To truly appreciate NYC clothing one has to go beyond the I Love NY t-shirts. One has to see how urban culture and living has impacted the design of graphic tees. One has to draw parallels between hot and crowded subway cars and the almost frenzied desire to wear light and breathable cargo shorts. NYC clothing is unique because its constantly in demand and in order to stay ahead of the pack designers have to see clothing trends developing weeks in advance and then plan their clothing lines accordingly.

NYC clothing is all about standing out in a crowd and still being able to travel across the city comfortably and easily. The speed and quality of NYC fashion is present in all the boroughs but a native New Yorker can pick apart someone’s outfit, demeanor and the speed in which they walk down our crowded city sidewalks and almost immediately determine whether or not someone is from NYC. Its important to remember that wearing the proper clothes is only part of what it means to be a New Yorker, its also very important to walk with confidence and to walk fast!

Here is a summary of what has happened in men’s New York clothing trends over the past 60 years.

In 1950, we have 2 extremes, the tidy and the dirty. One young man may be dressed in very formal attire:

Or be playing ball on the street in jeans and white t-shirt:

Then came the 60’s and the revolt from this:

Resulted in this:

The ideas was that you should wear whatever you want as long as you don’t look like everybody else. Which is exactly what happened. Hippies started their own look and many joined in and so started “looking like a hippie.” This involved leather, tie dyed t-shirts, beads, jeans, bell-bottoms, and much else.

1980’s New York clothing was a reflection of much of what was going on during those days. The graffiti “epidemic” was in strong at the time as could be seen on New York City subway cars, and Blondie was popular.

This meant that fashion was an eclectic mix of drab and eccentricity. Subtle, yet ridiculous.

Then came hip-hop and the influences that it brought with it. Baggy jeans galore.
(source: NY Times)

And here we are wearing plaid shorts in the 2000’s.