Urban fashion, otherwise known as Hip Hop, has come a long way since its origination in the early 70’s. A time when fashion was just coming into its own and people were no longer restricted to society’s view of style. Hip Hop fashion has given way to music creativity with rap artists such as Kanye West, P. Diddy, and Pharrell gaining popularity through their own clothing lines. There’s a little something for everyone with the number of clothing lines out there now. If you’re not naturally a fashionista, no worries, you can still dress Hip Hop and get away with it.

Choose a brand that works for you. With the number of musicians that have jumped into the fashion scene, it will be fairly easy to find a style that works for you. Who better to give you expert advice on Hip Hop style than those that are part of the fashion-forward movement? Sean John by P. Diddy, Rocawear by Jay-Z, the River Island Collection by Rihanna, or T.I.’s AKOO are only a few of the clothing lines available to you and all made Fuse’s list of “12 Dope-est Hip Hop Fashion Lines”

Find clothes that complement your body type. Beauty comes in all different sizes and so do clothes. When it comes to dressing Hip-Hop you want to ensure you are selecting clothes that fit your body type. Wearing something that fits too tight, or is way too big, will make it seem like you are trying too hard and may not necessarily look on you the way it does on someone else. Hip-Hop is about expressing your own fashion tastes and allowing your inner goddess to come to the surface.

Find age-appropriate clothing. Even if you grew up in the 80’s, when Hip Hop fashion was really hitting the scene, you will find that the style you were accustomed to seeing then has taken a turn in many directions. While Kangol hats, big rim sunglasses, and old-school sneakers were cool back in the day you will want to upgrade to something more modern and make sure it suits your age. 

Find the best pant for dressing hip-hop. The sagging pant is highly regarded as hip hop style, but you are not limited there. Brightly colored skinny jeans are coming to the forefront of the fashion scene along with leather leggings and creased shorts. Consider your pant to be the base of your outfit and build from there. If you choose the saggy pant then skip the baggy shirt.  Match your pant up with a classy sweater or a simple t-shirt under a jacket.

Step out in the perfect shoes. The right footwear can make or break your outfit, whether you are going for that casual look or want to spice it up a bit for a night out on the town. Nike and Adidas are the top brands when it comes to hip-hop style sneakers while Baby Phat may get you noticed with a pair of trendy high top boots. There are more choices out there than you realize when it comes to completing your hip hop look with fancy footwear.

• Flat sneakers without laces
• High top sneakers
• Suede mid-rise work boo

Add a baseball cap to top off your outfit. Adding a baseball style cap to your ensemble can really complete a look; you don’t have to stick to sporting your favorite team. Hats come in a wide variety of colors, graphics, and styles to choose from that will help you make a statement for any occasion. Men and women can add a fitted baseball cap to their hip-hop ensemble.