Streetwear is a fashion phenomenon that has dominated the industry over the past few decades. It is hard to pinpoint one clear definition of streetwear since it has so many influences, particularly being influenced by skate and surf culture, hip hop, K-Pop, and sports.
Streetwear feels like it just popped up recently, but many of the styles that dominate streetwear fashion are vintage styles disguised as contemporary.
This is great news because it means you can continue to shop vintage while still staying hip and looking modern.
Keep reading to learn more about what streetwear trends are actually vintage and how you can add some of these vintage streetwear garments to your wardrobe today.
Varsity Jackets
Varsity jackets or letterman jackets are a very popular streetwear staple, particularly influenced by hip hop and New York street fashion. Though this style of jacket is common in modern streetwear, letterman jackets are vintage. This look dates back before streetwear was ever even a word in the dictionary.
The first varsity jackets emerged out of Harvard in 1865. Letterman jackets were originally intended for athletes and are still to this day worn by athletes. Over time, letterman jackets shifted. This type of outerwear became a primary piece of preppy attire before being converted into streetwear fashion.
Letterman jackets have had quite a journey to becoming streetwear that dates back decades, making them a sneaky vintage style.
You can still adhere to the streetwear style but shop vintage for varsity jackets.
For instance, snag a 1980’s varsity jacket, and you will look modern while dressing in vintage.
Many of the available vintage varsity jackets are must-haves because they will certainly make you look on point in terms of the modern streetwear style. However, you will also be rocking some classic vintage styles that cannot be found elsewhere. Elite streetwear fashion is all about scarcity. This makes a vintage letterman jacket even more prized in a streetwear setting.
Varsity jackets are rich in their fashion history. So, grab a vintage varsity jacket to honor that fun history while also looking cool and staying true to the streetwear style.
Joggers
Sometimes when we get all dressed up, we know we look amazing, but physically we feel tightly wound. Some clothes are built more for style than comfort (for example, take a look at the top Met Gala looks).
Luckily, streetwear has your back. A big streetwear trend that is actually vintage are joggers. Joggers are essentially the child of sweatpants and leggings. They are slimmer than sweatpants but looser than leggings—and probably have more pocket real estate than your typical leggings.
Vintage joggers come in a wide range of colors; you can be understated in neutral tones or brash and bold in eye-catching colors. Additionally, this creates a fabulous opportunity to do some color blocking.
Joggers also come in a vast array of different fabrics. If you plan on being more active, look for joggers made from polyester, spandex, cotton, or elastic. Need to stay warm but don’t want the bulk of traditional sweatpants? Consider joggers made from fleece. If you have a more formal event, joggers even come in delicate materials like silk.
When styling your vintage joggers, think about proportion and the shapes you want to create with your final look. You can create a boxy silhouette with baggy pants and a baggy streetwear sweatshirt. Or, if you want to create an interesting balance, pair your favorite joggers with a tight tank top or crop top.
Ultimately, joggers aren’t only made to work out. They can work for nearly any situation where streetwear would shine.
T-Shirts
One of the clothing pieces most commonly attributed to streetwear is the t-shirt. Tees are a critical part of streetwear fashion, especially graphic t-shirts with various designs and references to music artists. Streetwear greatly popularized t-shirts as a piece of fashion, but it is actually a vintage style.
T-shirts first really entered the world as men’s undershirts in the early 1900s and eventually became a part of the US Navy attire. However, it wasn’t until the days of James Dean and Marlon Brando in the ‘40s where tees really became associated as the kind of shirt we recognize as t-shirts today.
Over time, tees became more commonplace in daily fashion. Eventually, they were being printed with slogans and used to promote bands and artists—known to us today as the graphic t-shirt.
T-shirts seem like such an inherently modern piece of streetwear clothing that it might shock some to learn about their historic origins. Nevertheless, you can actually shop vintage t-shirts and stand out with some old-school designs.
For instance, instead of a more modern design, opt for a vintage U2 concert tee from the ‘80s.
T-shirts often have a more subtle vintage flair, but buying vintage tees can be a fun way to change up your wardrobe while still looking in fashion for streetwear standards.
Sneakers
It’s no secret that streetwear is exclusive, but it is often also practical and comfortable. Sneakers aren’t just for going out on your morning run or playing a quick game of basketball. Sneakers are now fashion staples.
Sneakers have moved beyond a utilitarian workout item and merged into a collectible item. Sneakers live in some of the biggest closets in the world, in homes of the collectors with the biggest pockets in the world. In fact, one of the most well-curated sneaker collections today is worth over two million dollars.
Sneakers are a huge part of streetwear, and vintage streetwear sneakers are especially popular. However, you don’t need to spend millions to walk out in vintage kicks. Look for sneakers that are bold and big. Vintage sneakers with a well-known logo are especially good at conveying the streetwear trend.
Shop Vintage and Shop Streetwear
Many of the current streetwear essentials include garments that are actually vintage, but that doesn’t mean they can’t coexist. In fact, because so many streetwear fads are borrowed from the past, a great way to look fashionable would be to shop the modern trend but from vintage boutiques.
You can stand out with your vintage t-shirt and sneakers but still look super stylish according to modern streetwear trends.
Sources:
Letterman Jacket History-Why The Varsity Jacket is the Uniform of Winners | Esquire
The T-shirt: A Rebel With a Cause | BBC
The hype machine: Streetwear and the business of scarcity | BBC
Photos: Sneaker collection worth millions, owned by Chicks with Kicks