Hip Hop fashion is one of the nine “extended” elements of hip-hop culture. Hip-hop fashion refers to a particular style of dress that originated with African-American and Latino people in New York City. Hip hop fashion has changed drastically over the years. During the 1 9805, major hip-hop stars of Like Run-DIM and ALL Cool J wore things like large glasses, Kananga hats, multi-finger rings, and sneakers. Artists such as Curtis Blow and Big Daddy Kane helped popularize gold necklaces.
Hairstyles of the ass’s included the Jeer curl and the hi-top fade in the late ass’s. During the late 1 9805, fashions reflected traditional African Influence, much like the big blousy pants popular among rappers like MAC Hammer. In the early ass’s, The Fresh Prince, Kid ‘n Play, and Left Eye of TTL popularized the wearing bright, neon colored clothing. They also started a trend of wearing regular articles of clothing In a new and unusual way, such as Kuris Cross’s method of wearing their clothes backwards.
In the ass’s, gangs rap became one of the biggest Influences n hip-hop. During this time hip-hop fashion was influenced by the dress styles of street thugs and prison inmates. Wearing baggy pants without a belt originated from prison. Also during the ass’s, hooded sweatshirts, military hats, field Jackets, Timberland boots were especially popular In New York City, and the West Coast contributed the wearing of oversized flannel shirts. Also in the ass’s, Sean “Puffy Combs, influenced hip hop fashion with his loud, flashy PVC aviator inspired suits and platinum Jewelry.
After platinum replaced gold as the most popular precious metal, It became regular for artists to wear platinum Jewelry, with large amounts of diamonds. Jewelry later became a source of bragging rights for hip-hop artists. In 1999, B. G. Recorded a hit song that summarized the phenomenon with a popular catchphrase: “Billing Billing”. The ass’s also saw the split between male and female hip-hop fashion, which had previously been very similar. Women In hip-hop had replicated the male tough-guy fashions such as baggy Jeans, and heavy work boots.
However, male performers Lila Kim and Foxy Brown completely turned the tables in female hip-hop fashion. They wore sexy, revealing clothing and popularized glamorous, high fashion feminine styles. By the ass’s hip-hop fashion was a multi million-dollar industry. Many hip-hop artists and executives started their own fashion labels and clothing lines, including Russell Summons’s Pat Farm, Oxymora Lee Simmons Baby Pat, Damon Dash and Jay-G’s Rock-a-Wear, Daddy’s, Sean John, Knells Apple Bottom Jeans, and many more.
Moving Into the sass hip-hop fashion was all over the place. Liberties began to have a great deal of influence among fashion trends. Hip Hop artists made brands like Gucci and Louis Button popular amongst the hip hop community. Late sass’s and recent trends In hip-hop fashion have geared toward a “prep-hop”, hipster style. Artists can be seen wearing items such as Nikkei Dunks, polo shirts, sport coats, elaborately decorated zip-up hoodoos, flat bill hats, and tighter-fitting t-shirts and tighter Jeans.
In some circles, the baggy style has faded away, because rappers such edited prep-hop and hipster-inspired clothing, and tighter fitting skater influenced styles can be seen on rapper Peripheral. Yet, the baggy style is still very prevalent. In 2010, famous female artists such as Nick Minas & Iranian emulated cartoon characters with their brightly colored hair, leather and vinyl Jumpsuits, and dresses. Female artists are often seen in extremely high heels in all different forms. Hip Hop fashion has really blended into mainstream society and is seen on a great deal of people around the world.