What is hip-hop clothing?

By Catalogs Editorial Staff

The fashions of the hip-hop music industry are very popular.

Hip-hop clothing is a fashion trend that many teens and young adults have embraced. It is inspired by the hip-hop music industry, which has its roots in the 1970s in New York City among African Americans. Hip hop fashion is strongly influence by the hip hop dance styles.

Today, the hip-hop culture has been embraced by teens across racial lines, and many young people dress like their favorite hip-hop stars, including Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Ludacris, and Snoop Dogg.

“Gangsta” style

The most prominent look for hip-hop style is one that we’re all familiar with: low-hanging baggy jeans, shirts with the tails hanging out, over-sized sports jerseys, and untied high-top sneakers. These are combined with bandanas or baseball caps worn backward ? sometimes both.

Old-style gangster

Some hip-hop artists look further back in time for their gangster influences, back to the mafia gangsters of the 1930s and 1940s. This style included double-breasted suits, alligator-skin shoes, and silk shirts and ties.

Bling

Hip-hop clothing is also characterized by the ostentatious jewelry worn by hip-hop artists. Gold rope necklaces, large belts with jeweled belt buckles, gold or platinum capped teeth, and bejeweled dog tags are among the accessories of choice. Some artists cap all of their teeth, or wear grills, which are removable jeweled teeth coverings, not unlike braces.

Modern hip-hop

In recent years, the trends in hip-hop clothing have changed to clothing with a hipster influence. Baggies aren’t necessarily out, but they are not as prominent. The trends now are for polo shirts, slim jeans, shorter t-shirts to expose jeweled belt buckles, sports coats, and hoodie sweatshirts.

Hip-hop artists as designers

Since hip-hop fashion has been embraced by the mainstream culture, many hip-hop artists have started their own fashion lines. Some of the more popular lines are Sean John by Diddy, OutKast Clothing by Outkast, Shady Limited by Eminem, and Roca Wear by Jay-Z.

Hip-hop clothing has influenced modern styles in many different ways, and it is a style that has shown lasting power. It is sure to be around for years to come.