Street style defies standard definitions and often changes from city to city. For instance, the street style in New York is a world apart from what you’d find in Tokyo, London, Milan, or Paris. As a general rule, street style is a reflection of the lifestyle of a people, reflecting the climate, the main industries, prosperity, and aesthetic values prevalent in a place. However, if you take a much wider perspective, street style is all about taking the current zeitgeist of a place and injecting healthy doses of self-expression, creativity, and accessible comfort.
Street style is, perhaps, the most egalitarian type of fashion that can be had in modern society. Its democratic working-class appeal makes it undeniably cool. Still, despite its proletarian origins, it provides the world’s top haute couture designers endless inspiration, likely because many designers come from working-class backgrounds themselves.
Thoughtfully fusing urban and sophisticated fashion trends can result in a standout ensemble for any but the most formal of settings. There are a lot of ways you can go about combining high fashion and streetwear and it can get mindbogglingly advanced. Regardless of your goals, if you want to up your street style, you’ve got to start somewhere. Try these basic approaches to melding street and runway pieces and you’ll eventually come up with your own take on luxe street fashion:
- Layer Tailored and Runway Elements Alongside Normal Streetwear
Contemporary streetwear tends to be loose because of its emphasis on comfort. Adding a few high-street elements like a well-fitted jacket or avant-garde items like deconstructed tops or premium affordable luxury skorts for women to round out normal street clothes adds sophistication without losing the streetwear edge.
- Pair Sleek Heels with Relaxed Denim
Following the same kind of juxtaposition as the previous tip, trading sneakers for sleek heels as a pairing for jeans brings a touch of elegance to an otherwise casual outfit. If heels aren’t for you, a dressy pair of flats should also get you most of the way there. Either way, you’ll turn heads without looking like you’re trying a tad too much.
- Accessorise with a Premium Handbag
High-quality accessories can be used to elevate any street-style outfit. While there are options for doing this, a structured bag made from good materials is the most practical. Audition a few bags to see if they go with your typical ensembles so that every outfit looks intentional—even when it isn’t. I love designer handbags and often review some of the best ones, if you want to check those out too.
- Mix Textures for Depth
Playing with textures is an underrated way to infuse elegance into your everyday clothes. For example, a silky blouse paired with cargo pants creates an interesting contrast that feels both casual and refined.
- Add a Statement Coat
Aside from a nice handbag, your other elevated street fashion essential should be a properly fitting coat or long trench. These cool weather pieces can transform even the most basic street-style ensemble into something remarkable.
- Go Monochrome
While some street style enthusiasts claim that monochrome is a bit played out, the fact remains that going monochrome will often make you the best-dressed fashionista in the room. Whichever palette you pick, play with different textures, fits, and layers to keep it interesting. This highly intentional approach makes even the most casual pieces feel more high-end and works especially well. Best of all, monochrome really helps you stay chic during those times when you don’t want to think about what to wear.
- Swap Jeans and Joggers for Tailored Trousers
Structured trousers have been having quite a moment for the past couple of years, and it’s easy to see why. Swapping out your comfy sweats with these will almost certainly bring a sense of refinement to the ensemble, especially if the trousers incorporate good materials and are tailored to fit.
- Invest in High-Quality Sneakers
We did suggest heels right out the gate, but high-quality sneakers are going to be essential if you’re going to be doing a lot of walking. Classic leather sneakers or the right designer kicks can glue together virtually any outfit short of business formal, and it can actually be practical if you commute by bike or train in your city. You can also go the other direction and pick up the latest technical shoes or hypebeast kicks. Just make sure they balance the rest of your ensemble.
- Keep Jewellery Minimal (for Now)
When merging street style with refined fashion, minimalist, chic pieces like a sleek gold bracelet or delicate hoop earrings are safe ways to complement your look. However, if you want to make a statement, there’s no reason you can’t lean into jewellery, especially as you gain confidence with elevated street styles that include hip-hop and high fashion elements. Just remember to keep the balance—if your outfit is already heavy on prints or textures, opt for fewer, more impactful jewellery pieces.
From the Streets to the Runway and Back Again
Street style’s acceptance of diversity and the wide acceptance of fashion runway sensibilities make it a legitimate basis for elevated and downright experimental looks. Best of all, street style is extremely accessible to everyone. Whether you want to stand out a bit more among your peers or simply want to look more put-together as you go about your day, spicing up your everyday street clothes is going to be a journey of discovery. Using the basic tips I offered as a jumping-off point, you will eventually come up with your own approach to street fashion that makes you look and feel your most confident.
