When considering men’s fashion today, there’s an undeniable demand for tailored streetwear – two very distinctive styles of clothing, merged into one. Indeed, each style carries with it a range of elements that now make up a look that stands on its own. But these original styles had their influences too, ranging from music, film and politics, to a variety of other fashions and trends making their way through the industry.

So, how exactly did “streetwear” emerge in men’s fashion? The 1950s era is credited with producing the style; but it was post-war pop culture and media that truly cultivated it. Film, music, and television began to shape and influence an entire generation, with films like The Wild One (starring Marlon Brando, 1953) helping kick off the “Greaser” era. Denim jeans were heavily featured in films and television shows, and soon on the stars themselves when they were off the set. At the same time, the “preppy”, tailored look also held a strong following; but the two styles certainly remained separate, for the time being.

  Then, during the 1960s, pop music and politics began to play a massive role in emerging streetwear styles, lending an air of liberation and rebellion to the world of fashion. The Mod style – consisting of mini dresses and tapered trousers – showed significant amounts of skin, while “hippy” styles of the late 1960s rebelled against the preppy style of the 50s. Tunics and Indian-inspired looks were incorporated into the streetwear of the 70s, as was clothing inspired by modern dance and athletics – for instance, flared trousers and jumpsuits.

  Just as Marlon Brando had influenced street fashions in the 50s, music, film, and particularly sports icons were largely responsible for influencing streetwear in the 80s. For instance, Madonna highly influenced a look featuring baggy tops with tight fitting bottoms, while Michael Jordan contributed to the popularity of baggy sports wear. All the while, the tailored, “preppy” look kept a quiet yet consistent following.

  Street fashions of the 90s were heavily influenced by surf culture, which would later evolve to include certain “preppy” elements. However, the early 2000s saw a re-emergence of hip hop culture in fashion, along with other street fashion trends from the past. This is when streetwear styles really began to merge and blend with one another, forming hybrid styles that displayed more individuality than ever before.

Despite a historical clash between tailored or “preppy” styles and more rugged streetwear fashions, a combination of the two has proven to be highly popular with both men and women in today’s fashion culture. It’s now common to see designers using rugged materials to create tailored pieces, or even to pair “preppy” and historically “rebellious” fashion items in the same look – for instance, tailored blazers worn with eye catching trainers. The advantage, to many, of a hybrid look such as this is that the possibilities are, virtually, endless. The look allows for greater diversity and individuality in style, yet it’s also allows for subtlety. It’s no wonder, then, that tailored streetwear has taken off in the world of men’s fashion, appealing to a wide range of stylistic preferences.

FASHION: The formation of the modern generation’s look. City vibe can become a global positive energy? Hip-hop, football, the life in a city “jungle” influence today’s fashion.