In pretty much all fashion styles accessorizing is as important a feat as choosing the clothes themselves. The heavy influences of hip-hop culture in urban fashion are also transferred to how men and women accessorize. Urban wear is to accessorize is not an understatement. Urban fashion accessories are as edgy or hip as the clothes they are matched with. They show innovative, unique and brilliant designs that are rooted in individuality, cultural and ethnic influences.
However, one must differentiate urban fashion from street wear. Although, street wear has some degree of influences on urban fashion, the main genre that constitutes urban wear is the hip-hop culture that began in the late 70s. It was the hip-hop music that gave birth to the urban wear that we know today. This is why urban wear accessories are pretty much rooted on hip-hop as well. The accessories actually evolved from the simplistic colorful bracelets and earrings to the shiny, metallic bling blings.
The 80s hip-hop culture developed accessories the leaned towards the bold, gold and silver, attention-grabbing accessories showing influences of African and Latino cultures. But further evolution of the style brought a more sophisticated and mature evolution of accessories as well. Accessories for the urban dwellers can now perfectly fit academic and professional environments unlike the loud bling blings before.
Today’s urban women can use accessories like leather boots and bags which come in different colors and designs. Combining designer scarves, wide belts, clutches and tote bags with jeans, skirts, blazers and heels pretty much adds into glamorous urban attire. Wearing large and dangling earrings and multiple necklaces are considered acceptable accessories for urban wear as well. These accessories add hip and style to an otherwise boring wardrobe.
Moreover, recent trends have also seen the accessories from the 70s ad 80s making a come-back. It is perfectly okay to get your influences from that era. The hippie look is an acceptable subculture style of urban fashion. The loud colors and the use of tie dyes are present in the urban hippie accessories.
Urban fashion prides itself from having no rules to follow. It is not constricted by mainstream fashion and bases its style on the individuality and creativity of the designers and their cultural and ethnic influences. Nonetheless, when choosing accessories for urban wear it is necessary that you do follow some basic guides such as using dark tones like copper or gold colored accessories for people who have light complexions.
And just as urban wear reflects the personality of the wearer, one can go with less loud accessories if his/her personality is more subdued. This is in contrast with people who have bold characters which connote some daring outfits and more defined urban accessories.
Urban wear is to accessorize also means following the needs of the wearer. This concept revolves around the idea that everything in urban fashion should be functional and comfortable. Accessories for urban wear is highly dependent on personal styles and although do not follow any rules should adhere to some basic guides on aesthetics. It’s just having a good fashion sense.
