How To Wear Streetwear Like A Grown-Up

Posted on July 7, 2022

Streetwear is a strange and complex beast. On the one hand, it’s disposable, obnoxious, and often unflattering. On the other, Supreme – the skate brand that James Jebbia launched – is now a billion-dollar behemoth. Though born 50 years ago in Californian surf culture, streetwear outfits didn’t truly blow up until the nineties, when the first skate boom (thank you, Tony Hawk) and hip-hop’s chart dominance turned a generation onto baggy jeans and graphic tees.

Today, that generation is hitting adulthood. And though it might have a mortgage, it still feels more comfortable in a hoodie than a suit.

“Streetwear is so many people’s go-to each day because dress codes have become so much more relaxed,” says Harvey Nichols menswear buyer Lara Djandji. “The amount of customers looking for tailoring has decreased as more and more people are wearing jeans with a jacket to work, and those who previously wore jeans are now more inclined to shop for a tracksuit.”

Fortunately, streetwear itself has grown up, too. So whether you’re looking to adjust your style, or just refine your jeans-and-a-sweatshirt wardrobe, here are six ways to wear streetwear outfits without looking like a try-hard.

RULE ONE: LUXE UP YOUR FABRICS

Streetwear clothing were, until recently, things you could happily fall off a skateboard while wearing; hence why most were rendered in denim and heavy cottons, in non-constrictive fits. But modern streetwear style has stepped out of the skatepark and designers have reworked time-honored pieces – hoodies, cargo trousers, trainers – into garments you wouldn’t want to risk on the concrete.

Today, for the everyday wearer, that means upgrading utilitarian fabrics to something more premium. “An easy way to incorporate a subtle element of streetwear is through a pair of high-end sweatpants,” says Mr Porter style director Olie Arnold, referencing styles cut from soft-handle materials like cashmere and jersey. “They can substitute for a well-worn pair of chinos.”

It’s a move that’s been endorsed across the board, from brands like Loro Piana and Officine Generale, who now craft cashmere baseball caps as well-made as their blazers, to the high street, which no longer stuffs loopback cotton into the pajama section.

RULE TWO: DON’T BE A HYPE BEAST

For youth culture, hype is everything. Recognition is currency, so you need to cop the brands that your peers know about: Supreme, Palace, Gosha, Yeezy. But the exchange rate changes over time. “There isn’t an age cut-off for streetwear,” says stylist and photographer Chris Tang. “But an older guy should stick to what they like and what works for them.”

The grown-up move is to fly below-the-radar, by wearing streetwear labels that are innovative but don’t have teenagers queued up outside their stores. “A lot of brands this season are taking influence from streetwear,” says Arnold, who points to easy-going urban wares from labels like Pop Trading Company and stripped-back pieces from Acne Studios.

In short: you should aim to get streetwear outfits without the logos, or at least keep them tucked away as subtle details. Because an adult knows the best thing about grail finds isn’t shouting about where they’re from, but being asked.

RULE THREE: START FROM THE BOTTOM

In the words of Drake: “Started from the bottom, now we’re here.” And the man’s got a point. “In streetwear, shoes make the outfit, and sneakers are the lynchpin of it all,” says Arnold. But this can be dangerous terrain to navigate. Hype-beasts hyperventilate over each new drop, and you can invest grotesque amounts of time (not to mention money) trying to keep up.

Instead of paying the resale price for Yeezys or the latest Off-White collaboration, spring for trainers that will last as long as your brogues by favoring premium materials and streetwear brands that prioritize build quality. “The lines between luxury mainstream fashion and streetwear have blurred beyond recognition for a number of seasons now,” adds Arnold.

Despite the rise of purposely ‘ugly’ trainers and chunky soles, it’s wise to avoid adornment or odd shapes to guarantee your box-fresh kicks will look as good with your suit as your joggers.

Source: Fashion Beans