This document discusses different styles and categories of hip hop fashion. It describes four main categories that artists represent: 1) "sweet boys" like Chris Brown who blend formal and casual styles; 2) "gangster" rappers like Chief Keef who flaunt wealth and embrace individuality; 3) "fashionwild" artists like Will.I.Am who take risks with unique styles; and 4) the "classy" group like Trey Songz who dress appropriately for awards shows. It also discusses the importance of footwear brands in hip hop culture and celebrities like Kanye West influencing fashion trends that fans seek to emulate.

2. Fashion Styles
Hip hop fashion is split into four category's. Artists are normally
representing four different types of hip hop audiences. For
instance, Chris Brown (top) would be representing the ‘sweet
boys’ that are interested in hip hop. Chris brown is seen to be
dressed informally, wearing a blazer, shirt and tie. Due to this
being the orthodox way a man would or should dress when
wanting to impress, Chris‘ attire shows his friendliness and cooperation to stick to the rules of society. The jeans and high top
trainers then show his individual and unique side, with it not being
too drastic, he represents those that will use the hip hop genre
and the music it produces to get away from the real world and
have some time off. He blends the two together to make an
interesting statement. On the bottom we see a different approach,
rapper Chief Keef poses in front of a Bentley to show off his wealth
the same way he rolls up his sleeve to show off his expensive
watch. This style of dressing differs to Chris’ style as Chief Keef
poses a different statement. With his hanging below his backside,
this shows a rebellious side to the hip hop which nowadays
dominates the music genre. His dress sense is informal, and he
embraces his individuality and uniqueness within his clothing. The
bright red jeans match his underwear and his trainers match his
shirt, whilst the jacket matches the car. Chief Keef makes an effort
to stay color coordinated; as this is seen as a key element to
having ‘swag’.

3. •
Fashionwild group. This is
Styles
On the left we see group three, the
normally seen within artists such as Will.I.Am. These
types of people like to go crazy and use their
imagination when it comes to wearing clothes. Fancy
hats would mix with funky glasses and oversized
jackets would be worn, something that the audience
wouldn't be familiar with in the hip hop music genre.
On the left we see the model wearing all black, which
is again linked with the nature of hip hop as black is
seen as the main color. He’s wearing skinny jeans
which is normally the style that would be seen in the
‘sweet boy’ group and has mixed them with dark
leather gothic boots. He has gold chains hanging from
his neck which would normally be associated with the
‘gangster’ group but wears a top hat and an overly
sized shirt with his leather jacket to baffle the
audience. This creativity normally excludes these
types or artists away from other hip hop artists. On
the right we see the last group of hip hop listeners
with this being the classy group. These people would
dress appropriately to award ceremonies and show off
their expensive suits in their music videos. Some fans
would dress like this on the streets. Once again Trey
Songz is wearing a black suit; which is the main color
in the hip hop music genre.

4. Footwear
• Trainers and other footwear have
become an important part of hip hop
cultures since the 1970s. Presently,
numerous rappers sign million dollar
deals with major brands such as Nike,
Adidas or Puma to promote their
shoes. Sneaker collectors, called
"Sneaker heads", use sneakers as
fashionable items. Many rappers
nowadays make their own trainers and
sell them (Kanye West and the Air
Yeezy’s (top right)). Huge hip hop fans
would splash the cash to try and look
like their favourite artists.

5. Trends
Trends are a general direction in which something is
developing or changing. Fashion trends are normally
created or passed upon by famous and popular
celebrities. In Hip Hop Kanye West (right) isn't just
known for his music and huge fan base but for his
dapper and flamboyant fashion sense which has also
attracted media attention and set West apart from
other rappers. Many artists are contracted with huge
fashion labels and their appearances on music
awards and music videos normally catch the eye of
fans. Fans would then go out and purchase these
types of clothing in an attempt to look like or
replicate their favourite artists. Hip Hop is a genre
that is highly popular within teenagers. Many
teenagers are self conscious about their appearance
and want to look good when going out. The music
industry has a huge effect on fashion, and normally
inform people on the biggest trends.