It’s not a secret that most of us are struggling financially at the moment. As we enter further into one of the most substantial cost-of-living crises in generations, many people are looking for ways to cut their own personal costs.
That being said, most of us still obviously want to look good, just without having to spend an arm and a leg on every item of clothing. Heaps of styles absolutely make this possible, one of which is the broad collection of streetwear aesthetics.
Understanding streetwear
Streetwear first emerged from subcultures of people who didn’t have much money. Groups of younger people, including skaters, surfers and musicians, primarily in New York and California, took inspiration from DIY aesthetics in punk culture and Japanese street fashion, and then it kind of exploded from there.
While certain aspects of streetwear culture have become exceptionally expensive, especially if you look at intersections with haute couture, this arguably isn’t what lies at streetwear’s core.
You can absolutely stick with a more DIY approach, and not buy into contemporary hypes or follow all of the latest drops.
Focus on footwear
It’s important to understand that you don’t need to do a lot to get an effective streetwear look going. There will be a few items that can really pull these looks together, and a key contender for the prime spot in this area is footwear.
Find a few clean pairs of classic shoes, whether you prefer Reebok, New Balance or Vans, that are comfortable and work with the overall aesthetics you’re trying to go with. These brands aren’t typically that pricey, and you can often find sales or other deals.
Neutral colours (whites and blacks) tend to be the most versatile, but you can also absolutely go with something more out there if you fancy it.
Build up your staples
Streetwear staples typically include printed t-shirts, baggy hoodies and jackets, and loose trousers that are comfortable to wear even when you’re being more active.
Build up a collection of these staples, from affordable, high-quality suppliers like Screen Textiles, so that you always have some dependable items to grab from your wardrobe.
Try secondhand
With streetwear, you have to look in charity and vintage shops. You’ll often find the perfect items hidden in the rails in a back corner, and these items will often be incredibly affordable.
Make it part of your weekly or monthly routine to check out all of your local charity shops, ideally working out what days they put new items out on. It’s also a lot more fun, in some ways, than shopping at regular high street brands. You never quite know what you’re going to find, and it feels more like a treasure hunt.
Of all the trends you could choose to go with, streetwear is likely the one that’s easiest to do on a budget. Follow the tips outlined above, and you should be able to embrace this eclectic style in a way that really doesn’t cost you much at all.
Process oriented, self-motivated, and self-directed experienced writer with strong background in leading, process improvement, testing, and requirements definition in the areas of healthcare revenue cycle, order processing, and just-in-time systems. Recognized for organizational skills, human relations skills, and analytical skills.
