2008 Woodie Awards
Going retro: fresh to def
Hip-hop fashion, culture get back to basics
Be'Anka Macey & Audrey Davis
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Detour
- Page 1 of 1
History must be repeating itself. Did we really just see rope chains weighing down the necks of 50 Cent and Yung Joc? Oh yeah, that's old school, and good news for an industry desperately in need of much more than just a wardrobe change.
Rope chains, doorknocker (or bamboo) earrings, and bright colors: hip-hop fashion has long forgotten those days, when it was more than just bling and white-tees. It was a certain look, something almost indefinable by words alone. The swagger came complete with a b-boy stance, shell-toes, and a Kangol hat. It gave the golden appearance of wealth painted over a cheap necklace that let the world know you were harder than DMC.
Hip-hop didn't have too much in those days, but it had enough. It made an entrance that couldn't be ignored. It proved contagious as it swept through the music industry and through neighborhoods across the nation, leaving the days of the mundane in its dust.
A resurgence has shown itself as of late. We've all seen remnants of the decade responsible for both Flashdance and Breakin' even around this very campus. I know you didn't think those skinny jeans came from nowhere. Our parents wore those in an assortment of colors before many of us were even thought of. So why the revival?
We have considered a plethora of ideas as to why hip-hop is embracing '80s fashion. For one, it really shows love. Of course the chains and four-finger rings we see today are real, but it's still acknowledging where it all began. Will it ever get that deep? Are we going to see Soulja Boy in an Adidas jumpsuit with a gumby? Probably not, but it's a start.
Or it could just be that hip-hop is having fun. If artists are going to have fun with their music, then their fashion should reflect that. Early hip-hop was all about fun. Trends are reoccurring and perhaps this was bound to happen sooner or later.
So what's next for hip-hop fashion? How about the '90s? Hip-hop could start reverting to Aaliyah-esque styled baggy jeans, tight shirts, overalls with the straps hanging, and backwards baseball caps. We miss those days.
Feel like taking on '80s hip-hop fashion? It's simple. Ladies, all you need are some doorknocker earrings, a bright colored, loose fitting off-the-shoulder shirt, some skinny jeans, leg warmers, and pumps. And guys, rope chains and track jackets will have to suffice for now but feel free to take it to the next level.
Don't expect major breakthroughs in the music just yet. Remember, hip-hop is still more about jumping on the bandwagon than being revolutionary. But taking it back to the days when the music felt real, even if through fashion alone, is relieving.
Rope chains, doorknocker (or bamboo) earrings, and bright colors: hip-hop fashion has long forgotten those days, when it was more than just bling and white-tees. It was a certain look, something almost indefinable by words alone. The swagger came complete with a b-boy stance, shell-toes, and a Kangol hat. It gave the golden appearance of wealth painted over a cheap necklace that let the world know you were harder than DMC.
Hip-hop didn't have too much in those days, but it had enough. It made an entrance that couldn't be ignored. It proved contagious as it swept through the music industry and through neighborhoods across the nation, leaving the days of the mundane in its dust.
A resurgence has shown itself as of late. We've all seen remnants of the decade responsible for both Flashdance and Breakin' even around this very campus. I know you didn't think those skinny jeans came from nowhere. Our parents wore those in an assortment of colors before many of us were even thought of. So why the revival?
We have considered a plethora of ideas as to why hip-hop is embracing '80s fashion. For one, it really shows love. Of course the chains and four-finger rings we see today are real, but it's still acknowledging where it all began. Will it ever get that deep? Are we going to see Soulja Boy in an Adidas jumpsuit with a gumby? Probably not, but it's a start.
Or it could just be that hip-hop is having fun. If artists are going to have fun with their music, then their fashion should reflect that. Early hip-hop was all about fun. Trends are reoccurring and perhaps this was bound to happen sooner or later.
So what's next for hip-hop fashion? How about the '90s? Hip-hop could start reverting to Aaliyah-esque styled baggy jeans, tight shirts, overalls with the straps hanging, and backwards baseball caps. We miss those days.
Feel like taking on '80s hip-hop fashion? It's simple. Ladies, all you need are some doorknocker earrings, a bright colored, loose fitting off-the-shoulder shirt, some skinny jeans, leg warmers, and pumps. And guys, rope chains and track jackets will have to suffice for now but feel free to take it to the next level.
Don't expect major breakthroughs in the music just yet. Remember, hip-hop is still more about jumping on the bandwagon than being revolutionary. But taking it back to the days when the music felt real, even if through fashion alone, is relieving.