From baggy jeans and bling blings to classic gangster-inspired outfits and bowler hats, a distinct and evolving fashion style has always been a staple of the hip hop industry. Hip hop fashion has its roots in the clothing style of young African Americans. Since then, he has drawn his influences from the hip hop scenes in different parts of the United States, from California to New York, as well as from various elements of popular and underground culture.
One of the earliest styles of clothing in hip hop was sportswear along with flashy jewelry that became the signature style of old-school rap. Tracksuits, bomber jackets, berets, Doc Martens, and sneakers were some of the common garments back then. The men wore gold chains, while the women wore large gold earrings. Sportswear from Adidas, Nike, and Le Coq Sportif were some of the most sponsored brands in the 1980s. The 1990s saw the growing popularity of more sportswear from Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, Polo, Calvin Klein, and Nautica. This particular fashion style became known as urban streetwear and was further supplied by brands such as FUBU, Ecko Unlimited, Walker Wear, and Boss Jeans.
The rise of gangsta rap as a subgenre of hip hop fueled another fashion statement, this time inspired by the clothing styles of street thugs and prisoners. Gangsta rappers started wearing baggy pants, bandanas, and tattoos. Not a few conservatives reacted negatively to the sagging pants and low waist. One religious group tried to combat the fashion style by handing out belts while others tried to outlaw it.
Other hip hop personalities opted for the stylish gangster look and wore double breasted suits, bowler hats, silk shirts, and alligator shoes. This gangster-inspired image was popularized by Notorious BIG and Sean Combs, aka Diddy, with the latter becoming known as Shiny Suit Man.
Recent trends in hip hop clothing show the influence of hipster and preppy styles. Oversized shirts were replaced by tighter, short-sleeved shirts, tracksuits were exchanged for sports coats, and tighter jeans were preferred to sagging jeans. Some of the popular accessories are large belt buckles and skull and skeleton ornaments. Decorated hoodies, fitted caps, and trucker hats are also commonly worn.
Heavy jewelry has also become an enduring brand of hip hop fashion, symbolizing a flamboyant display of fame and wealth. Known in hip hop jargon as bling bling, these eye-catching accessories became ubiquitous fashion icons and common semiotic elements in many music videos. Gold jewelry was all the rage in the 80s, but was eventually overtaken by silver and platinum. Grills or removable metal tooth liners also became popular with celebrities.
With the development of hip hop fashion, rap artists finally ventured into the clothing business and began producing their own labels. The rap group Wu-Tang Clan has their Wu-Wear, Damon Dash and Jay-Z have Rocawear and Diddy has Sean John. Diddy also took home the 2003 Men’s Fashion Designer of the Year award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Other hip hop personalities with their own clothing lines include Eminem, 50 Cent, Russell Simmons, Kimora Lee Simmons, and OutKast.
