Gone are the days of millennial skinny jeans and athleisure. Today's youth has adopted a brand-new style known as streetwear. To get a better idea of what this style comprises, think about Billie Eilish's baggy tees and basketball shorts or ASAP Rocky's casual graphic t-shirts and slack jeans. With such prominent celebrities endorsing it, it is hardly surprising that streetwear should be a multi-million dollar industry.
If you are on your way to becoming a certified hype beast, but don't know enough about streetwear culture or the current trends dominating the scene, we've got your back. In this article, we share the streetwear trends that are going to take center stage in 2023.
What is streetwear?
Streetwear is a style that combines the fashion sensibilities of hip-hop and skate-and-surf culture. In recent years, it has become increasingly mainstream and accessible, thanks to the efforts of the fashion industry. By its very nature, it is casual and appeals to a wide variety of subcultures. You are most likely to find this kind of style in metropolitan areas.
However, there is a good argument to be made for placing streetwear's official home in California, thanks to the emergence of Stussy in the 80s. Shawn Stussy and the graffiti hand style that he printed on his own custom t-shirts in the 80s kicked off a wave of stylish casualwear that eventually developed into streetwear. Today, Stussy is considered the Chanel of streetwear.
Why is streetwear so popular?
For whatever reason, the 2020s have been characterized by a growth in popularity, among consumers, of vintage clothing styles. The streetwear revival in general, with its emphasis on casual styles that developed in the 1980s, can be attributed to this trend.
Major fashion brands, such as James Jebbia’s Supreme, Virgil Abloh’s Off-White, Burberry, and Louis Vuitton, have also taken note of these developments and included streetwear items in their catalogs. This has added an element of upmarket exclusivity to what used to be considered a populist style and transported streetwear into the realms of casual chic.
Top 4 streetwear clothing trends of 2023
The world of streetwear comprises items and styles designed and promoted by luxury fashion designers, as well as small independent streetwear companies. These incorporate some of the best clothing on the market. Below are key streetwear trends to look out for in 2023.
Hoodies and sweaters
Hoodies and sweaters have been at the forefront of streetwear since day one, and they won’t be going away anytime soon. In fact, with the fashion world becoming increasingly conscious of the need for comfort, oversized clothing is poised to dominate the market in 2023.
A number of prominent brands have already started sending out these loose-fitting clothing items to store shelves in large numbers. By the first quarter of 2023, however, these are likely to attain a dominant position in the fashion universe.
Should this be a trend you find appealing, you will be relieved to know that you won’t have to break the bank to partake in it. Thanks to the competition that is taking place between fashion brands to bring oversized clothing to consumers as well as the proliferation of brands generating affordable clothing, you will find an abundance of options in the market.
Denim
Do you remember those pictures of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears dressed head to toe in denim? Get ready to see that on the streets in 2023. Styles in fashion always circle back around, and next year we are going to see the return of denim.
If you are looking for a bit of inspiration, our favorite pairs of baggy denim jeans are Carhartt WIP jeans. Officially they're workwear jeans but you don't have to be a construction worker to rock a pair of Carhartt jeans. As counterintuitive as it might seem, pairing your shiny new baggy jeans with an oversized denim jacket is likely to be in next year.
Shirts
Shirts are in and about to transform fashion in daring and unexpected ways. What’s more, you don’t have to shell out large amounts of money to be a part of this transformation. While most of the big designers are already busy stocking shelves with their high-end shirts, there are plenty of affordable brands out there whose offerings are equally capable of making wearers stand out.
In short, both mainstream and independent designers are creating funky shirts that are becoming more and more popular and are likely to continue to do so over the next year. The beauty of shirts is that they accommodate a wide variety of designs. As a result, anyone can find one that suits their personal style. Better still, most streetwear shirts are unisex.
Rock the streets with a daring graphic shirt
Retro sneakers
2023 is likely to see a renaissance in retro sneakers. The link between sneaker culture and streetwear has always been strong, and each year sees new trends come to the forefront. After Ye's fall from grace in 2022, the world has given up on the futuristic style of sneaker that streetwear loved for the past couple of years.
As a result, next year will be the return of old and enduring sneaker styles. Adidas will likely take up most of the space in the sneaker field, with their retro Sambas, Gazelles, and Hamburgs all poised to be favorites. They are likely to face stiff competition from Reebok Club Cs and New Balance 550s.
Will it be affordable to keep up with streetwear trends in 2023?
Affordability is one of the first thoughts that comes to mind where fashion is concerned, especially at this moment in history. After all, the cost of the living crisis is going to affect virtually everyone in every corner of the globe. That means that a lot of people are not going to be able to afford the luxury streetwear that elite fashion brands are trying to sell.
However, with many smaller, innovative clothing brands on the market, more and more consumers are expected to start supporting smaller businesses that are creating streetwear that is just as impressive as the clothing produced by the big brands.
Shop for streetwear clothing
Whether you are just getting into streetwear and looking for an affordable brand, or are a seasoned vet that isn't willing to spend hundreds on a single piece of clothing, Beurd is here to help. Beurd is Montreal's premier designer of affordable streetwear.
Our ethically-produced clothing is made in collaboration with small Quebec-based companies and local artists, who lend their ideas to our offerings. Our main aim is to bring affordable ethically-made, locally-sourced, fun clothing to the streets of Montreal and the world.
Find streetwear that suits your style and fits your budget