according to the bbc, hip hop turned 30 yesterday. 30 years of beats, scratches, throw ups, toprocks and headspins. but what of the fashion? fashion was central to the culture then, equally central now, with quite a spill out into the mainstream. in fact hip hop might just be the most pervading fashion legacy across the spectrum. think about it – who hasn’t owned or yearned for a matching adidas 3-stripe tracksuit? or purchased a pair of outrageously blingin sunglasses at a festival? from the ostentatious flash of the nouveau hip hop in pop music, to the more subtle appropriations of lurex and gold chains on the catwalk, to the ironic high tops and geek frames of the super-trendy…hip hop is everywhere.
The seminal Run DMC with the sexy adidas runners
The Ghetto Blaster - much appropriated for present day jewellery
SpankRock - purveyors of party rap and party hats
so where does hip hop fashion live today? in the music obviously. Andre 3000 from Outkast is quite possibly more renowned for his take on Genteel Hip Hop fashion than his music. M.I.A and Santogold have inspired an army of flouro-clad, baggy-bling females. Mr. West and his flamboyant entourage have paved the way for true style over substance in the pop arena.
The HipHop Dandy
Santogold and MIA - toughneonlove
Kanye and his band of Hip Hop Merrymen
and for those outside the luminous lights of the music industry? well I myself have gone through a number of hip hop revolutions. I have a gold lamé jacket, Pimp Daddy shades, a rabbit patterned trucker hat, (too) many blingin’ chains and the real icing on the cake – navy reebok high-tops…
For when I'm feeling particularly pimp
The Classics...sports socks optional...
for the serious fashionistas, hip hop is all over the A/W 09 fashion. heavy gold-link chains are hot property in H+M. Teen Vogue has a whole spread dedicated to hip hop and make marvelous (ludicrous??) use out of ghetto blaster props …
H+M do gold bling
Teen Vogue...the skateboard is an absolute necessity in this look
How street is that?
