Hip-hop fashion comes into its own

Fashion and music have always been closely related. The Grateful Dead influenced hippie style in the sixties, disco reeked havoc in the seventies and Madonna added her own personal flair in the eighties. However, hip-hop's recent influence on fashion is much more cultural and ethnic, as it reaches past trends towards an expression of a very specific point of view. This perspective came about in the South Bronx in the late seventies. It happened as a representation of a lifestyle that was in touch with the street, the community and everyday African American life. Not only a distinctive sound and rhythm, hip-hop culture was also a creative mixture of rap, break dancing, graffiti and DJ-ing.

Though it all began in the confines of the New York African American ghettoes, it has changed and developed over the years to transcend racial, economic, cultural and global lines. No longer just a funky beat or catchy lyrical verse, it has blown up into an remarkably unstoppable force that has moved beyond the musical arena to become a billion dollar industry in the international fashion world.

When you think of the expression "hip-hop fashion" you most likely imagine the oversized flashy brand name clothing worn in rap videos or seen on MTV. But hip-hop fashion does not always fit that mold, as it is full of different colors, styles and most importantly, the accessory of personal creativity. For example, the bright colorful designs on the clothing weren't designed simply to be showy. The actual intention was to represent the artistic graffiti murals that were being painted all over New York City by African American artists. Also, the clothing had a very functional purpose in the context of the culture at the time. Items such as thick laced Puma sneakers and stylish sweatshirts not only looked good, but also were perfect to wear while practicing and performing break dance on the streets. The bottom line of this style has always been about making the most with limited means through imagination and creativity. It is about having the latest fashion, and adding a personal touch to it. This above all else, is what caused the designs to reach out to the international fashion community.

Now the unofficial uniform of suburban fans, these baggy pants, large athletic jerseys and overpriced sneakers have become the fashion standard of the hip-hop community. Much to the delight of the designers, who have capitalized on this style's ability to appeal to such a diverse group of shoppers, these outfits are everywhere many fashion critics least expected them to be. The prevalence of these designs in suburban communities has become second nature as it is common to see the trends of brand names tattooed across the chests of young males in many upper class, white, suburban areas. According to Soundscan, a company that charts record sales, three quarters of all hard-core rap albums sold in the nineties were sold to white customers. This just serves to show how the music has influenced fashion once again and has helped hip-hop to become universal.

Though it is true that most of the celebrities promoting the items through music and sports have historically been African American, it is more apparent in the media lately that this style is more about being yourself and being "cool" than anything else.

This constant media circus of music videos, movies, television and magazines, helps sell the city look to teens in the suburbs and outside the United States, presenting them with an image of urban style that they can try to emulate. Footwear may range from Nikes, to Timberland, to Wallabee Clarks. Hip-hop gear comes in a wide variety of big name brands like Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo by Ralph Lauren, Nautica, Guess and the ever popular FUBU. Some other fun items that were a part of early hip-hop fashion and are now identified as "old school" are: Pumas, Kangols, flashy gold jewelry and sweat suits.

So if you decide to run out and buy yourself some new hip-hop gear, just consider these tips. Avoid large gold jewelry on large gold chains. Just because Cash Money can pull it off doesn't mean you can. Steer clear of any pair of pants that have pant legs so big you can fit both you and a friend inside one of them. And most importantly, buy something that is personal and makes you feel good. That flawless combination is the essence of fashion.