Fresh Fly Fabulous: 50 Years of Hip Hop Style

The stories behind the iconic celebrities, brands, and images that defined hip-hop style.

On a hot summer night in August of 1973 DJ Kool Herc and his sister, Cindy, put on a “back to school jam” in the recreation room of their apartment block at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the West Bronx. The rest is history. The birth of hip-hop rippled out across the globe, influencing music and fashion for generations.

Early hip-hop style focused on customization—from spray-painted jean jackets and sweatshirts to creased jeans and boxed laced sneakers. Before Nike had apparel, Dapper Dan made his own twists on Nike fashion in addition to one-of-a-kind looks with the logos of MCM, Gucci, and Fendi.

The eclectic style eventually evolved into its own apparel brands, from FUBU to Sean John, Roc-A-Wear, Billionaire Boys Club, BAPE, Baby Phat, Cross Colours, and Pelle Pelle. Sections on these individual designers run alongside thematic chapters on stylists, record labels, pink, hairstyles, nameplates, hoops, nails, and sneakers.
Each chapter on hip-hop style is illustrated with photographs of performers, entrepreneurs, and iconic pieces. New research from journalists who witnessed the developments firsthand and oral histories from celebrities and designers make Fresh Fly Fabulous the definitive source for hip-hop style. 

Elizabeth Way serves as associate curator at The Museum at FIT and author or Black Designers in American Fashion. Elena Romero serves as assistant professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology and is a correspondent for CUNY-TV's magazine show LATINAS.