Since streetwear is such a fluid genre of clothing, it can be difficult to identify which specific pieces belong in it.
However, there are a few general things that can be said about streetwear. It's usually built around casual clothing and comfortable basics, like jeans and a tee, as well as hoodies and sneakers.
Along with throwbacks to early skate, surf, and hip-hop culture, streetwear is often influenced by 80s nostalgia, so vintage tees, 80s-inspired tees, and logos don't look out of place as part of an urban ensemble.
Although streetwear itself is difficult to define, as we've discussed, it actually seems to be used to describe a whole bunch of different trends, all of which come together.
On the one hand, streetwear is a luxury aesthetic made up of high-end pieces and expensive "limited-edition" branded items like premium sneakers.
Streetwear, on the other hand, is a scrappy mashup of punk, hip-hop, surf, and skate fashion. The juxtaposition of frugal do-it-yourself style with high-end, limited-edition pieces is what makes streetwear so unique.
So, with that in mind, a key style tip is to combine "new and shiny" with "old and tired". Try mixing frugal DIY pieces like ripped jeans, punk rock tops, and T-shirts with more "upscale" looks like a quality leather jacket and a pair of crisp sneakers.
Another aspect of streetwear is that it often consists of baggy, boxy, and somewhat shapeless items. This means you're mixing comfort with style, so take advantage of that fact, and don't be afraid to go big and layer multiple pieces!
Layered sweatshirts, tees, and jeans won't look out of place. Wear a loose shirt with the buttons unbuttoned to keep everything nice and loose, and add an 80s-inspired tee for color and detail. Combine hip-hop styles from the 80s and 90s with a modern twist and you have a pretty solid concept to start building your streetwear.