The Streetwear Essentials

ken · Apr 18, 2005

Quote:

(ken @ April 18 2005,13:11) Or like the millions of people that have worn bandanas as utilitarian clothing for hundreds of years. But if you want to associate them w/Punky Brewster, that's fine. She's gorgeous.
Unless you're tilling fields or robbing banks, I fail to see how a bandana is utilitarian.
A list of how I used mine today: Over my face (think militant straight-edge) to keep dust from getting in my mouth while riding my motorcycle through rural country (and to deflect wind so breathing is easier). Taken out of my pocket to wipe dust off of components in my Tech378 lab. Around my head (think headband) to keep sweat out of my eyes during rugby practice. On my wrist now, wiping up sweat from my forehead, nose, etc. because it's 80 degrees and humid. And there's still plenty of awake-time to go. I guess a bandana isn't utilitarian if you sit on your arse all day. But I use mine a lot.

Tokyo Slim · Apr 18, 2005

I notice that so far the I-Pod (or to a lesser extent, the better Mp3 players) hasn't made it to the list - but if you go out into the real world, at least a third of the people you see wearing "streetwear" in the urban areas are going to have those preposterous white earbuds shoved into their earholes.

Please FOR THE LOVE OF GOD upgrade your headphones.

*see me for suggestions*

Brian SD · Apr 19, 2005

I notice that so far the I-Pod (or to a lesser extent, the better Mp3 players) hasn't made it to the list - but if you go out into the real world, at least a third of the people you see wearing "streetwear" in the urban areas are going to have those preposterous white earbuds shoved into their earholes. Please FOR THE LOVE OF GOD upgrade your headphones. *see me for suggestions*

I upgraded MY headphones to some excellent-value Sony WHITE earbuds

Tokyo Slim · Apr 19, 2005

White Sony earbuds? Probably the Phontopia's then? Good god man. I'm suprised your eardrums haven't up and left your head in disgust yet. You probably paid $35 for them. Excellent value if all the music you listen to sounds the same.

If you INSIST on white, shell out a little extra cheese, and get the Etymotic ER-6i's. They are about $130, but IF you like LISTENING to your music, you will appreciate them. Then again, I've never met anyone with an I-pod that LISTENS to what is on it. They are mostly just for drowning out the world.

Charles Rogers · Apr 19, 2005

White Sony earbuds? Probably the Phontopia's then? Good god man. I'm suprised your eardrums haven't up and left your head in disgust yet. You probably paid $35 for them. Excellent value if all the music you listen to sounds the same.

If you INSIST on white, shell out a little extra cheese, and get the Etymotic ER-6i's. They are about $130, but IF you like LISTENING to your music, you will appreciate them. Then again, I've never met anyone with an I-pod that LISTENS to what is on it. They are mostly just for drowning out the world.

I am rocking the Grado Sr-60s.

Tokyo Slim · Apr 19, 2005

I am rocking the Grado Sr-60s.

Also a very good choice. Brian seems to prefer the earbuds though, so thats what I stuck with.

faustian bargain · Apr 20, 2005

when i listen to my portable (iRiver iHP-140, i refuse to join the iPod cult...also have a couple vintage sony discmans) i too wear the grado sr60's, with modded earpads. however i don't go mobile with them...just use them at the desk. previously i used Koss Porta-Pro's, which are a great value for the price (about $35). i still use them on-the-go.

Koss also sells 'The Plug', which, if you search online, you can find cheap tweaks to make it approach etymotics in quality for much less cost. haven't bought these though.

/andrew

Cake · Apr 20, 2005

For most of us European commuters who rely on public transport since we can't afford cars and have to pay through the nose for fuel plus parking and taxes, the "backpack" is essential wear. I carry a black Case Logic to work and on commutes during the weekend, with an iPod on shuffle mode inside, and a pair of headphones plugged into a socket on the outside (near the zippered front pocket). I also have a larger JanSport with padded shoulder straps which I use for short outstation trips, and into which I can stuff exactly two pairs of jeans, six shirts, five underwear, and five pairs of socks, with some room left for toiletries.

LA Guy · Apr 20, 2005

Jeans (either tighter and fitted in the thighs with a bootleg - Corpus Morphy and Paper Denim GTO, or low and loose (APC Anglaise, in a variety of washes, though recently I've been tending towards dark rinse,) t-shirts (short and long sleeve), fitted snap shirts, sneakers, and a select number of cool belts (especially useful for keeping those loose jeans up.) Â

Hoodies (especially zip) and a really cool jacket are also essential during the colder months. And a messenger bag is really useful when you're shlepping around a bunch of stuff. Nothing is dorkier than a cellphone hanging off your belt.

You can never have too many of these essentials, especially tees, jeans, and sneakers.

benchan · Apr 20, 2005

Do cargo and camo pants fit into the streetwear category? Some people avoid them like the plaque, but a few do carry them well with the right streetwear ensemble.

Just wondering, aren't those nice belts normally be covered up by your tops?

imageWIS · Apr 20, 2005

My "essentials" are:

Jeans 95% of the time. Unwashed is my preference. I also like them tight in the thighs and low rise.

White, Grey, Beige, Blue L/S Thermals from American Apparel to go underneath...

Fitted t-shirts in various neutral tones and some in brighter blues, yellows, etc. - I am a fan of Yoko Devereaux T-Shirts although there are lots of good ways to go (check out the online t-shirt boutiques thread on this forum) I also like a lot of 60s-styled things and just retro in general. There are some sweet Levis Vintage Collection striped shirts, as well as some by A.P.C.

Some sort of wristwear (not necessarily something everyone is into) - I like big leather band watches, and a simple silver bracelet (chain, or whatever) on the other wrist

blazers - fitted, two or three button (mostly two), any material. You can honestly find some great deals at thrift stores for this sort of thing - I have a YSL blazer that's a few years old that I absolutely love, and it cost me $5 at a thrift store.

some prep - I like the occasional polo shirt and button-down oxford

shoes - check out the sneakers thread, my choice is chuck taylor and has been for years. also, some military boots, and suede shoes a la Varvatos are always good, though personally I wear sneakers almost exclusively

other outerwear - never can get enough hoodies, really. military jackets, unusual peacoats, cardigans if that's your thing

What's a watch?

Jon.

LA Guy · Apr 20, 2005

Just wondering, aren't those nice belts normally be covered up by your tops?

Definitely not by tees. A little bit by snap up shirts. If you don't see a bit of the waistline though (on untucked shirts), my contention is that the shirt is too long.

johnapril · Apr 20, 2005

army coat by Canali Sportswear
Haupt shirt
Levis

Cake · Apr 20, 2005

Nothing is dorkier than a cellphone hanging off your belt.

This was cool for about two months in 1997. Nowadays superseded by girls (and some boys) with "neckwear" mobile phones. Equally dorky are mobile phone cases strapped to the upper arm, for that -- albeit unconcealed -- American Secret Service look.

Brian SD · Apr 20, 2005

White Sony earbuds? Probably the Phontopia's then? Good god man. I'm suprised your eardrums haven't up and left your head in disgust yet. You probably paid $35 for them. Excellent value if all the music you listen to sounds the same.

If you INSIST on white, shell out a little extra cheese, and get the Etymotic ER-6i's. They are about $130, but IF you like LISTENING to your music, you will appreciate them. Then again, I've never met anyone with an I-pod that LISTENS to what is on it. They are mostly just for drowning out the world.

Yes, I got the MDR-EX71SL - they *were* about $35, and they are excellent. I liked the Etymotics but the difference was only marginal for 3x the price, as well as the Shure E3C. I heard from a friend that the Etymotics start to sound better after you've been using them for awhile. Oh well, too late. I love the Sonys. I plan to buy the new Shures that supposedly have much better bass response but I'll have to try them out in person (the bass on the E5C and E3C are incredibly disappointing). Fortunately, I DO like to LISTEN to the music that I'm playing, very intently and if you read but the first post of the Music thread, you would see that the music I listen to is extremely eclectic. At home, I use Grado SR80s. Sure, lots of iPod users out there are consumer whores, but not all of them, and I pity the person who doesn't want to get an iPod because they're afraid of being lumped into that crowd, you must feel very frustrated. For the record, I've wanted an iPod since long before they became as ubiquitous and cool as they did two falls ago. The iRiver is cool, but the product design is **** and the interface as well leaves something to be desired. I can't be dragging something around that looks like a Linux-nerd designed it. Oh, and the white of the earbuds was an option - they came in either black or white, so I picked white.

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