Streetwear 101

All photos by James Douglas @tjdstudio

Class is in session. I'm here to answer all of your questions about streetwear, as well as showcase some outfits I'm bringing with me into the Spring season. If you're a fan of footwear and fashion then streetwear is the most amazing love affair, where style meets comfort & functionality and outfits are put together based on personal interpretation of high-end items or "trophy" pieces if you will. 

What is streetwear?

Originally rooted from California surf and skate culture, the trend bloomed when companies, like Stussy and Supreme, started making logo t-shirts and mixing these generic styles with high-end fashion brands, like Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Over time with some influence from hip hop and the evolvement and integration of athletic wear and sneaker trends into everyday lifestyle, streetwear became more and more popular. Streetwear is the tasteful way of mixing and matching luxury branded items with "everyday" fashions (i.e. hip-hop, skate, surf, punk rock). While it may get a bad rep from those who slap a "hype" logo, like Supreme, on an outfit and call themselves a hypebeast, it's more than that. The mashup of high-end or limited edition pieces with thrifty style takes some talent.
Now I'm not trying to sit here and call myself talented by any means... If we're being totally honest Jake pretty much picks out 90% of my outfits, but all I'm saying is you can't have a blind eye when it comes to style to get with the culture. Streetwear, above all else, isn't necessarily about what you're wearing, but what your outfit represents. It's about individuality and free-thinking. Sure brands like Bape and Palace are hype brands, but it's more about putting your personal touch and interpretation on things.

Outfit details: Sunglasses from Avalon Exchange Lakewood, Travis Scott Astroworld wind breaker SikSilk cropped tee underneath & Nike x OBJ AF1 on the feet

Think of streetwear like building an amazing hot fudge sundae... You got the ice cream, the base of your outfit, maybe this is your go-to joggers or black skinny jeans? Then you pour the hot fudge on, which are your Yeezys or Jordans that you've been waiting to bust out the box. Next up you got sprinkles, which are your accessories, like a nice chain or watch and a hat or something and then you get to the top of the sundae, your holy grail and the most valued item that you're trying to flex, and that my friends is the mother fuckin cherry. The cherry is the first thing that people see, the first thing they want to eat... I mean who the hell saves the cherry for last, am I right? But this whole sundae, when broken apart has little value compared to when it's all together. A Supreme box logo tee doesn't make you hype, you wear that around with blue jeans and you're wearing a t-shirt and jeans. No creativity there. The "hype" comes from the style integration and the layers to the outfit. At the end of the day if you take that cherry away from the sundae, it's just a cherry... ​

So How do you style it?

In my opinion streetwear can be broken down into three rules...
The first being mix and match. Now I'm not saying necessarily in terms of brands like Nike and Adidas, but mix the old and the new... mix the stuff that broke your bank with shit you've had in your closet forever, like that old Harley Davidson t-shirt that you stole from your dad when you were 15. Pair those limited edition Jordans with ripped jeans and a band tee (maybe toss in a Gucci belt if you got it), ya feel me?
In talking about the thrift element of streetwear, this brings me to my second tip which is do it big. Like a blast from the 80's hip hop past, oversized items like sweatshirts and baggy tees are one of the staple trends. It's all about mixing comfort with style. However ladies, you don't have to totally lose your shape to partake in the trend... take a note from Ariana Grande's rulebook and do the no pants dance with a long oversized top to show some leg (or a crop top to show your waist in baggy pants).
​Lastly... labels, labels, labels. Statement tees aren't necessarily what the outfit is built around, but they're definitely what makes it pop. Streetwear has this subtle gaudiness to it. While the style looks effortless, there is this hint of exclusivity to it that comes with flexing luxury items or the brands that sell only limited qualities, but for the haters out there... people have been flexing their Louis V. bags for generations, being a little showy isn't anything new. If anything, the mixing of thrifted items with high-end pieces almost mocks that high-brow attitude so screw it and STUNT. I'm here for it

All photos by James Douglas @tjdstudio

How did you get into sneakers?

To no ones surprise I'm sure, my husband got me into the sneaker/streetwear scene. I'm embarrassed to admit that when Jake and I met I only owned one pair of tennis shoes and they were these ugly beaters that I wore to the gym literally everyday. It took me awhile to fully understand his (not-so) little sneaker addiction, but when I saw him matching the outfits he was wearing to all of these different colors and patterns on his sneakers I understood it was so much more than pairs of shoes... but truly an art. Not to totally be dishing out gender roles, but it's not super common to meet a guy who creates outfits with such detail (and consequently also who takes longer to get ready than I do). Now I'm sure I'm getting some people shaking their heads reading this, but to that I say what difference is it than matching lipsticks or handbags or hats? I fell in love with making comfort look swaggy and the way he put his personal touch on otherwise arguably simple outfits. With a personality that loud... the fit has to match. More on him soon, stay on the lookout for my upcoming blog "My Husband's Addiction & Me" ;) 

Outfit details: (Left) Gymshark super cropped sweater in citrus yellow, Calvin Klein sports bra, Good American jeans & Jordan Cement 4s on the feet. (Right) Adidas denim hat, Forever21 cropped sherpa, Ivy Park shorts & Core White Yeezys on the feet.

How to pick a stylish sneaker?

Picking a stylish sneaker is like picking out a car. There's lots of cool cars... some are just a little cooler than others, but you know the car when you see it lmfao. Honestly this question was a little hard for me to answer because style is so subjective. I could say the Static Yeezy's are a stylish sneaker with their new translucent stripe, but half of you are going to look at it and tell me it's the ugliest shoe ever. So I'll answer it this way... if you're trying to pick a popular or "hype" sneaker, stay up to date with the trends! I follow Instagram accounts like @hypebeast, @hypebeastkicks, @hypebae to get style inspiration and see what is coming up in the streetwear scene, but like any other person looking for fashion inspiration I also follow certain influencer accounts too! Some of my favorites are @xeiramc, @miniswoosh, @frankiecollective, my girl LK of course @leahkirsch (check out her apparel @thefemaleplanet) and  @ysabellecaps
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Scroll to the bottom of this post for some of my favorite pieces right now! 

Checks over stripes?

Shoutout to @lordtreesap for this question... I love it and appreciate you. While Adidas' lifestyle apparel and sneakers are pushing the pace in the streetwear market, especially with the help of collaborative brands like Yeezy, I think Nike really set the bar for trendy activewear that can be worn not only in the gym, but for everyday on-the-go lifestyles (see my blog All Nike Everything where I elaborate further). I mean have you seen their techwear? In addition Jordan, being one of the staple brands in the Streetwear industry, has been decades ahead of Yeezy and therefore in my opinion has made Nike more established than Adidas in this market. However, to truly be engulfed in the streetwear culture I think it's natural to dip your toes in both ponds. So to answer your question... if it's workout apparel I'm a Nike girl all day long, but as far as my closet goes for lifestyle apparel I definitely dabble with both in my wardrobe. 

Outfit details: Yeezy Bra (paired with a thrifted fur coat from Avalon Exchange Lakewood; shown below), Adidas Originals Superstar Trackpant & Blue Tint Yeezys on the feet 

Thank you to those of you who submitted questions on Instagram, I can't express how much your engagement means to me. You all inspired the content of this blog and I'm forever grateful for those of you who fuel me to continue creating. And a very special thank you to my amazing boss James Douglas (@tjdstudio) for letting me play model for the day and providing me with these amazing blog photos to share with you! All of the outfits pictured above are ones I would style for this mild-winter to spring transition in Cleveland. Included below are links to some of our favorite pieces in our closet right now, enjoy!

Womens:

• ​Adidas Originals Superstar Trackpant 
• Nike x OBJ Laser Orange AF1 
• Nike x Supreme Gold Earring
• ​Fenty x Puma Lace Up Leggings 
• Adidas Trefoil Sweatshirt 
• Jordan Fire V’s
• Nike Sherpa Bomber Jacket 

Mens:​

• Supreme x North Face Snakeskin Pant
• Travis Scott AJ4
• Acronym Vapormax
• Supreme Gucci Mane Tee
• Off-White Vapormax
• Pharrell x Adidas NMD Hu
• Airmax Atmos Animal Pack

All photos by James Douglas @tjdstudio

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