Skateboarders

He was a skater boy, she said, “See ya later, boy.”
He wasn’t good enough for her.

Let’s talk about skater boys and girls style, like I made a reference from Avril Lavigne song…

Media in 1980s portrayed skateboarders as reckless rebels, who disrespect authority and rules in general. However, the image has improved quite a bit since then… And, to begin with, the birth of skateboarding had nothing to do with rebellion.

A little about skateboarding itself. Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard. But skateboarding can also be considered a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation.

Skateboarding was born in late 1940s and early 1950s, when surfers in California wanted something to surf when the waves were flat. Then the first skateboards with wooden boxes or boards with roller skate wheels were developed. Eventually the boxes turned into planks, and companies started to produce decks of pressed layers of wood—similar to the skateboard decks of today.

First mass produced skateboard

Skateboarding popularity expanded and in 1964, the first skateboarding magazine, The Quarterly Skateboarder was published.

The Quarterly Skateboarder first published number

The first broadcast of an actual skateboarding competition was the 1965 National Skateboarding Championships, which were held in Anaheim, California and aired on ABC’s “Wide World of Sports.

Patti McGee was the 1965 Woman’s first National Skateboard Champion

John Lennon skateboarding

Skateboarding was, at first, tied to the culture of surfing. As skateboarding spread across the United States to places unfamiliar with surfing or surfing culture, it developed an image of its own. For example, the classic film short Video Days (1991) portrayed skateboarders as reckless rebels.

The image of the skateboarder as a rebellious, non-conforming youth has faded in recent years. Certain cities still oppose the building of skateparks in their neighbourhoods, for fear of increased crime and drugs in the area. The rift between the old image of skateboarding and a newer one is quite visible: magazines such as Thrasher portray skateboarding as dirty, rebellious, while other publications, Transworld Skateboarding as an example, paint a more diverse and controlled picture of skateboarding.

Picture from Transworld Skateboarding (June 2014)

A 2002 report discovered that there were 18.5 million skateboarders in the world. 85 percent of skateboarders polled were under the age of 18, and 74 percent were male. But do not worry over 18 years olds, it is still cool when an adult skateboards, and super awesome when you are a skater girl.

Music preferences among skaters is usually:

• hip hop
• reggae
• hard rock
• punk

Becoming a skateboarder entails a process of self-identification: it is about the assertion of an attitude, and the claiming of an identity, that is literally embodied in particular forms of visual appearance and physical style. And while this can be an important issue for quite young children seeking to establish their place within the peer group, for its most committed older proponents it amounts to nothing less than a complete ‘lifestyle’.

Skateboarding symbolises

• fun (acting ‘loud and crazy’)
• adventure (a willingness to try new things or take a risk)
• confidence
• nonconformity
• self-assertion
  

Okay now, let’s move on to the style.

The skateboarding culture is often associated with youth and a very easy-going way of life. The clothing styles that skateboarders wear seems to reflect the carefree attitude of the sport, often resulting in individuals wearing comfy t-shirts, oversized shorts and fitted caps. Skater clothing has come a long way over the years, with celebrities and designers endorsing this style and incorporating more sleek and sophisticated looks into the mix.

 

To be truly honest, it doesn’t really matter what you wear as a skateboarder. As noted above, you don’t have to be a rebel to be a skateboarder. Therefor, we can see skateboarders wear hip-hop clothes, dress like hipster or punk, or perhaps if you prefer, you can easily wear a suit. In matter of fact, it is much cooler.

Freedom, freedom, freedom. It is about being free, being yourself and being bold. Although there is skater market producing special clothing for skaters, most of the skaters are critical about big companies and feel their marketing campaigns are not genuine.

Therefor we can preppy clothes on guy skaters, dresses and feathers on girl skaters.

 

 

Sources:

http://www.academia.edu/679738/Skate_perception_self-representation_identity_and_visual_style_in_a_youth_subculture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skateboarding#Controversy

Women fashion 1900-1920

Back again…Long time, no seen, but I’m happy to be back :))

Today’s blog post concentrates on dress history.

Nowadays we can see females wearing very short dress and skirts, perhaps sometimes revealing too much (no judgements). But little do we know that less than 100 years, the shortest dress that women could wore was just ankle length skirt. Let’s see when it all started to change and how.

Let’s go back to 1900s.

In 1900 skirts were still that long that they were brushing the floor (and with a train), including day dresses.

In 1900, the hourglass figure was in. The fashion houses in Paris presented a new silhouette with thicker waist, flatter bust and narrower hips. By the end of the decade, most fashionable skirts still brushed the floor, but approached the ankle.

This is what our grand-grand-grandmas wore

In 1900s the key trends were La Belle Époque and the Gibson Girl.

La Belle Époque style was favoured by the rich and privileged. Sumptuous fashions were made in luxurious fabrics. Women who were not part of the upper echelons of society, however, had to settle with less expensive clothing.

La Belle Époque

Gibson Girl look was viewed as the ideal feminine form, featured a large bosom, tiny waist and rounded backside, all of which were achieved with the help of swan-bill corsets. It fit in with an almost ethereal idea of beauty, where women had long, elegant necks; wore their hair piled invitingly high on their heads and had a faraway, dreamy gaze.

Gibson Girl

Other clothing:

This is what you would wear in the beach, back in 1900.

This is your tennis outfit.

Evening dress and evening bodices, 1907, Netherlands

In 1910s, things got little more loose for women. The big thing about 10s was that this is the time when World War I took place (1914-1919), which made everyone depressed and therefor also more convenient. Plus, women had to start working and started to fight for suffrage. Therefor, impractical, fancy dresses replaced with more practical and comfortable dresses.

Pastel colours and delicate, light, flimsy materials, inspired from imperialism, were most desired.

Evening gown, designed by Lucile, 1912

The most popular trends were orientalism, hobble skirts and day suits.

In 1913, fashion slaves fell in love with orientalism. Orientalism was influenced by the vivid colours of the Far East, women’s dresses no longer featured the high waistbands of earlier times. The tight, binding corsets were abandoned and women started to wear less constrictive corsets.

Orientalism

Hobble skirts were impractical garments that fit so tightly around the lower part of women’s legs that wearers had to hobble to get around. Waistlines were high (empire style), and skirts were wide around the hips, tapering in at the ankle. This hard-to-wear fashion was short-lived, as women were looking for clothing that was easier to wear.

Hobble skirts, that made walking impossible.

Day suits: Long skirts, loose, belted jackets and fur trim often defined day suits (also referred to as walking suits) for women in the latter part of this decade. This style was practical as women joined the workforce while men were fighting during World War I.

Day suit

Other examples:

One of the most influential fashion designer in 1910s – Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon

1920s – The Great Gatsby times

The Great Gatsby times – who doesn’t love them… This is the time when everything started to change. In 1920s women replaced strict and long skirts with more comfortable shorter dresses and even trousers. After World War I, there was revolution in almost every sphere of human activity social customs and morals were more relaxed. Women earned the right to vote and entered the workforce, therefor their clothing became more relaxed, practical and masculine. In 1920s, corsets were so last year and lost their place in the women closets.

Although society matrons of a certain age continued to wear conservative dresses, the sportswear became popular among forward-looking and younger women. The most memorable fashion trend of the “Roaring ’20s” was undoubtedly “the flapper” look. The flapper dress was functional and flattened the bust line rather than accentuating it. Drop-waist dresses, elaborately beaded and fringed embellishments and sparkly headbands were the defining traits of the flapper girl. This was in reaction to the exuberance of the years after the Great War, and hemlines rose to allow for the wild Charleston dancing that so many flapper girls engaged in.

Flapper girl look

Coco Chanel became the fashion icon, being one of the first women to wear trousers, cut her hair and reject the corset, which many women followed. Nautical stripes, trousers, and chunky knit sweaters became hallmarks of Chanel’s boyish style.

 

Coco Chanel

High heels became popular during this time period, reaching two to three inches in height (which was quite high for the time).

For the first time in centuries, women’s legs were seen with hemlines rising to the knee and dresses becoming more fitted. Can you believe that it has been only 90 years, since women started to show her legs.

 

So keep in mind, 20s is the time, when women started to wear knee length dresses and trousers. This is the time when clothing revolution started.

If you think on bohemian, you probably think someone wearing homeless people clothes – ripped destroyed jeans and a warm long coat that is on even on sunny days. For example Mary-Kate Olsen in her late teens.

Yeah, it’s pretty true. This is how one bohemian looks like. But what people often don’t know that Bohemianism isn’t only about what you wear. It is a lifestyle and it contains certain characteristics.

A bohemian is a person who has a irregular careless lifestyle. Bohemians are often whether artists or academics.

Bohemians are educated. He/she is open-minded and reads a lot. Their lifestyle is tied with musical, artistic and literary pursuits. Bohemians may be wanderers, adventurers, or vagabonds.

Who is BOHEMIAN:

• musical, artistic or literary interest/specialty
• unorthodox or anti-establishment political or social views
• rebellious, careless and irregular lifestyle
• make love not war mentality
• baggy clothes in bold colors
• often is vegetarian/vegan
• doesn’t care what others think

The word bohemian first appeared in the English language in the nineteenth century to describe the non-traditional lifestyles of marginalized and impoverished artists, writers, journalists, musicians, and actors in major European cities. Bohemians were associated with unorthodox or anti-establishment political or social viewpoints, which often were expressed through free love, frugality, and sometimes through voluntary poverty. A wealthy and privileged, even aristocratic, bohemian circle is sometimes referred to as the haute bohème (“high bohemians”).

Henry Murger was born in Paris in 1822. He is considered the “First Bohemian” because he created the image of what we see as Bohemian today. He wrote Scenes de la vie de Boheme, which became an opera called “La Boheme.”

 

The term Bohemianism emerged in France in the early nineteenth century when artists and creators began to concentrate in the lower-rent, lower class, gypsy neighbourhoods.

People who were called “Bohemians” were often very poor, because they tried to live by painting, acting or writing. It was hard to make a living. They generally wore old or second-hand clothing, and could not afford a good hair-cut. They often shared the room in the roof of a house, which was cheap, because it was cold in winter, hot in summer and often had birds living there as well. In some ways the life of a bohemian artist was difficult, but it gave people freedom to express themselves, that was often not found in more conservative society, where everyone worried about what other people thought of them, and cared a lot about things like clothes and houses. Sometimes students from richer families would come to live a “Bohemian life style”, so that they could feel the same freedom to express themselves.

Bohemians were typically urban, liberal in outlook, but with few visible political passions and, above all, creative. Though critical of organised religion, they were keen – witness the pre-Raphaelites and Oscar Wilde – to defend and explore the religious spirit.

There is five types of bohemians devised by Stover:

• Nouveau: bohemians with money who attempt to join traditional bohemianism with contemporary culture
• Gypsy: the expatriate types, they create their own Gypsy ideal of nirvana wherever they go
• Beat: also drifters, but non-materialist and art-focused
• Zen: “post-beat,” focus on spirituality rather than art
• Dandy: no money, but try to appear as if they have it by buying and displaying expensive or rare items – such as brands of alcohol

Clothing
Bohemian look is combination of ethnic, hippie, vintage, and gipsy styles. Girl with big, loose colorful floral dresses – this is your time to shine. Bohemian clothing is known as colorful and with eye catching patterns. Hold your tight clothes in the closet and choose the plus size or men section in the shopping stores. Bohemians wear loose over-sized shirts, hoodies and jeans that will surely hide the shape of your body. For girls gypsy dresses and skirts are very trendy. Accessorize your look with big necklaces and bracelets, furthermore wear a hat or a vest. Gladiator shoes, sandals, flip flops, leather cowboy style boots and platform shoes will cover the footwear.

 

Angus Stone and Isabel Lucas is bohemian couple

 

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemianism#People
http://206.110.20.121/~murphy/Homework/Websites/Webpage/famous.html
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohemianism
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12711181

 

Hipsters…whether you love them or hate them or are one of them. I have seen many different types of hipsters. Heard many different definitions. Many people use hipster as a swearing word, it is often used as an insult. People think of hipsters as mainstream wannabes who do nothing, cries their eyes out when there is no WiFi, wear weird clothes and have no values. They sit in the computer all day long and are macaroni faces who can’t even succeed doing 3 sit-ups.

(Picture describing how people think hipsters think)

The article from Guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/14/hate-hipsters-blogs) reveals that there are hipsters hate blogs; saying “if there’s one thing more fashionable than being a hipster, it’s laughing at hipsters,” and belief that hipsters are self-possessing know-it-all’s.

Critic Armond White accuses hipsterism of adhering to cynicism, nihilism, and associated amorality.

But…in reality it’s a little bit different…actually quite a lot different.

Yes, hipsters are different from the majority. They don’t listen to Lady Gaga or Pitbull. They don’t follow the latest celebrity fashion trends and don’t have the latest Samsung Galaxy phone. And they definitely are not also the people who do everything to make others noticing them by being loud. Hipsters are different, though they don’t fight for the attention. According to Wikipedia, hipster is a subculture of young from urban middle class adults and teenagers.

Hipsters are people who have:

• independent music taste
• non-mainstream fashion style
• liberal or independent political views
• alternative spirituality/atheism/agnosticism
• alternative lifestyle
• independent film choices
• independent magazine and website choices (http://www.clashmusic.com / http://pitchfork.com/)

Hipsters subculture is developed from beat, hippie, punk and grunge. The term itself was coined during the jazz age, when “hip” emerged as an adjective to describe aficionados of the growing scene. Although the adjective’s exact origins are disputed, some say it was a derivative of “hop,” a slang term for opium, while others believe it comes from the West African word “hipi,” meaning “to open one’s eyes.” The essence of the definition of “hip”, attested as early as 1902, is “aware” or “in the know”. Conversely, the antonym unhip connotes those who are unaware of their surroundings, also including those who are opposed to hipness.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipster_(contemporary_subculture)

Matt Granfield in his book HipsterMattic described hipsters this way: “While mainstream society of the 2000s (decade) had been busying itself with reality television, dance music, and locating the whereabouts of Britney Spears’s underpants, an uprising was quietly and conscientiously taking place behind the scenes. Long-forgotten styles of clothing, beer, cigarettes and music were becoming popular again. Retro was cool, the environment was precious and old was the new ‘new’. Kids wanted to wear Sylvia Plath’s cardigans and Buddy Holly’s glasses — they revelled in the irony of making something so nerdy so cool. They wanted to live sustainably and eat organic gluten-free grains. Above all, they wanted to be recognised for being different — to diverge from the mainstream and carve a cultural niche all for themselves. For this new generation, style wasn’t something you could buy in a department store, it became something you found in a thrift shop, or, ideally, made yourself. The way to be cool wasn’t to look like a television star: it was to look like as though you’d never seen television.

 
(Buddy Holly’s glasses)                                                               (Sylvia Plath)

Both mail and female hipsters are usually thin. Muscular all-American male ideals and curvy women – Marilyn Monroe type sex symbols don’t appeal attractive to hipsters. Overly tanned skin and fake blond hair are big no-no’s for hipsters.

MUSIC & FILM TASTE
Hipsters have “elitist” music taste. They don’t listen to main-stream bands that everyone knows, more like artists who no ones heard of. They listen to nu-rave (i.e. The Klaxons, Cut Copy, Hercules and Love Affair), minimalist techno, independent rap (i.e. Spank Rock, Talib Kweli, Aesop Rock), nerdcore (i.e. YT Cracker, MC Lars, MC Chris), Elephant 6 (i.e. of Montreal, Neutral Milk Hotel, Apples in Stereo), garage rock, and punk rock in addition to all manners of independent rock. Favorite band is very likely Bright Eyes, The Arcade Fire, The Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, The Strokes, or something of that nature. Also watches independent and foreign films and reads independent books, magazines, and periodicals. Is a fan of modern art and may also be an amateur artist.

  

    Bright Eyes                            The Arcade Fire                                The Artic Monkeys

 FASHION STYLE Like previously mentioned, hipsters wear their grandparents clothes and do shopping mostly in the thrift or vintage shops, but also at Urban Outfitters, American Apparel. They dress in a progressive but retro fashion that is often changing. Popular items include leggings, mini-skirts, leg warmers, ’60s dresses, headbands, chunky jewellery, and large shirts and sweaters for girls. For boys the clothing choice is skinny suits and ties, tight jeans and cords, t-shirts with ironic sayings and images, cardigans, plaid and buffalo check shirts, colourful hoodies, and tight windbreakers. Both genders frequently wear dirty Vans and Converses, flamboyant Nikes, large plastic frame glasses, and neon wayfarer sunglasses and are sometimes pierced and tattooed.

LIFESTYLE Hipsters hang out at fashionable coffee shops, indie rock shows, and hipster dance clubs. They do their grocery shopping at the Whole Food Stores and are often vegans or vegetarians. Often eat ethnic and organic food.
MINDSET Despite misconceptions based on their aesthetic tastes, hipsters tend to be well educated and often have liberal arts degrees, or degrees in maths and sciences, which also require certain creative analytical thinking abilities. Consequently many hipsters tend to have jobs in the music, art, and fashion industries. It is a myth that most hipsters are unemployed and live off of their parent’s trust funds.

What do I think of hipsters? I absolutely approve hipsters mindset. I think they are stylish. I love the fact that they know about music and films that aren’t well-known and that they aren’t impressed of overrated Hollywood action and sci-fi films. I love that they want to be different and are independent thinkers. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about them.

Source: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hipster&defid=2705928 http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Hipster&defid=3662697 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipster_(contemporary_subculture) http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/14/hate-hipsters-blogs

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