Women's Street Fashion: Is It Really For Women?

Women's street fashion may be the new talk in town, however, as female consumers, we have to ask ourselves: Is streetwear really ready for women?

Fashion is going through a revolution where all the tailored, cut-forward garments are slowly being replaced by baggy, boxy fits, and at the center of it all, streetwear prides itself. High fashion specialists such as Givenchy have started showing more casual streetwear on their runways, and labels specializing in it have gone mainstream. Perhaps this is a sign of changing times and a realignment of what "luxury" really means.

Although streetwear has only recently gained mainstream attention, it's by no means a new fashion style. In fact, it's not even a trend, it's a subculture in itself. Early adopters of the style took inspiration from thrift stores, work uniforms, skate styles, and sportswear, adding musical influences from the reggae, punk, and hip-hop genres.

It arose as a counterculture aesthetic that referenced music, sports, clubs, and neighborhoods. Iconic women like Aaliyah and Neneh Cherry were trending streetwear long before the style even had a name. And now, figures like Billie Eilish are continuing that fashion legacy.

Streetwear was originally designed for men and caters only to their needs. So women have to shop around in menswear stores if they want to be a part of the fashion movement. In a 2009 Harvard Business Review article, "The Women's Economy," Michael J. Silverstein and Kate Sell noted that "globally, women control about $20 trillion in annual consumer spending, while That figure could climb to $28 trillion in the future. Their combined annual income of $13 trillion could reach $18 trillion over the same period. Overall, women represent a bigger economy than China and India combined Growth market." It is not the wisest choice for fashion brands to ignore the needs of this huge consumer group.

Women's streetwear options are definitely more numerous these days. However, even now, there are still some brands that only offer options for men. On top of that, some brands that do offer options for women follow a "shrink and pink" policy - they release the exact same items in smaller sizes and more traditional "feminine" colors without modifying the clothes to make them fit a woman's body better. While streetwear erased racial boundaries, it didn’t erase gender boundaries - and most streetwear sneaker brands didn’t offer smaller sizes until recently!

More than two decades ago, X-Girl became one of the first major labels to sell streetwear designed specifically for the female figure. They wear trousers that are still baggy at the bottom but more fitted at the waist. They offer tees that still feature their signature streetwear fit, but don't need to be cut or tucked into a wide A-line skirt. Today, brands like Fenty and Stussy employ a similar model. Other brands only appeal to women by offering smaller sizes or unisex designs.

Women's streetwear is now part of fashion culture, with more and more women choosing to express their personality and attitude by wearing comfortable, casual clothes. This style emphasizes freedom, not sticking to the shackles of tradition, and is full of creative and individual elements. Women's streetwear is also gradually developing in the direction of high-end and luxury, and more and more designers are beginning to incorporate street elements into high-end fashion, bringing more diverse choices for women.

The above introduces the development history and current status of women's streetwear. If you want to order women's streetwear, please contact us.

RAINBOWTOUCHES is a professional custom streetwear manufacturer with 15 years of experience. It mainly produces and sells casual women's wear, men's streetwear and sportswear with brand characteristics such as leisure, avant-garde, comfort, and fashion. We take customers as the foundation and quality as our culture as our business principles.