4: Street style Influences on style The world style is usually used to describe a particular look or appearance. Styles change because of the influences which govern style change. Here are three examples of image boards produced to show the influences on street style. The first was produced in 1996, the seond in 2004 and the third in 2005. Just look at how different they are. An iimage board to show some of the influences on street style made in 1966 These influences on style are all-pervasive. They reach us through many different communications media. Some are listed here: Music Theatre TV Posters Newspapers Video games Films Art Dance Radio Adverts Magazines Books 1
4: Street style An iimage board to show some of the influences on street style made in 2004 Inflluenced by and influencing street style music, theatre, TV, posters, newspapers, video games, films, dance, radio, adverts, magazines, books, art. 2
Charles and Camilla wed after 30 year romance. She s fun and she makes our Dad happy say Princes Chavs babes don t wear Burberry Cricket regains popularity Michael Jackson cleared! A last term a lasting legacy? Iran embarks on a new nuclear program Did he lie to the Senate? A man with concerns: Hurricane Katrin War in Iraq Supreme court nomination withdrawn Saddam Hussein stands trial Inflluenced by and influencing street style music, theatre, TV, posters, newspapers, video games, films, dance, radio, adverts, magazines, books, art. An iimage board to show some of the influences on street style made in 2005 3
Some classic street styles 4: Street style Street style in a clothing context refers to the styles of clothes worn by groups of individuals (usually young) who are making a particular statement. This statement often includes a message about their attitudes, tastes in music and even politics. Street styles are worn by a minority of people at first. But they are usually assimilated into mainstream fashion over time. Street styles, as with mainstream styles, are sometimes old styles revisited. Here are some examples of street styles since the early 1950s. Notice that there are still people who follow some of these early styles. 1990s late 1950s 1970s 1980s 1970s 1990s 1990s 1960s early 1950s late 1950s Street styles only really emerged after the Second World War. Until then, young people tended to dress in similar ways to their elders 4
4: Street style Designing from your street Influence books Fashion designers have to work well ahead of the current market. Clothing and clothingrelated products are usually shown at least a couple of seasons ahead. So in the summer the designer works on the next spring/summer collection. Textile designers have to work ahead of the fabric-product designers. Therefore current street style is only important in that it gives you a starting point. Your designs need to be for what that group of people might want, need or design in a year s time and then continue to want for at least three or four months after that. Here is the beginning of a brainstorm to try to look into the future. Here is the beginning of a brainstorm to try and look into the future. It was drawn in 1996. What would it look like now? It is important to keep in touch with how life, in general, is changing around you and the things and people that are having a subtle, but important, impact on it. You need to work at getting a feel for the future. One way to do this is through keeping cuttings of newspapers, magazines, images and events, in an influence book. If a major national or international event is planned, note it. If a film is being made that may be a sell out, note it. If a country starts to get mentioned a lot, note it. Do the same with emerging music styles, fashion styles, growing interest in particular cultures and so on. Over a year this book will tell a fascinating story and provide you with lots of ideas. 5