Street Trends and High Fashion Hip Hop

DJ Clive is known for starting the Hip Hop era in New York City. He and others would tap into power lines and connect their equipment and perform at parties and venues. Later on other artists such as Grandmaster Flash and Jazzy Jay redefined the Hip Hop era with groundbreaking beats such as cutting and scratching. In the late 1970's the underground movement known as "hip hop" started in the South Bronx area of New York City. Graffiti, break dancing and music were the most important elements during the hip hop era. Although, hip hop started in the U.S. it is now popular around the globe. Hip hop fashion is a different style of dress seen in the urban areas of Los Angeles, The San Francisco Bay Area, Detroit, Atlanta and Miami. During the 1980's people would wear tracksuits, baggy jeans, bright colored shirts and bomber jackets. Accessories, included large glasses, nameplates, huge jewelry, especially in gold and bucket hats. This image portrays the style of hip hop clothing. The baggy jeans, the graphic tees, the nameplate belt buckle and the gold jewlery. (Photo: unknown men wearing hip hop clothing, 1983). Baby Phat's Spring Summer collection shows us that she was influenced by the hip hop style of dress. The jewelry, the baggy jeans and the graphic tees.