Hey!
So yesterday, post brunch, my cousin invited me to a Nike Air Force 1 Digi Camo launch party on a basketball court on the Lower East Side. I wasn’t expecting to go anywhere but back home to my air conditioned apartment, but accompanied her, encouraged by the promise of a performance by Theophilus London. When I arrived, I was blown away by the Real Style. I hadn’t brought along my DLSR (tsk, tsk), but my cousin did have a point and shoot.
Check out a few of my snaps:
Puma and Cole seemed straight out of 1990 with their high top fades and vibrant ensembles. Puma divulged that he was directly influenced by the movie House Party, which he said his mother watched with him as a child.
These young men also channeled the 90′s with their slick hairstyles and blue and orange tones. They truly took the ‘Nike’ theme to the limit by etching the brand’s name and logo in the back of their heads.
SN: I asked the PR person on hand if the invite said to come ‘dressed in costume.’ She said no.
Nicolette looked cute and colorful in neon yellow, deconstructed camo, and Jeffrey Campbell platform sneakers. She colored her hair herself. Cute!
Speaking of bold tones, Cornice and Stephanie were working a host of hues from top to toe. Stephanie also bleached and dyed her own hair.
These guys looked ready to have their picture taken, so I happily obliged. They actually have a tumblr called www.another-hovse-party.tumblr.com where you can see more of their 90′s inspired style. Are we seeing a theme here?
I loved Chas’s assorted accessories and accoutrements, particularly his Supreme Towel and MCM belt.
Check out a close up of his vintage Versace pieces. Hot!
Christina looked ready for a 4th of July BBQ in cut offs, a white tank, and American Flag adorned Jeffrey Campbell platforms.
The young man on the right had quite the head of hair under that Supreme Cap! His friend had no problem playing with different trouser silhouettes and head gear.
Bobbie of BobbieAustinsCloset.com tie dyed this vintage Spike Lee Nike tee herself, after finding it on Ebay. I loved her look, and check out those nails!!
Meow!
This young man kept his outfit simple, save for a pair of Digi Camo Air Force 1′s slung around his neck.
Sabla of the blog SablaGoldenSense.Blogspot.com exuded vintage chic in a bright pink top and round sunglasses.
And lastly, Lyricist and Entertainer Ahsh:Eff looked like the consummate B girl in mixed prints, Bamboo earrings, and two toned purple lips.
So, how did everyone find out about this party? Nike enlisted the help of several influential Tumblrs, like Glyn of the blog l3nf.tumblr.com (pictured below) to help spread the word.
It worked!
I clearly went HAM taking pictures because I was literally blown away by how this younger generation has completely reworked and remixed 90′s era style in their own fun way. From high top fades to shades to vintage pieces, this group definitely has a bold, vibrant outlook on fashion. But do you find it refreshing? Or did you get a sense of ‘been there, done that, what’s next?’
What did you think of the Real Style at Nike’s Air Force 1 Digi Camo Launch Party?
Thx Maggie and Alex!
June 25, 2012 11:04 am
The fashions in this post made me nauseous. Simple is always better.
June 25, 2012 11:04 am
Our Young Black People Look BEAUTIFUL!!! Just BEAUTIFUL!!!
June 25, 2012 11:14 am
I blame the Retro Kids. Hey I wore bell bottom jeans when the Gap was selling them in 1993, so I guess what goes around comes around…
June 25, 2012 11:15 am
I try to live by the phrase, “if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.” With that said……….
June 25, 2012 11:28 am
Christina looks great, I want that hair color.
June 25, 2012 11:29 am
almost everyone looks a hot mess
June 25, 2012 11:30 am
I’m blown away! Love those JC platform sneakers!
June 25, 2012 11:32 am
Wow. I feel like I’m re-living my youth. I was waiting for someone to bring out the nike cortez. Some of you might be too young to remember that. I had them in every color. @DmthefashionC I agree our young black people are so beautiful. Black is beautiful indeed.
June 25, 2012 11:34 am
Christina looks cute, and I want her hair color!
June 25, 2012 11:35 am
wow. I feel like I’m re-living my youth. I was waiting for someone to bring out the nike cortez. Some of you might be too young to remember that. I had them in every color. Everyone look beautiful.
June 25, 2012 11:43 am
oh. my.
June 25, 2012 11:47 am
I think its cool how they’re expressing themselves. It looks like they’re having fun with their clothes.
June 25, 2012 11:51 am
I’m not feeling it ….it seems like they all tryna look “different” …but end up looking the same … I’ll pass >_<
June 25, 2012 11:53 am
…. Interesting ….. Somehow there is a visual overload in many of these looks that is overwhelming and doesn’t work to me but maybe it is a hipster thing. I don’t freakin know. I love yellow hair btw!
June 25, 2012 11:55 am
I wished fashion was like this in my country ..I like this , some people put on something and just don’t even care lol ..great!
June 25, 2012 11:57 am
Lol @ naseaous, that’s pretty accurate, but they’re kids & it’s NYC. Have fun and live your life.
June 25, 2012 11:58 am
let’s try this again….*nauseous
June 25, 2012 12:00 pm
HOT MESS CENTRAL!!
June 25, 2012 12:07 pm
Claire did you step into a time machine? i dont rock nike sneakers often anymore,but when i do i love rocking it out in a 90′s inspire look.
June 25, 2012 12:25 pm
I like the fact that the kids are not afraid to take risks. People should have fun with their clothes and there is no better time to experiment with your style than when you are young. It does feel like I am in a time warp looking at those high top fades though lol.
June 25, 2012 12:26 pm
They’re young…period. So they can get away with having fun with fashion and being a little tacky along the way! I love it!
June 25, 2012 12:27 pm
:blank stare:
June 25, 2012 12:29 pm
The outfits are fun and interesting. I would never wear any of them but I truly enjoyed loooking at the pics.
June 25, 2012 12:40 pm
I actually like this flashback to the 90′s thats making its round back to the future. i love it. Its not my personal style, I wouldnt be caught in that at all. BUT, its refreshing to have something out there thats reminiscent of the 90′s since that was a great decade. It brings back the coolness of it all. I just hope that the kids can get a grasp of what the 90′s was beyond fashion. Down to the music, the politics, and the wealth of blackness that was around at the time.
Jeda
June 25, 2012 12:41 pm
*wow* look at all these girls wearing bindis.
maybe they’ve been reading the fashion bomb???????
June 25, 2012 12:41 pm
Hey this is what’s in. I take some influences from the 90s but tone is down by like 50% these kids went 150% lol. But they were barely fetuses during the periods in which these styles were popular so they don’t have that “eww why” reaction alot of older 20 somethings – 30 somethings are having.
They too will regret this but for now Hey live and let live. They’ll have time to play by the fashion rule book.
June 25, 2012 1:05 pm
Cute for their age
June 25, 2012 1:09 pm
Wow. Talk about overload. I literally don’t know where to rest my eyes.
I did enjoy looking at the pics though I could never see myself dressed as such.
June 25, 2012 1:19 pm
lol at Claire asking if they were supposed to come dressed in costume. That is definitely what it looks like, but the pics are fab and I love that they’re doing what they want to.
June 25, 2012 1:22 pm
Wow, high top fades, mushroom cuts, and gold chains, these kids are certainly loving the 90′s! Since I was alive then, this isn’t really my style. But I love that they’re having a good time with it and the event looks like it was fun and safe. Hope this new trend of kids wanting to be individuals (instead of clones like when I was growing up– GAP fashion and A&F generic clothes) continues.
June 25, 2012 1:24 pm
I’m lovin the youngin’s look. I didn’t know the high top fade was making a come back. Memories!!! They all rocked!!!
June 25, 2012 1:41 pm
I never have a bad word about the youngin’s style….i loved it, yeah some of it was been there done that, but they ain’t never been there, so by all means do that with their fresh faced selves. I look at these kids and think, all this we created and they are coping it now, good on them. Westwood was once called tacky, the 60′s was once declared the worse decade in fashion, for that matter so was the 70′s, 80′s and yeah the even the 90′s and yet we keep drawing from those wells. Loved all the looks, what was even more impressive was no one was half naked.
June 25, 2012 1:57 pm
Ha! the gumby fade, been rocking that in Dtown For years. Love some of the outfits not all.
June 25, 2012 1:58 pm
hmm interesting
i definetly see some elements of house party
kid and play in tha house……………..
June 25, 2012 2:20 pm
@Qiana, you took the exact words out of my mouth. If you’re ALL rocking the same nonsense, then you’re no longer original… correct?
June 25, 2012 3:08 pm
you live in NY, Claire?! had no idea…
June 25, 2012 3:15 pm
Looks like Urban Outfitters threw up all over them…
June 25, 2012 3:33 pm
i luv it it was very creative and personal styles of the people themselves basically exactly what fashion is a piece of art oan luved the color schemes
June 25, 2012 3:35 pm
oan claire I hope u r getting your fabulous self ready for fashion night out I reside in charleston,sc n im following u on twitter n im sure u will be at all the haute spots so look out for me @citychic81 on twitter
June 25, 2012 4:25 pm
but why? redefine 90s style, don’t just copy it…
June 25, 2012 4:36 pm
I absolutely loved all their hair and clothes. It was perfect because you can tell most of them represent like this daily. Did you see their haircuts? Just crispy. I love it. All I needed was to see a pair of biker shorts and some Jams!
June 25, 2012 4:45 pm
Nicolette, cornice, Stephanie & glyn : thumbs up
Wasn’t feeling the rest. The 90s flashback is so overdone & usually done all wrong.
June 25, 2012 4:49 pm
I LOVE 90′s style, when it’s not forced. They all seemed like they were trying too hard. It’s all very “been there, done that.”
June 25, 2012 6:15 pm
This gave me life! Dare to be different honey!! Photos of today’s generation reincarnating a simpler time.
June 25, 2012 6:29 pm
I love the 90s!!!!! Im a 90s baby, baby!! I love the hightop fades. Super fun! love the Bold looks!!
June 25, 2012 6:51 pm
Easily one of my favorite posts this year. These kids do 90s way better than we ever did it. Love the girls taking it back to the home color for hair. Shouts all around. Strangely the only “regular” looking person is Theophilus…what’s up wit dat?
June 25, 2012 7:33 pm
i’m sorry but they all look dirty and musty and the fashion was horrible then and it still looks horrible now.
June 25, 2012 7:46 pm
Let those kids have fun!
June 25, 2012 7:50 pm
I totally agree with Qiana. Everyone looks the same in efforts to try to look different. 90′s fashion is not something I want to see coming back with full force. However the vintage Versace, Spike tee and yellow hair are popping.
June 25, 2012 9:08 pm
love the pics!
June 25, 2012 11:23 pm
something feels….hip hop hipster….LOL. i think it’s the poses. I grew up in the 90s and we smiled in pics….
June 25, 2012 11:48 pm
I agree with sun.kissed, I love that they are daring to be bold but it isn’t moving me.
June 26, 2012 12:18 am
stopped by this event for a peek and it sure was a time machine. it was all very forced. just a bunch of tumblr famous kids.
June 26, 2012 2:39 am
wow. this is overwhelming.
June 26, 2012 8:57 am
NY’er always do it theeee best! Loved this. So many people try to recreate this look and fail. LOVED THIS. Everyone got it!
June 26, 2012 2:36 pm
Ummm…okay. I thought it was 2012 and not 1992. Wow, that’s crazy! I guess history repeats itself. According to these photos, literally. I will NEVER wear acid wash again. It needs to stay in that era, please.
June 28, 2012 1:33 am
This whole post was nauseating.
June 28, 2012 8:47 pm
@misha
I agree! I was looking at the pictures and asking myself, why does everyone look dirty?! 0_o
June 28, 2012 11:53 pm
Claire I love this post. I am smiling remembering the days when I use to dress very similar. They should have taken it back to the late 80′s with two tone jeans and rubber bands on the bottom of the pants. Or wore two thick colored socks one on top of the other. Fashion is all about recycling and taking something old and making it new again. I think it is very refreshing because I was that kid that dressed like these kids with my own little twist. But what is really dope is never allowing others to define you. As long as you are true to yourself and your style it works cause it’s you. Audi 5000 (I still say this to this day).
June 28, 2012 11:57 pm
Nate is my favorite because my brother had similar jeans to his made by Bugle Boy.