Street Wear | Apparel Network

Eco-fur and Faux Fur: Just as Good as Real Fur

23 February 2017 By Apparel Network

Fur is luxurious and glamorous, but it can come with ethical concerns. Animal rights activists have long highlighted the issue of cruelty and fur, creating awareness about fur’s impact on animal welfare. Fortunately there is a range of fantastic animal-friendly fabrics available, including eco-fur and faux fur, which are just as beautiful as the real thing and cause no harm to our animal friends. What’s more, faux fur is very much in vogue. It’s been prominently showcased on the runways in recent years, and it still carries cachet among fashionistas and designers alike. Even better, the quality of faux fur is now comparable to that of real fur.

So what are some of the benefits of faux fur? It offers quite a bit of variety and flexibility, for starters. You can get it in solid colors, patchwork patterns, stripes, or even striking colorblock looks. And unlike with real animal fur, you can get eco-fur or faux fur in every color of the rainbow—including showstopper hues like hot pink and highlighter yellow. You could use it to dramatize your entire garment, or you could choose instead to leverage it as an accent, as seen with this striking faux fur coat from Giamba. You can also play with the texture of the fur, choosing a smooth and silky version for a luxe effect or going with a more wild, longhaired, or shaggy look that a rebellious soul might rock.

As for the types of garments that suit eco-fur or faux fur the best, outerwear is of course the obvious choice. Faux fur coats, jackets, and vests abound, particularly this time of year. But faux fur and eco-fur also appear in dresses and robes, and it they are also ideal for trimming and detailing certain areas of a piece (such as the lining or hood of a jacket, for example). They also show up in accessories such as purses, bags, hats, scarves, and gloves.

With eco-fur and faux fur, the sky really is the limit. They’re economical, versatile, beautiful, and can be used to create looks ranging anywhere from the glamorous floor-length fur coat we’ve admired on celebrities to the popular puffer jacket, graced with a cozy fur-lined hood, that we see out and about on the streets in winter. It’s a gorgeous and animal-friendly fabric that everyone can feel good about, and a great medium for designers to creatively express their vision.

Streetwear Trends for 2017

13 January 2017 By Apparel Network

New year, fresh start! As we welcome 2017, it’s a great opportunity to take a look at the state of streetwear fashion and see where it might be headed over the coming months. Street style is always constantly changing as it is infused with innovative ideas from designers and brands that have their finger on the pulse of the street. Here are just a few of the trends we’ll be keeping tabs on in 2017.

Puffer Jackets

Puffer jackets have successfully crossed over from the realm of streetwear into high fashion and right through into the mainstream as well. Demna Gvasalia has created a chic puffer jacket for Balenciaga that is as elegant as it is expensive. Meanwhile, video game fans can don street-inspired outerwear that looks like the Supreme x The North Face collaboration puffer jacket in GTA: Online. With all the intense attention still being paid to this iconic winter garment in several different spheres of fashion, you can expect it to remain a big trend for 2017.

Graphic Tees

Graphic tees were all the rage last year as 80s nostalgia was felt throughout the fashion world. Reflecting their diverse street origins, graphic tees can go in a lot of different directions: from punk rock and metal to cute and kitschy. Graphic logo tees were also tremendously popular in 2016, and now slogan t-shirts are poised to pick up where they left off. Slogan tops with empowering messages like “We Should All Be Feminists” (inspired by the recent book from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) ruled the spring 2017 runways. Expect to see more instances of that trend taking hold this year.

Sneakers

Sneakers will be big again in 2017, but designers are moving beyond the simple white shoe. Sneakers and other footwear will likely be decorated this time around, sporting casual looks with catchy designs like emoji and logos and creating elevated, dressed-up styles featuring glitter, leopard, or satin.

Embellishment was a big trend in 2016 across the board, in fact, as celebrities and fashionistas sought to personalize garments and make them uniquely their own. Patches appeared on everything from jackets to bags to sneakers, while gorgeous embroidery appeared on outerwear and caps. Expect embroidery in particular to take off; we may also see patches continue their ascent in 2017.

Gucci has created a sneaker that combines the dressed-up style mentioned previously, and the gorgeous embroidery that you can expect to see everywhere. This is simply the confirmation that streetwear has and is successfully being incorporated into mainstream, and high-end fashion.

So that’s a quick sampling of the street trends we see continuing to impact fashion in the coming year. What are your favorite streetwear trends at the moment? Are there any that you expect to make a splash in 2017? Let us know! We’d love to hear what’s inspiring you now and where you envision street fashion heading in the future.

Three Super-Trends for Summer 2016

17 June 2016 By Apparel Network

Summer is here! Just as winter brought us faux-fur lined hoodies, summer will bring its own fashion trends. Let’s take a peek at what we expect to be the hottest looks for summer.

Denim never seems to go out of style. Ever. While the denim mini-skirt disappeared from the fashion radar for a few years it seems to be making a comeback. The most popular ones come in a lighter shade – an almost washed out look, like the one Vetememes designed. Like jeans, your mini-skirt can be paired with pretty much anything, like graphic tees (which never go out of style) or maybe those gladiator sandals which are also making a comeback.

We could argue that gladiator sandals are not even really a trend anymore, having become a staple of summer fashion. They come in every style your heart and wallet could desire: embellished with beads and feathers, knee high and even with heels. The fact that you can wear them with that hot new mini-skirt makes them this year’s must-have summer sandal.

As the weather warms up it’s the perfect time to show off a little skin. Off-the-shoulder tops are very much in style (did they ever really go out of style?) and in every conceivable color, in prints and solids, so get ready to exposure your shoulders and break out some sunscreen. Not crazy about the off-the-shoulder look? You can achieve the same tan while sporting spaghetti strap tops and crop tops, two trends from the 00’s that are back with a vengeance. The theme is the same: flaunting what you’ve got above the belt.

These are the three major trends we’ve picked out for this summer, but there are plenty of other ones out there. Time to go out and enjoy the sunshine.

Sports Legacy with Streetwear

3 June 2016 By Apparel Network

Street and urban wear’s origins are rooted in music and sports. Hip hop was the single biggest musical influence on street style, but there’s no single sport that can be singled out as an inspiration for urban fashion. Each has contributed different elements to the look, from jerseys to caps to sneakers.

Looking back at West Coast fashion in the early days of streetwear confirms that skate boarders and surfers undoubtedly played a huge role influencing some of the movement’s most famous brands like Stussy. But it’s also true that street wear has had a life long love affair with sports jerseys. While basketball and football may have the lion’s share of fashion appeal, baseball jerseys — and more recently soccer jerseys — are staples of urban style.

Baseball has the monopoly on caps. In the 80’s and 90’s manufacturers started playing with the traditional cap colors and styles leading to a rise in popularity and sales. Now you see all types of caps; they might not have a baseball teams’ logo on them, but that just goes to show how far cap fashion has come.

Arguably, the biggest and best selling product that sports has contributed to streetwear fashion is the sneaker. While Run DMC and the Ramones helped to make Adidas and Converse popular, it was basketball that can be pinned as the originator of sneaker culture. Michael Jordan may have changed the game of basketball, but he also almost single-handedly created a sneaker craze that lasts to this day. Air Jordan’s were the most anticipated sneaker release of the year and tended to sell out in less than a day — an extraordinary feat considering there was no online shopping back then. Today sneaker heads collect and show off their shoes not just a fashion statement, but also as a unique expression of their personal style.

Whether you profess your love for the Mets or the Lakers, urban fashion has taken jerseys, caps and sneakers beyond their purpose as a simple expression of team loyalty. Streetwear has reinvented these garments to become unique expressions of self and personal style.

Rock-n-Roll’s Influence on Street Wear

20 May 2016 By Apparel Network

When street and urban wear first hit the market back in the ‘80s they were heavily inspired by the clothing worn by hip hop musicians. Artists like Run DMC, Kurtis Blow and Salt n’ Pepa influenced not only the music industry but the fashion world as well. The most recent streetwear trends draw more from rock music, seeking inspiration from the grunge look of the ‘90s.

Step back a few decades and remember the key elements of grunge and the rockers who inspired them. As front men for their respective bands, Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder were among the musical muses for the scruffy styles that sprouted up in the Pacific Northwest. The look featured ripped jeans paired with combinations of slouchy sweaters, flannel shirts, cardigans and boots. Kurt Cobain loved wearing ratty, ill-fitting sweaters; Vedder was (and still is) sporting his modified lumberjack look in flannel shirts and boots.

Ironically, today’s hip-hop artists are the ones at the forefront of this new rock-n-roll streetwear trend. Kanye West, A$AP Rocky and others have been sporting grunge-inspired looks for a while. Their reinvention (or rediscovery) of grunge updates the look in just the way you would expect: by adding a bit of bling.

While drawing their main source of inspiration from the grunge era, street wear designers are not limiting themselves to it. T-shirts sporting the names of some of the biggest names in heavy metal are mixed in with grungy fashion. A prime example of streetwear’s obsession with rock is the new collaboration between Supreme and Black Sabbath, with Morrissey as the face of their Summer 2016 ad campaign.

Pop culture in general, from music to movies, has been a prime driver of urban wear and this latest trend is no exception.

Rainy Day Streetwear

6 May 2016 By Apparel Network

Looking good and staying dry when it’s raining outside have often been two mutually exclusive things, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Streetwear has made a lot of progress in making your grey, gloomy days more stylish.

One of the hot trends in outwear this spring is the bomber jacket, but unless that jacket is water repellent you’ll still need a rain coat. Let’s take a look at some of the best rain gear trends for this spring. Oh, and you’ll need rain boots too.

There’s been a lot of clamor around Vetememes black oversized raincoat. It’s been one of the most popular items on of the spring so far, so much so that the original line has sold out.

Stone Island and Supreme have teamed up to make a couple of jackets that hearken back to the ‘90s. The slickers feature so-called ”hypercolor” that were sported proudly (albeit briefly) two decades ago. The technology behind these designs allows each jacket to react to person’s body temperature with colors varying between yellows and browns, blues and purples.

While novelties seem to be all the rage the classics are still as popular as ever. Take the K-Way hoodie, protecting you from the rain and making you look trendy since 1965.

When it’s raining what you put on your feet is just as important as the jacket you wear — nobody enjoys soaking wet feet. In recent years the rain boot fashion has upped its game to a whole new level. You can find an amazing variety – everything from Chelsea style rain boots to converse style lace ups.

With all the choices the fashion industry has on offer, a rainy day doesn’t have to be a bother. Instead, it can be a chance to showcase your unique sense of style.

Movies and Streetwear: Star Wars

8 January 2016 By Apparel Network

As part of our continuing series about movies that have left their mark on streetwear, we’re taking a closer look at the global phenomenon whose reach goes well beyond the silver screen: Star Wars.

Star Wars is a merchandising giant. You can get ANYTHING Star Wars: his and hers “Han and Leia” hand towels, R2-D2 screwdrivers, a lightsaber selfie stick (no, really). Like any self-respecting, marketable movie franchise, Star Wars also has a plethora of t-shirts and apparel to satisfy your need to be a part of a galaxy far, far away. Costumes from the original trilogy (Episodes IV, V, VI) had an impact on mainstream fashion and “The Force Awakens” is following in those footsteps, making a similar mark on the fashion world.

The most obvious homage to the Star Wars franchise came from Rodarte, whose 2014 collection featured the film’s imagery printed directly onto the fabric. Anyone need a Death Star or Tatooine double moon evening gown? Rag & Bone, along with other fashion giants like Diane von Furstenberg, designed an entire “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” inspired line for charity.

You can see Star Wars inspired fashion in everyday apparel if you look carefully. In our post about 2016 fashion trends we highlighted parkas, which have grown in popularity over the years. Star Wars certainly played a part in that. Remember planet Hoth and its freezing temperatures? Then you might also remember Han Solo donning a pretty sick, fur-lined parka (we’ve provided a picture to help refresh your memory).

And don’t forget the aforementioned t-shirts. Every printed t-shirt with Darth Vader, Luke, Han Solo and other Star Wars characters are in themselves an expression and a choice: the light side or dark side of the Force, the underdog versus the giant. Ultimately that’s what fashion — and especially streetwear – is all about: expressing your unique sense of self through your unique sense of style.

Five Fashion Trends We Can Expect in 2016

18 December 2015 By Apparel Network

2015 brought us a lot of neoprene. We also saw streetwear’s influence of extend to the world of high-end fashion, so much so that we started hearing about new lines being coined luxury streetwear, Pigalle being one of its prime examples. As 2015 comes to a close we look forward to the New Year with renewed curiosity about streetwear’s future fashion trends. Here are five things to keep an eye on.

Certainly the first thing worth mentioning is that Beyonce is teaming up with Sir Phillip Green, Dorothy Perkins, and Miss Selfridge to launch her own streetwear clothing line next year. No doubt Queen Bey’s entry into the world of urban fashion apparel will be one of the most anticipated launches this Spring.

We can expect to see a return to basics throughout various collections. While the focus last year was on creative, vibrant prints, this year we’ll witness more monochromatic colors. Classic black and white combinations which should be a prevalent theme this 2016.

One print that will continue to run rampant (as it’s been a staple in streetwear fashion since its earliest days) is camouflage. Not going away, camouflage is here to stay.

With the return to a more conservative color palette, designers tend to employ better quality fabrics – less polyester and synthetics. Expect to spend a little more for garments made from natural materials like wools and cotton.

One natural material you don’t see much of any more – and we can confidently predict you will see less and less of – is fur. You’ve probably noticed the emergence of synthetic fur recently. It’s being employed as a complement to other fabrics, as interior lining for hoods and for collars. Parkas will continue their high-end climb while maintaining their classic streetwear staple status.

It seems like there’s a lot to look forward to!

The Colorful 1990’s: Films’ Influence on Urban Wear

1 July 2015 By Apparel Network

As we discussed in an earlier blog post, 80’s cinema did a lot to influence streetwear, but American films of the 1990s were equally impactful and arguably more culturally significant in determining the direction of urban wear trends for the decade.

Do the Right Thing

Set in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy), Spike Lee’s pivotal film on race relations in New York City provided a realistic representation of rising racial tensions. Part of that realism is rendered through the costuming of the characters in the film.

Ruth E. Carter, the film’s costume designer, was told by Lee that the costuming should be bright… and she delivered. The film featured primary colored clothing, a lot of gold and a whole lot of Nike. The iconic Radio Raheem (who is the symbolic embodiment of Black pride) sports a white T-shirt with a colorful boxed-off design bearing the phrase “Bed-Stuy or Die” emblazoned on the front. (On a side note, the t-shirt was actually designed and painted by a local Brooklyn woman.) Raheem also sports two gigantic, iconic, knuckleduster rings, “Love” and “Hate”. Learn more about the representation of black culture and the costuming of the film.

Boyz n the Hood

Director John Singleton’s “Boyz n the Hood” also addressed the issues facing black youth in a rough neighborhood, this time in the South Central Los Angeles. The style, although equally memorable, is a little different. The characters don plenty of funky, saturated colors, but what we remember best are the denim-wash jeans, chambray shirts, and a whole lot of snapbacks. In one scene, Cuba Gooding Jr. sports a basketball jersey over a white t-shirt — a classic look of the time.

White Men Can’t Jump

“White Men Can’t Jump” featured a plethora of colorful fashion… it does take place in Venice Beach, CA, one of America’s most colorful towns. Muscle tees and high top sneakers, the film gives us an accurate portrayal of the street ball culture that dominated the West Coast in the 1990s. Wesley Snipes’s character, Sidney Dean, has a signature court style that consists of two muscle tees, bicycle shorts, a cycling cap and a gold chain. Woody Harrelson’s Buddy Hoyle establishes his own identifying style in his first game: tie-dye cap, a “Parental Advisory” tee with a colorful open button down worn over it. He basically looks like a chump… and that’s exactly what he wants you to think.

Street Wear in 80’s Cinema

5 June 2015 By Apparel Network

This is Part 2 in our series, Movies Make Their Mark on Streetwear. Didn’t read Part 1? Check it out now….

The 1980’s ushered in a number of films that majorly influenced women’s street wear. Remember sweatbands and leg warmers, and off-the-shoulder sweatshirts (which, incidentally, have made a comeback as of late)? Then you may be shocked (or not) to know that the sexy, slouchy look was inspired by Jennifer Beals’s character in 1983’s “Flashdance,” an iconic role that was especially influential in making a generation of young women cut up their oversized sweatshirts in an attempt to look healthy and athletic.

Meanwhile, Madonna set a funkier, but no less iconic, trend with the fashions she sported in 1985’s “Desperately Seeking Susan.” The look consisted mainly of layering and studs on everything, but it’s worth breaking it down a little further. Black leggings, oversized tops and blazers, bold neon colors and lots of mesh – the clothing is a cinematic extension of the style associated with Madonna’s 1984 album, “Like a Virgin” but with a little more leather, a little less sequins and lace.

Men’s street wear also found inspiration during the 80’s. In fact, “The Breakfast Club,” has it almost completely covered. The film’s three male protagonists each represent a stereotype of the time, including their respective senses of fashion. Andrew (Emilio Estevez) is the jock, Brian (Anthony Michael Hall) is the geek, and Bender (Judd Nelson) is the rebel/”criminal.” Each one is appropriately dressed: Andrew wears a muscle vest, jeans and sneakers; whereas Brian wears a very plain shirt, chinos and plain sneakers (which today would be called “normcore”). Bender wears a biker jacket, plaid shirt, biker boots and earring. The film offered every American adolescent male a look to emulate.

While most of these styles were somewhat transient, a few films gave us some permanent fashion gems.

Tom Cruise might have been dancing around in his underwear, but he didn’t forget to accessorize. In “Risky Business” Cruise wore Ray-Ban Wayfarers and brought them back into mainstream fashion after their popularity had waned through the 70’s. This time they were here to stay.

From “Business” to pleasure: we move to the West Coast where a very young Sean Penn starred as a laid-back, stoner, surfer dude in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” His checkered Vans became the stuff of legend — well, at least in streetwear circles. After the film’s release checkered Vans started flying off the shelves. The company had never intended to sell their shoes outside of California and suddenly had a national success on their hands. The rest, as they say, is history.

Next up: the influence of “White Men Can’t Jump”, “Do the Right Thing”, “Boyz in the Hood” on urban wear and street wear.