hip hop fashion | Its Hip Hop

Back when Hip-Hop was just getting her swag together, before Baby Phat or FUBU, before Maurice Malone or Dapper Dan, ladies fashion in the culture was largely dictated by popular white designers. Whether they appreciated the culture or not, some brands were hood classics: Liz Claiborne. H. Bendel. Laura Biagiotti. Jordache. Vidal Sassoon. Sergio Valente. Cazal. Kangol. Fendi. Gucci. Louis Vuitton. GLORIA VANDERBILT.

If you were to ask your moms, grandma and them, what did fly girls in Hip-Hop fashion look like back in the day, surely she would tell you that at one point she will point to the swan. Gloria Vanderbilt was a staple in her urban swag and her signature swan on the coin pocket of the jeans was a stamp that said “You were official!”

A crisp oxford shirt, name plate, bamboo earrings with your name in it and a pair of those particular designer jeans would separate you from the pack, making you an “it girl.” Some Vanderbilt jeans with a fly Gucci bag and a “Yo Baby Yo Baby Yo” Mickey and Minnie Mouse afforded you the juice to walk into any house party or park jam and turn heads. What those girls from the Boogie down Bronx, East New York and Rochdale Village did with this fashion dictated what eventually would make the runway during fashion weeks from then up until now.

And so today, with the transition of Gloria Vanderbilt, at the tender age of 95, many are mourning. Despite rumors of her saying that she never wanted Black people in her jeans, a comment denied by her son Anderson Cooper. Also, for years, Ms. Vanderbilt dated an African American singer reportedly named Bobby Short.

Vanderbilt’s life is actually a Hip-Hop story. She was a model, designer, heiress and international socialite. She had been hospitalized last month. She found out that she had advance stomach cancer that had metastasized.

In a statement to Fox News her son, Anderson Cooper said the following:

“Gloria Vanderbilt was an extraordinary woman, who loved life, and lived it on her own terms. She was a painter, a writer, and designer but also a remarkable mother, wife, and friend. She was 95 years old, but ask anyone close to her, and they’d tell you, she was the youngest person they knew, the coolest, and most modern. She died this morning, the way she wanted to – at home, surrounded by family and friends.”

She will be missed and salute for her contribution to early Hip-Hop fly.

The post A Hip-Hop Farewell to Fashion Designer Gloria Vanderbilt appeared first on The Source.

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The fashion world has lost another icon.

Renowned designer Karl Lagerfeld passed away in Paris earlier this morning, ending his astounding era as a Creative Director for Chanel, Fendi and his own namesake label. The one that made it possible for Frank Ocean to even croon about “seeing both sides like Chanel” — Mr. Lagerfeld famously created the “double C” logo back in the ’80s when he assumed the role after Coco Chanel’s death in 1971 — Karl was always about pushing boundaries, creating conversation around his creations and ultimately pulling from all sources of influence to construct ready-to-wear garments that would truly be groundbreaking. He accomplished that and so much more, but one key source of inspiration that isn’t talked about enough is his fascination with Hip-Hop fashion. It’s currently apparent with the examples of lyrical praise as mentioned above and in countless other rap verses, but Karl Lagerfeld has honestly been a rap fiend since the very beginning.

As seen above in Vogue‘s video profile of the Chanel Autumn/Winter 1991 fashion show, which took place less than a decade after he became head of haute couture designs in 1983 and then ready-to-wear as well in 1984, the core influence for that season in particular was borrowed from the rise of rap in the early ’90s. Big bling, oversized caps, leather outwear that looked like bubble flight jackets and supermodel Stephanie Roberts effortlessly making her way down the runway in denim and a perfectly-picked afro all made for the perfect tribute. One of the looks from the show, worn by fellow fashion diva Linda Evangelista, even inspired an unforgettable ‘fit worn by rap queen Cardi B during a performance of “Money Bag” last year on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Then there are examples of Lagerfeld’s more direct influences on the rap game, like his longstanding industry friendship with Kanye West — he shot ‘Ye for the cover of VMAN in 2011, sparked collab rumors a year later during a mere power lunch and later captured the Kimye love for the cover of Harper’s Bazaar in 2016 — and his current partnership with Pharrell, which has led to a limited edition pair of adidas NMDs, a Disney Prince-inspired feature in the short film “Reincarnation” directed by Lagerfeld and a current brand collaboration in the works that was teased back in October during the Chanel Cruise 2018/19 replica show. That’s not even to mention the art direction Karl blessed Kanye protégée Theophilus London with for his 2015 sophomore album Vibes!, proving that his eye is on the new school of Hip-Hop just as much as it is on the big curators of our culture.

Image: Karl Lagerfeld / VMAN

Image: Karl Lagerfeld / Harper’s Bazaar

Image: Chanel

Image: Brent Lewin / Getty Images

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Creating fashion for the female form was Karl’s expertise, so the women of Hip-Hop were of course in love with his creations the most. One in particular happened to be our sole female 2019 Power 30 Issue inductee Rihanna, who has been a muse for years to the fashion industry impresario, whether she’s front-and-center at the latest Chanel presentation, supporting him over at Fendi, or just rocking one of his vintage designs during an unforgettable performance at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show back in 2012.

Image: Dominique Charriau / WireImage

Image: Bertrand Rindoff Petroff / Getty Images

Image: Steve Eichner

Image: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

During a 2008 Harper’s Bazaar fashion editorial that decked out designers in their fantasy roles, Lagerfeld dressed up as an MC and was quoted as saying, “Believe it or not, I love rap!” No worries, fam — we believe you 100%. The feeling is very mutual.