Fashion trends change all the time, but there are some that keep appearing on runways and in street style. Learn about the various fashion styles that influence popular fashion trends and discover your own personal style.
Different Fashion Styles
Fashion may be all about finding unique ways to dress, but it never hurts to have a plan. To get you started, here are some of the most broad fashion categories.
1. Sporty
Sporty style, also known as athleisure, takes athletic wear elements such as leggings, bike shorts, and oversize sweatshirts out of the gym and onto the streets.
2. Bohemian
Also known as “boho” or “boho chic,” bohemian style is influenced by the hippie aesthetic and festival culture of the 1960s. Earth tones, natural fabrics and dyes, and prints and accessories from around the world are incorporated into the style. Flowing maxi dresses, long skirts, bell-bottom pants, large brimmed hats, fringe, suede, and slouchy handbags are hallmarks of boho style.
3. Grunge
Inspired by grunge music and the Seattle subculture of the 1980s and 1990s, grunge fashion incorporates thrift-store finds such as plaid flannel shirts, oversize knits, and feminine dresses styled in a subversive, disheveled manner. Grunge outfits frequently feature ripped jeans or tights, unkempt hairstyles, and black boots.
4. Preppy
Preppy fashion is influenced by the clothing and uniforms worn at private East Coast prep schools and Ivy League colleges. Preppy fashion is frequently inspired by upper-class sports such as polo, sailing, tennis, and horseback riding. Polo shirts, Oxford shirts, argyle sweaters and socks, cloth-wrapped headbands, boat shoes, blazers, pearls, cardigans, and khaki pants are common attire for preps.
5. Punk
Inspired by the subversive punk rocker styles of the 1970s and 1980s, punk fashion encompasses many subcultures, each with its own distinct style codes. Leather jackets, deconstructed blazers, ripped fishnet stockings, skinny jeans, and chunky black boots are all common elements of punk fashion. Punk clothing often features provocative messaging, band logos, and customization with safety pins and patches. Heavy black eyeliner, mohawks, dyed hair, and spiked hair are all examples of punk grooming.
6. Streetwear
Streetwear is a casual fashion trend that emerged in the 1990s. It features comfortable yet fashionable clothing such as logo T-shirts and crop tops, hoodies, baggy pants, and high-end sneakers. Streetwear draws inspiration from hip-hop and skater fashion, with the added element of product scarcity. Hypebeasts are fans of the latest streetwear trends, and many will go to great lengths to obtain limited-edition designer baseball caps, hoodies, sneakers, and other items.
7. Classic
The term “classic” refers to a polished everyday look that incorporates workwear elements such as blazers, pencil skirts, and khakis. This more formal appearance is appropriate for the office and other places where you want to look your best.
8. Casual
Casual clothing is appropriate for the weekend. Consider wearing jeans, a comfortable T-shirt, and sneakers or flat boots. Streetwear and sporty style are both examples of casual styles, but casual style can also be preppy or hip.
