Urban fashion trends have been around for the better part of a decade, and they don't show any signs of going anywhere to soon. Instead, they seem to simply evolve; from the bright colors and bling bling accessories of the hip hop style to a more understated and profession urban fashion trend of today. When urban style first met hip hop culture in the 1980's, the trend leaned toward bright, bold attention-getting garb that was particularly enticing to the African American and Latino cultures. Today, youth from all cultures are discovering the attraction of current urban fashion trends, as a way to break with the mainstream fashion with this teen fashion design and still fit in well in the academic and professional world.

Characteristics of Urban Style The urban fashion trends of today lean toward comfortable style with a touch of spirit. Bright colors and tailored pieces with a cleaner, more professional look have come into vogue. While flashy jewelry is still worn by some, others have moved away from these sorts of urban fashion trends to protest the materialism that the looks suggest. The designer labels that used to be a must in urban fashion trends are not as important as they used to be, and some of fashion followers even find them a pretentious reminder of days gone by. Instead, urban outfitters are looking for separates that are basic, inexpensive and fit well.

The Rise of Celebrity Wear Many celebrities have jumped on the bandwagon of urban fashion trends by offering their own lines of this clothing. Kimora Lee Simmons came out with the Baby Phat brand that is popular in many specialty boutiques and department stores right now. Russel Simmons introduced Phat Farm, Diddy offers Sean John and Damon Dash and Jay-Z offer Rocawear. This has become a popular urban fashion trend that many youngsters have joined, since they were familiar with the names behind the lines long before the clothing ever came into vogue. However, it isn't cheap to boast a celebrity name on your clothing tag, so get ready to spend a hefty amount to dress like your favorite stars.

Urban fashion trends have come and gone over the past decade or two, but on thing is for sure. This fad has become more than just a fad; it is an entire culture and way of life for many of our youth today. Whether you like the urban fashion trends or would prefer to see them run their course, it appears that this style is going to be around for a good long while.

Tim Yu is the owner of e-FashionSchool.com providing information on beauty tips and fashion advice about a variety of topics, such as Fashion Design, Fashion Trend, Teen Fashion, Famous Designer and etc. Go to http://www.e-FashionSchool.com for more information.

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Hoodies, or hooded sweatshirts as they used to be known, were first developed for labourers but were soon picked up by the sports market. Spurred on by Rocky, the trend persisted but not before fashion designers had realised that hoodies were an extremely flexible item of clothing. For one, they could be made into a great symbol of isolation, ideal for the hip-hop crowd whose angry lyrics about their outsider culture meshed well with half-hidden faces.

Surfers and skateboarders, the self-consciously cool crowd who spend a lot of time outdoors catching waves or grinding curbs, are also keen hoodie wearers. They see the tops as practical and trendy, with funky slogans or quirky designs. Most Californian golden boys have at least one hoodie in their wardrobe and would be surprised at the amount of bad press that this item has received in Britain. Then there is the frat boy trend; the wearing of hoodies with university logos by students who take pride in their place of study.

Unfortunately, the criminal element still receives far too many column inches for their hoodie preference. Hoodies have been at risk of being ostracised for their association with unruly groups of men or intimidating criminals, but this hardly seems fair. Their history is long, varied and filled with happy customers. Even the Bluewater shopping centre, which banned people from wearing Hodded tops inside a few years ago, still continued to sell them. Despite Tony Blair’s distaste for them, David Cameron balanced the political picture – even if Labour politicians derided his speech as ‘hug a hoodie’ propaganda.

But away from the froth of news and the raw edges of society are millions of ordinary men who do not want to carry an umbrella. After this year’s terrible summer their attitude is quite understandable. Umbrellas are hopeless in winds and simply not very ‘manly’, unless you take John Cleese as a role model. Men’s hoodies are superbly practical, comfy and trendy.

A new line of fashionable designs have filtered down to the high street from the catwalk, featuring bright colours, original designs, retro prints, and – occasionally – no sleeves. They are the garment in which the comfort of sport and the desirability of fashion collide. Isn’t it time that you hugged a hoodie?

Elisha Burberry is an online, freelance journalist and keen traveller and watersports enthusiast. Originally from Scotland, she now resides in London.

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There could be a new trend developing among the hip hop crowd. It is a Kevlar lined hoodie. Kevlar is an ultra strong synthetic fiber used in making body armor. It is stronger than steel of the same weight. Unlike steel, it is machine washable, light weight, and flexible. The Kevlar lined hoodie is being promoted by a few companies as being stab-proof and abrasion resistant.

Now that Busta Rhymes has been seen wearing a bullet proof vest during his performances, it could spark a whole new sub culture. It could be one that combines the already trendy hoodie with an element of street smart protection. It is one more way to step up your game in a culture known for violence and crime. Also, the fact that they are relatively hard to find make them even more desirable among such a fashion conscious troupe.

Could this type of protective gear give you more status out on the streets than your bling? Only time will tell, but it does have all of the characteristics of something that could sweep the hip hop world. Would that be a good thing? It is hard to say. Considering there are probably a significant number of people that will want to put a Kevlar lined hoodie to the test, it could be dangerous for those wearing them. On the other hand, stab-proof and abrasion resistance is always a good thing when it comes to personal safety.

Whether or not steering the hip hop crowd into the next fashion craze or taking comfort in the personal protection Kevlar has to offer, a Kevlar lined hoodie is definitely interesting and unique.

Chris Wynne writes articles on a variety of topics including unique trends. Click to read more about Kevlar Here.

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Hooded sweatshirts, often referred to as "hoodies" now hold a permanent place in fashion. The hoodie was a piece of clothing that started out primarily as workout wear. Now you can find hoodies made by famous clothing designers and ranging in price as high as the hundreds of dollars for some designs. Why has the hoodie become so popular? Let's take a look at who wears them the most.

The hoodie is definitely geared toward the younger generation. The urban clothing industry is definitely in the lead for the creation and marketing of hoodies. The trend can be traced back to rappers who wore them as a way of looking sinister. Now the trend has taken off and any urban clothing enthusiast would have at least one hoodie in their wardrobe. Famous hoodie brands include Christian Audigier, LRG, and BAPE (Bathing Ape). These clothing designers know what the young crowd want - unique designs that give the individual a sense of personal style.

Hoodies are no longer just popular for males. Clothing designers have created hoodies that fit the frame of young women as well. They do not fit large and bulky the way most men prefer their hoodies. Hoodies for women are made to fit a woman's frame to still accentuate her figure. The urban look of the hoodie compliments both men and women when wearing a cool pair of jeans and some fly kicks.

The hoodie is not limited just to the urban clothing scene. Surfers and skateboarders are big fans of the hoodie as well. It is not uncommon to see both surfers and skateboarders sporting their favorite brand of hoodies on the beach or at the skate park. Popular brands for these hoodies include Element, Billabong, and Hurley. Not only are hoodies creating a fashion statement, but they are practical for a surfer who is attempting to stay warm after catching some early morning waves.

Hoodies will also always remain popular among the college crowd. There isn't a university that you can visit that doesn't proudly display their college name on a hooded sweatshirt. It is like an unwritten law for college students to own at least one college hoodie.

Some people may find it insane to pay such expensive prices for a hooded sweatshirt. However, you are not only getting a unique design, you are also getting a hoodie made from quality material. These hoodies are not going to fade or lose their stitching after a couple of washes. Hoodies are also no longer just for the young crowd. Men, women, and children of all ages should feel comfortable wearing a stylish hoodie. They are such common pieces of clothing, that you would fit in just fine owning a few of them yourself. Designers create their hoodies in all sizes so finding one for any age group is relatively easy.

If you are worried about paying retail prices, think again. Many major department stores carry top brand hoodies and offer them at sale prices. You just have to be on the lookout for sale days. Even better deals can be found at online stores that specialize in urban clothing. Stay in style and comfort by adding a hoodie or two to your wardrobe.

Find huge discounts on Bape hoodies and zip up hoodies at http://www.hoodieoutlet.com

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While browsing the latest fashion related items online, I always hear people asking for a definition of the term "streetwear." After doing quite a bit of research on the subject, I couldn't find a definition that was to my liking. Since streetwear is a subject getting a lot of press lately, especially in the fashion world, I thought I'd take it upon myself to create a well-written definition of the term. Here it goes...

Streetwear is a broad category used to describe clothing which provides an alternative to more mainstream pop-culture brands that can be traditionally found in department stores, malls, and other high-volume retail environments. The streetwear movement was a direct result of the "force feeding" of brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, and GAP down the throats of 20-somethings all across the world. Instead of conforming to pop fashion, young entrepreneurs took their own ideas and designed custom t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats for themselves and their friends. As more and more people grew tired of the same old boring look, they started taking notice of this new fashion, which seemingly grew from the streets overnight. This new "look" varied from region to region, but took inspiration from hip-hop and skateboarding cultures and fused it with in-your-face graphics and sharp color schemes better known as "colorways." Over time, the quality of streetwear brands increased to the levels we see today... where people are willing to camp at stores overnight and spend hours browsing E-bay waiting for that elusive tee to hit the Internet.

So there you have it... the definition of streetwear in a single paragraph. I could have gone into much greater detail, but thought this would give readers a good starting point when doing research on the subject. Streetwear came from just that, the streets, and will continue change as the urban environment continues to shift.

Hate it or love it, streetwear is here to stay!
For more information on streetwear and streetwear trends, including new releases, future release dates, streetwear brands, and information on where to purchase streetwear... please visit our streetwear blog.

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