In a world of Instagram, Snapchat and Tumblr, looking effortlessly stylish can sometimes feel like a full-time profession. It's not enough to simply look good on a night out – to truly stand out, you have to focus on your street style.
Popularised in the 80s and 90s, street style took a backseat while we all experimented with slim fit jeans and affordable tailoring in the 00s. But now it's back with a bang, as High Street stores and haute couture brands experiment with bright brash colours and box fresh sneakers.
Whether you're looking to change your style or refresh your wardrobe, here's our 5-minute guide to men's street style:
- Part 1: Street Style Wardrobe Essentials
- Part 2: Best Street Style Brands
- Part 3: Street Style Outfit Ideas
Essential Purchases For Your Street Style Wardrobe
In many ways, men's street fashion is more difficult to pull off than formal looks. You should look stylish, but casual; original, yet comfortable; date-ready, and pub appropriate. It can be a bit of a fashion minefield if you don't know what you're doing. Start with the basics listed below and these will be the building blocks of your street style clothing wardrobe for this season and beyond.
The Shoes
This year's biggest footwear trend is sneakers with raised soles – and the bigger the soles, the better. Look for anything by Adidas or Superga for an everyday shoe that you can wear with anything. For the true streetwear aficionado, there is no beating a box-fresh pair of Nike Air Jordan's. Just stay away from puddles – one speck of dirt will ruin this look.
The T-Shirt
Block colours and prints are back in fashion, and the more aggressive or unusual, the better. Take inspiration from the past and channel the Fresh Prince era with 90s neon and pastel chic – pared down with blue jeans and neutral separates.
The Jacket
Olive, khaki and military camo were all over the menswear catwalks this year, and these muted, masculine colours are perfect for throwing on over an oversized tee and a pair of battered jeans. When you're choosing your jacket, think about the silhouette that you want to create – bombers, puffer jackets and parkas are much more street-friendly than blazers or pea coats.
The Jeans
In the past, street fashion for guys meant big, baggy jeans with umpteen pockets and chains. But now, it is your shoes, t-shirt or jacket that should take centre stage, while your jeans should simply fit in with the rest of your look.
White and black skinny jeans as well as plain blue straight-leg jeans are incredibly popular among streetwear icons such as Kanye West and David Beckham. Play with proportions to create a unique silhouette – slim-fitting jeans look great with a longline tee and an oversized jacket for example.
- RELATED READING: How To Wear Longline Clothing
The Best Street Style Brands To Shop
Kith
Offering authentic NYC chic, Kith has been an institution since it was founded in 2010. Company head Ronnie Fieg is famous for his ability to pre-empt and shape new trends with his effortlessly cool hoodies, limited sneaker designs, and a wallet-destroying weekly releases of items.
Sputnik 1985
While lacking the name recognition of bigger brands, Sputnik's counter-culture class takes its inspiration from Soviet chic, and somehow…it works. Offering stripped-down sweaters and print hoodies emblazoned with their characteristic Cyrillic script, this is one Russian institution you’ll want to collude with.
Raf Simons
A pioneer of the 'luxury street' look, Simons' motto is "I don't want to show my clothes, I want to show my attitude". In the world of high fashion, this means asymmetric knitwear, photo-print jackets and oversized suits.
ASOS
The home of affordable urban street fashion, ASOS offers the latest street style trends across its in-house menswear label. It's the perfect place to pick up longline tees alongside tapered joggers, making sure you get your streetwear fix without busting your bank account.
SUPREME NYC
Supreme has developed an almost legendary status amongst street style aficionados. Known for its collabs with some of the world's hottest brands, the collections sell out instantly and the price sky rockets on the secondary market. If you can get your hands on a new piece as it drops you'll instantly earn the respect of the most-hardcore men's street fashion fans.
Adidas
Adidas has moved from purely a sportswear brand into street fashion, helped by releasing collaborations with the likes of Kayne for the Yeezy range. With a roster of iconic styles in its catalogue, there aren't many global brands doing modern street style clothing as well as the German brand launched over half a decade ago.Street Style Outfit Ideas For Men
Discover some of the best street style outfits below for inspiration on how to pull off different looks all year round.
- RELATED READING: Best Instagram Accounts For Street Style
