Street-style fashion has been a trend for as long as most people can remember. But in the last ten years, it seems to have really taken off - to the point that baggy clothing, sneakers, different styles of jeans and big belts are everywhere.

Despite this, many people are not aware of what street style actually means, let alone its history or how it eventually came to be catapulted into the mainstream.

With this in mind, here is a brief guide to the evolution of street style. A look that has taken the world by storm.

How is Street Style defined?

The fashion genre known as ‘Street style’ is credited as deriving from British fashion culture.

Based on individualism, with no restricted or strict focus on trends, it is an all-encompassing approach to fashion that incorporates intersecting styles which differ from mainstream fashion.

In the same way that accessories help individuals to express their inner personality, street style fashion enables the wearer to showcase who they are as a person through these types of clothes. At the same time, it also portrays multiple identities and the root of their tradition and culture and tradition. Overall, street-style fashion defines the day’s mood for the individual. It is renowned for being instant and extremely viral. 

To see a good example of street style right now, check out Carhartt Wip at Maplestore. 

Derivation of Street Style

There is no question that the history of identity and clothing are inextricably linked.

Over the years, street-style fashion has played a significant role in creating group identity and subculture cohesion. It has evolved from being a social practice adopted by a specific sociocultural group to becoming an essential part of the mass fashion industry. This growth of mass culture was due to the societal chaos and period of personal redefinition that occurred after World War II.

The post-war period was a time when everybody wanted to break away from the ordinary style, resulting in the formation of various groups. Each of these groups had their signature style, such as punks, mods, hippies, bikers, rockers and goths, and they were intent on getting noticed.

Today, these groups are still in existence and are known for their unique style and fearlessness in expressing themselves.

During the 1970s and 1980s, experimenting with style became associated with being a free spirit. At this time, the fashion world was arguably at its most creative and vibrant. Fuelled by colours, trends, and a sense of bringing fashion back to life.

Indeed, the newest fashion trends of today still often take inspiration from what Gen X wore in the 70s and 80s.

Evolution Of Street Style Fashion

Street-style fashion, which is now known as the phenomenon of the 20th century, did not have any real significant impact until the end of the Second World War. However, it has been a part of human culture for a long time before that.

Over the years, many fashion icons have made significant contributions to street-style fashion by exploring different styles. For instance, Christian Dior was the first fashion icon to introduce street-style fashion for women. 

His launch was a massive hit, and it encouraged women to take to the streets and flaunt what was new and fashionable. The look he introduced consisted of a tailored shouldered jacket, a long circular skirt and a tapered waist. The look emphasized the female figure and replaced the basic 'utility look' that was commonly seen during the wartime years.

This revolutionary new hourglass shape was made possible due to the excess fabric that became available after World War II. This phenomenon has been studied for a long time, and it has been revealed that the importance of young people's street styles increased after the war period.