Street Style

Street style is popular fashion which is thought to have emerged during the late 1980s, not from high-fashion studios, but from your everyday streets. Street style is usually associated with youth culture, which is also often seen at large urban centres. There is no strict dividing line between “street” and “high fashion”, though there are obvious points where styles can diverge, such as hairdos, where high-fashion is clearly indicated by expensive, straight-edged hair styles, often cut in cornrows. Street style can also be used to describe trends that have been seen across seasons: a classic “street look” might evolve into” grunge” later on.

Over time, many people have turned to purchasing fashion products that reflect their personal sense of fashion or represent a trend that they feel strongly about. This is especially true of young people who often try out new designs as they look cool and attractive, without considering whether these clothes would suit them in the long run. The history of street style can also be seen in popular music, particularly the song by David Gray: “Spinning on the Walls”. The lyrics suggest an alienation from the conformities of everyday life and an attraction to “alternative ways of life”. These days, it seems, there are a great many people who feel a similar way about everyday life and the need to be creative, so they choose to buy clothing that is not only fashionable but also representative of their individualistic outlook. Some of this may have to do with the desire to belong to an exclusive group or to belong to a group that has a distinct identity, as in the case of punk subcultures.

In recent years, the British fashion industry has produced some very popular items. The success of British designers such as John Galliano and Delia Derbyshire has helped to transform street style into mainstream fashion practice in Britain, making it one of the biggest stylistic influences worldwide. The work of some of these designers has been incorporated into mainstream fashion wear, such as the jacket and blazer worn by Spice Girl Melanie Brown in the TV series, Strictly Come Dancing. Galliano’s designs for knitwear and jeans were recently seen on celebrities in the series of Rizzle, while Celebrity Big Brother winner, David Beckham was photographed wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words, “My Style… Live Long and Cool.”