Streetwear is having a moment. What was once considered a niche style has gone mainstream, with everyone jumping on the trend, from high fashion designers to your favorite fast fashion brands. But what exactly is streetwear? And how do you wear it? Keep reading for a streetwear brand crash course.

Defining Streetwear

At its core, streetwear is comfortable, practical clothing inspired by urban cultures like skateboarding, hip-hop, and graffiti. Think hoodies, joggers, t-shirts, and sneakers. The style is often associated with youth and counterculture and has been gaining popularity since the early 2000s.

Streetwear as We Know it Today

While the roots of streetwear date back to the 1970s, the style as we know it today took off in the early 2000s, with brands like Supreme, Bape, and Stüssy leading the way. These brands combined skate culture, hip-hop, and other underground subcultures to create a style that was at once rebellious and aspirational. In recent years, we’ve seen streetwear go mainstream, with high fashion labels like Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga releasing their takes on the style.

How to Wear Streetwear IRL

Now that you know a little bit more about streetwear, you may wonder how to wear it IRL. The key to nailing streetwear style is mixing and matching different pieces to create an outfit that feels unique to you. Start by building a foundation of basics like t-shirts, hoodies, jeans, and sneakers. You can experiment with trends like oversized silhouettes, bold graphics, and layering. And don’t be afraid to mix high and low—pairing an expensive item with something from your favorite fast fashion store is one of the hallmarks of streetwear style.

Three Rules to Follow:

Comfort is Key

One of the most important things to remember when putting together a streetwear outfit is that comfort is critical. This doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style for comfort, but rather that you should focus on finding pieces that look good and feel good simultaneously. For example, a pair of ripped jeans might look great, but if they’re too tight or uncomfortable, you won’t want to wear them all day.

Layer Up

Layering is another critical element of streetwear style. When done right, layering can help add visual interest to your outfit and make it more versatile. For example, you might start with a basic tee or tank top and then layer on a tank top, hoodie, or denim jacket. Since temperatures can vary throughout the day (and night), layering allows you to adjust your outfit quickly. Just remember not to overdo it—too many layers can be bulky and make it challenging to move around freely.

Accessorize Wisely

The final element of putting together a streetwear outfit is accessorizing—but beware, less is usually more when it comes to this step. A few well-chosen accessories can elevate your look, but too many can look cluttered and overdone. If you choose to wear jewelry, go for simple pieces that won’t overshadow the rest of your outfit. And when it comes to bags, backpacks are always a good choice since they’re both functional and stylish.

Conclusion:

Streetwear is having a moment—but what exactly is it? And how do you wear it? In this post, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about this popular style, from its origins to how to wear it today. So whether you’re a streetwear enthusiast or are just dipping your toe into the trend (no pun intended), we hope this post has been helpful!