, sunglasses that are wide will work best for you. Similarly, a face with a narrow forehead widening down the chin needs wide shades as well. On the other hand, a narrow chin and wide forehead requires sunglasses that have light colored frames and rimless shades. These kinds of shades will keep the focus away from your forehead. A square face needs wide glasses while a diamond shaped face needs rimless ones to compliment the narrow jaw line and wide cheek bones. Meanwhile, you will need glasses that add some depth to an oblong shaped face.



Considering skin color, if you have bluish or pinking complexion glasses that fall under the colors of blue, black, brown or magenta works well. With skin tones close to yellow and gold, the best sunglasses would be copper, orange, tan or off white. Sunglasses in your urban wear are really something that elicits creativity and individuality of the wearer.

Urban wear is one of the more popular fashion styles today. This can be owed to the basic fundamentals of the style: hip, unique and functional. Urban wear is an everyday outfit. It offers people to be comfortable in their outfits and yet remain fashionable. The style is the city scene outfit that saw its birth from the hip hop culture and eventually evolving into an everyday man's clothing. But today's urban fashion is still rooted deeply on street wear and style. Many designers look at current street wear before releasing their new line-up. Styling your urban wear is not that difficult. Aside from designer brands, you can mix and match your outfits to achieve that “urban” look.



Comfort and functionality are some key features of urban wear. So if you feel uncomfortable and restricted, it is best to modify your outfit. Even though urban styles come and go rather quickly, there are some elements that always remain. Sneakers for instance. Since they are influences from the wardrobes of hip hop artists, sneakers will never be out of style. Just by changing the laces can help reinvent an otherwise old pair. Urban wear means continuous innovation and fresh styling. But just as T-shirts, baggy jeans and caps remain elements of urban wear (especially for men) skinny jeans, blazers and even suits are not far behind.



Since a lot of the urban population works in offices, the urban wear has learn to include the classic suit and tie. The tow toned classics for suits and shirts as well as conservative ties seem to be preferred by many of todays urban men. For the urban ladies, suits are paired with high heeled boots and blazers and accented with accessories like large belts and earrings, cardigans and oversize sunglasses. It is also common to see skinny jeans paired with heels as well as wool coats and pencil-thin skirts for the urban style, and never forget the eye-catching jewelry. The urban women can also create their own outfit. Combining clothing pieces from urban clothing brands with pieces of their own.



The 70s and 80s fashion are also becoming an integral element in urban fashion style. The hippie look with its bright colors as well as leg warmers are being integrated in today's urban clothing lineup. And with more and more younger people expressing themselves through clothes, it is not surprising to see tons of urban wear designs. The best place to see these are on online boutiques which are quickly becoming popular with the present generation. Some designers also try to revive old styles by adding some spice into an otherwise boring outfit.



When styling your urban wear, you will need to get your imagination and creativity into overdrive. Think unique. You can browse over urban fashion magazines and see how commercial brands style their product line. You can look into your ancestry and tap the rich cultural heritage that you might have. For instance, the influences of African culture were apparent in the urban wear designs of the 90s. Your Asian or European heritage might be able to help you come up with an urban wear design that is entirely yours.

Urban wear is one of the more popular fashion styles today. This can be owed to the basic fundamentals of the style: hip, unique and functional. Urban wear is an everyday outfit. It offers people to be comfortable in their outfits and yet remain fashionable. The style is the city scene outfit that saw its birth from the hip hop culture and eventually evolving into an everyday man's clothing. But today's urban fashion is still rooted deeply on street wear and style. Many designers look at current street wear before releasing their new line-up. Styling your urban wear is not that difficult. Aside from designer brands, you can mix and match your outfits to achieve that “urban” look.



Comfort and functionality are some key features of urban wear. So if you feel uncomfortable and restricted, it is best to modify your outfit. Even though urban styles come and go rather quickly, there are some elements that always remain. Sneakers for instance. Since they are influences from the wardrobes of hip hop artists, sneakers will never be out of style. Just by changing the laces can help reinvent an otherwise old pair. Urban wear means continuous innovation and fresh styling. But just as T-shirts, baggy jeans and caps remain elements of urban wear (especially for men) skinny jeans, blazers and even suits are not far behind.



Since a lot of the urban population works in offices, the urban wear has learn to include the classic suit and tie. The tow toned classics for suits and shirts as well as conservative ties seem to be preferred by many of todays urban men. For the urban ladies, suits are paired with high heeled boots and blazers and accented with accessories like large belts and earrings, cardigans and oversize sunglasses. It is also common to see skinny jeans paired with heels as well as wool coats and pencil-thin skirts for the urban style, and never forget the eye-catching jewelry. The urban women can also create their own outfit. Combining clothing pieces from urban clothing brands with pieces of their own.



The 70s and 80s fashion are also becoming an integral element in urban fashion style. The hippie look with its bright colors as well as leg warmers are being integrated in today's urban clothing lineup. And with more and more younger people expressing themselves through clothes, it is not surprising to see tons of urban wear designs. The best place to see these are on online boutiques which are quickly becoming popular with the present generation. Some designers also try to revive old styles by adding some spice into an otherwise boring outfit.



When styling your urban wear, you will need to get your imagination and creativity into overdrive. Think unique. You can browse over urban fashion magazines and see how commercial brands style their product line. You can look into your ancestry and tap the rich cultural heritage that you might have. For instance, the influences of African culture were apparent in the urban wear designs of the 90s. Your Asian or European heritage might be able to help you come up with an urban wear design that is entirely yours.

The internet has made shopping just a click away. Customers prefer online shopping because of its convenience and research capabilities. Online items also tend to have lower prices than those sold in retail stores. But when it comes to shopping for urban wear, is online shopping your best option?



Generally, there are major problems when buying clothes online. You would not be able to see the product on hand, online photographs of the products may look different once you see the actual item. Also, sizes and payments are among the major concerns of urban wear and clothing online buyers. The good news is that there are ways to avoid such problems and ensure that you would be getting quality products.



Finding good and reputable websites are not that difficult. Urban wear companies have their own websites where you can look for clothes. Also, there are reputable retail stores that have websites where you can browse for the latest urban wear fashion.



If you have found the ideal item, then you would have to consider several things before entering your credit information.



• Know your size.



There are no standard clothing sizes, you will notice that a shirt you bought from a different manufacturer may be a smaller or bigger than a “similar” sized-shirt from another brand. If you will be doing online purchase, then the best thing to do get professional, friend. or family to measure your waist and chests. Also get measurements for hips, inseam, and arm length. You could send the measurements to the website to ask what size will best fit your measurements.



• Check customer feedbacks



There are some retailer websites which allow their customers to post their review or comment about their clothes and services. This is a good sign since they practice transparency. Read the reviews, they would also give you hints on what to expect on sizes and the clothes. Online customer reviews are not the only ones to check, ask friends and family if they have done business with a particular online store and their experience.



• Look for important details.



Details are not only about purchase sizes, designs, and colors. It is also important to know shipping rates, return policies and payment security. Online stores usually have a FAQs or frequently-asked questions section where you can find such information. There are some online urban wear stores that would allow you to ship the item back for free if it does not fit right, however, still check the company’s policy on money-back guarantees.



If in doubt, then call customer service hotline which should also be provided in the website. If the merchant is unable to provide the information you want, or the online shop is not clear about their policies, then the best way look for another online store.



Online shopping means paying attention to fine print. Also, it pays to keep the email correspondence about purchase and questions. If you have returned a product, be patient for a product replacement. When shipping the clothes back, make sure to get a receipt as an evidence that you have sent the item back. And also to track the item it case it gets “lost.” These are just some issues you have deal with when sending an item back to the online retailer.



Online shopping surely made purchasing urban wear easier. Online urban clothing stores are easy to navigate and use. Avoiding the hassles of online shopping for clothes means you would have to be extra careful on picking the urban clothing store and clothe details. Following simple reminders would help you avoid the trouble and be successful in online shopping.

The internet has made shopping just a click away. Customers prefer online shopping because of its convenience and research capabilities. Online items also tend to have lower prices than those sold in retail stores. But when it comes to shopping for urban wear, is online shopping your best option?



Generally, there are major problems when buying clothes online. You would not be able to see the product on hand, online photographs of the products may look different once you see the actual item. Also, sizes and payments are among the major concerns of urban wear and clothing online buyers. The good news is that there are ways to avoid such problems and ensure that you would be getting quality products.



Finding good and reputable websites are not that difficult. Urban wear companies have their own websites where you can look for clothes. Also, there are reputable retail stores that have websites where you can browse for the latest urban wear fashion.



If you have found the ideal item, then you would have to consider several things before entering your credit information.



• Know your size.



There are no standard clothing sizes, you will notice that a shirt you bought from a different manufacturer may be a smaller or bigger than a “similar” sized-shirt from another brand. If you will be doing online purchase, then the best thing to do get professional, friend. or family to measure your waist and chests. Also get measurements for hips, inseam, and arm length. You could send the measurements to the website to ask what size will best fit your measurements.



• Check customer feedbacks



There are some retailer websites which allow their customers to post their review or comment about their clothes and services. This is a good sign since they practice transparency. Read the reviews, they would also give you hints on what to expect on sizes and the clothes. Online customer reviews are not the only ones to check, ask friends and family if they have done business with a particular online store and their experience.



• Look for important details.



Details are not only about purchase sizes, designs, and colors. It is also important to know shipping rates, return policies and payment security. Online stores usually have a FAQs or frequently-asked questions section where you can find such information. There are some online urban wear stores that would allow you to ship the item back for free if it does not fit right, however, still check the company’s policy on money-back guarantees.



If in doubt, then call customer service hotline which should also be provided in the website. If the merchant is unable to provide the information you want, or the online shop is not clear about their policies, then the best way look for another online store.



Online shopping means paying attention to fine print. Also, it pays to keep the email correspondence about purchase and questions. If you have returned a product, be patient for a product replacement. When shipping the clothes back, make sure to get a receipt as an evidence that you have sent the item back. And also to track the item it case it gets “lost.” These are just some issues you have deal with when sending an item back to the online retailer.



Online shopping surely made purchasing urban wear easier. Online urban clothing stores are easy to navigate and use. Avoiding the hassles of online shopping for clothes means you would have to be extra careful on picking the urban clothing store and clothe details. Following simple reminders would help you avoid the trouble and be successful in online shopping.

With their iconic stature, it is not surprising that many Hollywood celebrities now dabble into the urban wear and fashion industry. They intend to offer fashionable and unique fashion lines not just to their fans but also to other people who want to invest in fashionable clothes and accessories. When it comes to urban fashion clothing, three celebrities who are icons in their own rights are able to successfully roll out long-term collections. They are Beyonce, Jay Z, and Nelly.



House of Dereon by Beyonce



The fashion industry perceives that Beyonce is truly destined to create and market her very own fashion line. She is now an all-around entertainment figure and an ultimate fashion icon at the same time. It was in September 2004 when she established the House of Dereon through the help of Tina Knowles, her mother. Since the fashion line’s launch it has been a huge fashion hit.



House of Dereon has been striving to be uniquely fashionable in its own ways. It combines elements like ruffles and denims, somehow merging hip hop trends with glamour and elegance. Logically, the fashion line also carries its own set of ultra fashionable accessories, including shoes and handbags. House of Dereon is continuously finding unique ways of combining patterns, lively colors, and fabrics to create a standout, polished look of fashionable maturity.



The mix of outfits ranges from party clothes to business-appropriate apparel. It includes everything in between, of course. House of Dereon exudes an overall classy look and a unique appeal. It pleasantly combines popular trends and fashion culture like no other urban wear line could.



RocaWear by Jay Z



Popular hip hop rapper Jay established his own clothing line for men with the help of partner and fellow music artist Damon Dash. RocaWear covers different fashion areas by designing and producing clothing not just for men but also for women, girls, juniors, and boys. The fashion line sells clothing, footwear, fashion accessories, perfumes, and everything in between.



RocaWear has been on the fashion scene following its launch in the late 1990s. As an exclusive brand, it has stood out and logically kept its loyal customers who have always supported the fashion line on a regular basis. RocaWear has been topping the urban fashion market since its debut. It continues to stay on top by consistently coming out with new fashion offers.



Apple Bottoms by Nelly



No less than Oprah Winfrey and Tyra Banks have publicly displayed their admiration for Apple Bottoms, the fashion-forward line by music artist Nelly. Thus, the line is considered as among the most versatile urban fashion brands. It produces a broadening range of items from apparel to bathing suits, to accessories and fragrances.



Apple Bottoms was created by Nelly with the goal to come up with a unique fashion brand that targets women in all sizes. It focuses more on curvaceous women. Since its establishment in 2003, Apple Bottoms has been traveling a clear success path across the urban fashion industry.



What do these three icons have in common? They are all platinum record-selling artists who have a strong following in the music and entertainment industry. Indeed, the types of urban wear and fashion accessories they design, launch, and sell could be directly associated with their own personalities. Beyonce, Jay Z, and Nelly could be considered as brands themselves and they choose to carry their own lines of clothing as well.

Through the years, the phrase ‘urban wear’ has assumed many interchangeable names including hip hop wear and street wear. As time goes by, it has remained an ‘in’ in the fashion scene. This could be attributed to the fact that it could replicate and represent your personality while you are out on the street. It seems that urban fashion is being passed on from the Generation X to the succeeding generations. Some experts believe that this fashion trend is here to stay, for good.



If you would take a closer look at urban wear, you would realize that it has always been directly associated to certain accessories like trainers, hoodies, and hats. Trainers come in various ranges of brands and styles, depending on the preferences of the wearer and of course the budget. Hooded sweatshirts, which could be pulled or zipped over the head, come in various ranges of colors and fabrics used. As for hats, urban fashion usually involves beanie and baseball caps.



Aside from that, you might be totally curious about the real origin of this fashion trend. For sure, like most other people, you would be surprised to know that urban wear actually traces its roots from skateboarding. Due to the nature of the activity, skaters usually need durable and loose-fitting clothes, which at the same time express the way they are. Designer wallets, slip on shoes, caps, and hooded sweatshirts we see today in urban fashion could all be traced back to the items that have been designed and sold originally to skaters. Through the years, such apparels and accessories have added emblems or brand designs.



Urban wear initially took off with skateboarders. The pioneer brands in the fashion trend started putting skateboard designs and brands into clothes. Thus, it was considered a brilliant marketing and branding strategy. The practice has made the fashion industry realize that clothes and fashion could effectively express the personality, attitude, and even the environment of people. Though clothes and fashion accessories, sports people could easily show off what they are and what they got.



Eventually, the hip hop music industry also started taking hold of this idea of clothing. Urban wear emerged as the most appropriate fashion expression of laid-back and upbeat hip hop music. People who appreciated and followed hip hop have started adopting urban fashion to distinguish their selves from ordinary fashion stylers. Since then, supersized but comfortable clothes have gained popularity and instant patronage from more and more people.



With the current significant influx and popularity of urban wear, consumers are advised to constantly shop around to find the right clothing style that fits and suits the image that is aimed to be portrayed. As a buyer, you should be more careful when choosing and buying urban fashion items. With the continuously rising popularity of urban wear, it is not surprising that there are now numerous imitation and fake urban fashion products that are sold across the market. You should learn how to distinguish original products of brands from fakes and imitations.

The modern urban wear consumers have certainly developed mature and sophisticated understanding of how apparel should fit and how urban fashion truly works. Designers in this fashion market segment intend to respond to the new kind of maturity that is apparent in urban fashion consumers. They are designing clothing lines that are taking into consideration the way trousers must hang from waist to reach just above the shoes for the creation of a ‘clean cut.’



People who choose urban fashion are those who are ready and are determined to make trendy fashion statements. They are individuals who apparently like urban fashion ideas. Most of them are into very loud stuff because they intend to take and enjoy attention of other people. Thus, urban fashion is for people who always strive to find creative ways to stand out from the rest of a crowd. They find new and innovative ways to assert their selves through taking and wearing only the best in denim wear. They know how to mix and match clothes and accessories to create more individualized looks.



Are you into urban fashion trends? You could get a lot of ideas from other people and combine them with your own creative thoughts on how you could stand out and enjoy attention of the crowd. Here are some other ideas on how you could do well in taking and using urban wear and fashion.



First, check out and wear graphic t-shirts. Drop those tees that feature clichéd skulls. Instead, buy and use shirts with complex graphics. They could comprise your own fashion statement.



Second, try out and wear jeans that practically have nothing on them. You should stick to pants that are comfortably fitting. The jeans you wear should scream ‘quality’ without being too obvious. They should be cozy enough to be worn anywhere you would go. It would be wise to buy and wear jeans in monochromatic colors like black, white, or gray.



Third, wear something other than jeans and khakis. This is one great feature of urban wear. You could try out clothes or pants that are comfortable and fashionable for your overall getup. Cotton pants could create statements that are understated and unique at the same time. Team such pants with an unostentatious shirt and an olive green military denim jacket and you are already fashionable enough to go.



Lastly, take note that in urban wear, contradiction is still considered very cool. This way, you could always buck the trend. You could destroy a t-shirt to make it beyond recognition and then team it up with a good and fashionable pair of clean-cut jeans. You may try vice versa.



In urban wear, the streets are great venues for getting and flaunting new fashion ideas. Whatever looks good on people out on the streets would surely stay in modern urban fashion for sometime. Be observant and creative as you mix and match clothes and accessories to make yourself looking more ‘urban fashionable.’ Do not forget to enjoy and be adventurous on your fashion journey because that is what urban wear is all about.

Urban wear is now a necessity in every wardrobe. That is because it has become synonymous with modern casual fashion. When buying such clothes, it is important that you stick with items that particularly and comfortably suit you. There could be confusion about where and how to buy urban wear and urban fashion accessories. Wherever you could find the items, it is always important to make sure you are getting no less than the best deals. Here are some helpful ideas to guide you in doing so.



First, do an actual market survey or observation so you could determine the current hot trends. Bear in mind that new urban wear trends could always change at quick paces. Use the Internet to determine the changes in urban fashion. There you could find and use numerous information and ideas that could serve as your guidance when finding and buying urban wear. Do not make hasty decisions. Make sure you really want the items you are eyeing before actually buying them.



Second, strive to buy urban clothes from the best. When it comes to urban fashion, you could find many big names or brands. You may take notice that most of the fashionable ones are also very expensive. Are you aware that you could buy those signature brands at cheap prices? Most clothing lines still sell their rejects at much lower price tags. Such rejected clothes may feature minor to major defects. You may decide to fix those or conceal them through accessorizing. Try buying such cheap signature-brand items at factory outlets that may be found in your own community.



Third, do not forget to be bold. As fashion experts assert, when it comes to urban wear, the bolder is always much better. Always intend to try new and funky styles. Be open to experiment and to try out various styles that could seem outrageous. Styles could catch up pretty quickly. However, there would always be the risk of becoming a laughing stock when you try out new items. If you have the eyes for details and if you constantly keep track of the latest fashion trends, there should be no problem for you when choosing the best and the most right style.



Fourth, always go for lower rates. You could buy good urban wear items from fashion wholesalers in your community or online. You could also try outsourcing urban wear if you find items that catch your instant interest. How about borrowing from your friend or from your siblings? You should also try it out sometime.



Lastly, get the items in your own style. If you know of people or designers who are new into the urban wear fashion business, you may try out their creations for lower costs, or sometimes even for free. This is how practical and wise fashion stylers get designer clothes at cheaper prices. You may know of local urban designers in your community or online. They may be looking for people who would be willing try out their urban fashion creations.

Anywhere in the world, you could easily see many people who are sporting urban wear. With the advent of the Internet and the popularity of social networking sites, you could easily observe urban street style from any global city, from New York to Moscow to Berlin and all the way to other key cities. Although urban street style could differ from city to city, almost all urban street clothes share five basis elements.



If you want to achieve a fashionable urban wear style, you should learn to use those five elements. Here are those along with ways on how you could attain unique urban street style effectively.



Mixing and matching



Every urban fashion wearer should learn how to creatively mix and match unusual elements like clothes, footwear, and accessories. This could require mixing and matching designs or patterns like stripes with unorthodox colors or with polka dots. The cardinal rule is to be bold and beautiful. Remember that in urban fashion, bolder fashion combinations are more appreciated.



Second-hand shopping



This activity is not just for cost-cutting. It could also lead to great finds. You could find and buy old shirts with old styles that would surely be fashionable again. The best about second-hand shopping is that you could find and buy items inexpensively. You could have no guilt when altering the items. Cutting slits, cutting a new neckline, or dyeing a shirt could be fun. Such activities could lead to a creation of a new or an originally styled t-shirt.



Vintage pieces



Certainly, vintage classics could be considered as significant addition to just about any wardrobe. Whether it is an old military jacket or a 1950s cocktail dress, you could be sure such pieces are for life. Thus, street stylers could never waste any dime. You could even buy vintage hairpiece or handbag if clothes and other accessories are too expensive. You could also start searching for potentially useful items from your parents’ or grandparents’ old closets.



Crafty chic



You could always alter and make clothes cheaply. Thus, as an urban wear styler, it would help if you know the basics of sewing or cutting fabrics. Numerous looks could be made easily through clothes that have already been existing in your own closet. Remember that fashion runs in cycles. What is outdated today could be the latest fashion trend tomorrow. You may want to alter and modify the designs and cuts of some of your pants and shirts to create a new and more updated look.



Signature pieces



Urban wear could be all about a signature look. You could attain that through a fashion statement brought about by a necklace or a ring. You could always find and wear items that could portray a cool message or an attractive/interesting image.



These are the basic ways to make you an urban wear master. Make your own personal influences the greatest inspiration for your very own street style. You are free to modify and upgrade your level of creativity, fashion, and individuality.

Hip hop, since 1980s, was able to influence fashion and attitude among its followers. One of the successful descendants of hip hop was the emergence of urban wear or clothing. For the past years, personal style and clothes speak about the person wearing it. It has become more than clothes but more of an attitude and culture.



T’was the ‘80s



It was ‘80s when the world witnessed hip hop and its fashion. The early half of the decade was ruled with tracksuits, bomber jackets, sneakers with oversized shoelaces, large eyeglasses, name belts and multiple rings for accessories. Jewelries for men are usually in heavy gold chains while it is large gold earrings for women.



In the late ‘80s, MC Hammer style was one of the biggest fashion influences during this time. Remember his blousy pants? Most of the clothes and accessories during this time are largely influenced by the African culture. Different hip hop artists were wearing and promoting such designs.



‘90s: Entering the New Decade



It was more of a continuation the ‘80s fashion. But new fashion trends still emerged during this period like bright colored baseball caps, oversized shirts for women, pants, starter jackets, and sneakers. Eventually, brands and designers were already showing their hip hop designs.



High fashion was not excluded from the urban influence. Isaac Mizrahi, a known high fashion designer and now creative director for Liz Claiborne, was among those who showed hip hop and urban influence in their fashion lines. This just showed that urban clothing could cross cultural and socio-economic barriers.



Soon enough, another change in urban fashion happened. Many were wearing silk shirts, double breasted suits and alligator skin shoes as an influence of classic gangster movies. Clothing brands like Tommy Hilfiger who were selling sportswear also became popular. Other brands became associated with great urban and hip hop clothing like FUBU, Reebok, Adidas, Ecko, Rocawear and a lot more.



Before men and women were sharing their passion for loose and baggy clothes. During the ‘90s, women urban fashion was becoming more feminine and body hugging. Urban clothing brands were now focusing on women and how to accentuate their femininity with hip hop touch.



The New Millennium



Nowadays, urban clothing has fully crossed barriers. It has become popular not only in the United States but also in different countries. Rappers and hip hop artists are not the only people who are wearing urban clothing. Even successful businessmen and influential people are seen sporting casual urban look. Currently, urban designs are retracing its roots, since most current fashion are trends since the ‘80s and ‘90s.



Urban outfit has become accessible since numerous brands have emerged. Not only can it be bought in ground stores, but online stores are providing consumers choices which cost lower. Common critique on urban and hip hop fashion and accessories is that it could be very expensive. There are hip hop artists who are trying to don simple and not that expensive urban wear to make a statement against materialism.



Urban wear could have changed much over the years, but one thing remains: showing yourself and identity through clothing. Expensive accessories and clothes is not what urban wear is, it is about attitude.

Urban clothing is a statement, not just in fashion but by the person who is wearing it. People who are dressed in urban wear is not only wearing the clothes but they are also wearing the attitude. This would be, perhaps, the reason why urban clothing has spread not only in its hip hop niche and in the United States but worldwide.



Urban fashion allows the person wearing it to express their individuality through their choice of colors, designs, graphics and accessories. It is about recreating and breaking down fashion rules to come up with a unique urban clothing style.



Urban wear was not that mainstream before, with almost all of its fashion customers were from the hip hop genre. Eventually, it became a worldwide phenomenon. Gaining popularity among different age groups and was even able to cross socio-economic boundaries.



If you want to create your own urban wear wardrobe, then there are several things you want to consider before making any kind of clothing purchases.



• What color suits you?



Urban wear has a wide range of colors. It could vibrant colors like red or green. But there are also basic colors like black, denim and khaki which are ideal since they could easily mix with other color tones. Also, different skin tones would have different matching colors. Make sure to get colors that will enhance your skin tone and personality, not overwhelm or pale it.



• What kind of fabrics are you comfortable in?



There are different kinds of fabric for urban clothing, it could be cotton, denim, or rayon which are very easy to maintain and clean. But there are also urban clothing which goes beyond what you would normally choose, so make sure that you are comfortable wearing the clothes.



• What kind of clothing style suits you?



Just like in colors, there are different body builts, so make sure to choose outfits that would enhance you figure and not make you look dowdy. Currently, T-shirts with strong messages, graphics and prints are popular. Of course, jeans are an all-time favourite. Both T-shirts and jeans can be tight or loose which depends on the person’s preference. Hoodies, with sleeves or without sleeves, are also popular items.



Urban fashion followers are not only dressed in urban clothing while in the streets. Dress shirts, like the long-sleeved ones, can be worn in the office, while short-sleeved dress shirts are great for casual occasions. There are also different choices among pants, like cargo shorts for men and Capri pants for women which are both popular because of being comfortable and trendy.



Remember that urban fashion is not only about trendy clothes but the attitude. If you have decided to incorporate urban clothing into your traditional style, then make sure to get design and clothes which would reflect the urban fashion attitude. You could check reputable and popular urban clothing lines and brands to check what would be “in season.”



There are numerous choices for urban wear. There are various urban clothing brands which have their own distinctive style, collections, and designs that you could choose from. Finding fashionable urban clothing is not difficult. It is just a matter of narrowing which urban wear would bring the best in you.

Many think that urban fashion is street wear. It is not. Although, the streets are major elements that comprise of present urban wear. Looking closely at how people from the streets dress themselves and comparing their outfits to commercial brands and I'm sure you can see some similarities in their designs. But today's urban wear are becoming more and more sophisticated. From their grungy and hip hop beginnings, urban fashion has evolved to include not only the teens but the young professionals as well. Take for instance the bicycle urban wear style. This particular fashion style has developed into something quite popular not only for cyclist but for non-cyclists as well.



People, nowadays, are opting for a healthier lifestyle. More people are into healthy foods and working out has become part of their daily routine. The streets, similarly, saw this transformation as more people are becoming more environmentally conscious. From the kind of fuel they used to the type of vehicles they prefer (hybrid and electric cars), people are slowly changing their ways and doing their part not only for the planet but for healthy living as well. This is maybe the reason behind the sudden surge of bicycle popularity.



But before, it was only the bicycle messengers that have to maneuver the traffic-clogged streets. They are often preferred by courier services in metro cities due to their ability to move through traffic and deliver mails and small packages in a more or less predictable time. The bicycle messenger has become an iconic symbol in some cities. Stories have been written about them and bicycle messengers have been featured in various television series and even in the big screen (the 1986 movie “Quicksilver” comes to mind where Kevin Bacon portrayed a bicycle messenger). And today, the influences of bicycle messengers have gone to another commercial endeavor: fashion, more specifically urban fashion.



One of the more obvious influences of bicycle messenger to urban fashion is the assortment of messenger bags available in the market today and has become one of the most seen accessory in urban fashion. The single strapped messenger bags are used by teens and young professionals alike and most of these people don't even ride bicycles regularly. Backpacks are also part of the messenger's tool kit but are not quite popular when it comes to the urban fashion scene.



Bicycle urban fashion styles also incorporates the idea that clothing should be light and must not restrict the person's movement. Anything that could get caught in the bicycle's chains or pedals are out. Shirts with stylish designs, edgy messages and bright colors are normal urban wear where influences of the bicycle messengers can be seen.



Urban fashion is never restrictive. It can go as far as your imagination and creativity can take it. Bicycle urban wear style is a good example of how urban fashion is influenced by what it happening in the streets. This fashion style has all the components of good urban wear design: practicality, durability and aesthetics.

Urban wear whether they may have strong influences of street wear or hip hop wear, the elements of functionality, comfort and individuality are always there. Adding your personality to urban wear is just as easy as picking out designer labels and integrating your personal touch to it. Urban wear are often associated with trainers or pair of shoes, hats, hooded sweatshirts and a bunch of accessories like belts and an assortment of jewelries. It is the combination of these elements that creates a very characteristic urban style.



As to the previous adhered idea that fashion is for the top designers and confined in places like Paris and Milan, urban fashion has taken this idea and smashed it into pieces. Unlike the usual fashion clothing that trickled down from the catwalks, urban wear originated from the streets and went up to the commercial designers and back again to the regular consumers. This is where the appeal of urban fashion lies. The individuality and uniqueness of the style has allowed people to bring out their personality.



Take your sneakers for example. Shoes are very essential parts of urban fashion and although you might need to change styles every so often. But there are still other ways that can help you create an urban fashion that is essentially your own. One way to integrate your fashion sense is to change the shoelaces every so often. It’s a way to cheaply personalize your trainers. You can add some personal designs on white laces and you can even put it off as designer urban wear. The same thing can be said for your hooded sweatshirts and even your baseball caps can be heavily customized. The way you war your cap is also an urban fashion statement. It is normal today to see caps worn just lightly on the top of the head. Just make sure that you match the color of your cap with your shirt. The individuality in urban wear is a must but never forget to have some good fashion sense.



When showing your individuality in urban fashion, you might want to consider your body and face structure as well. Take for instance when you use sunglasses. There are different kinds of sunglasses that can best suit an oblong, diamond, round and triangle face. For a body that leans on the plump side, sleeveless clothes are best avoided. Colors are great balancers as well. For plump body structure dark shades and dull colors would be good. If you like to wear prints, it is best to select small print and vertical patterns so you can look slimmer. If you have medium built body, satin clothes and colors like beige would be ideal.



Consider your skin tone as well. Fair complexion is best paired with copper colored attire. Urban wear that have mixes of white, beige and bronze would be great with whitish complexion. Copper shades would be great with dark skinned toned individuals.



When adding your personality to urban wear, you can draw influences from eras of the past. The 70s and 80s are great sources of styles.