The streets don’t lie, New Orleans is a fashion city

New Orleans fashions are on the streets, and our runways have potholes (Design and illustration by: Julia Berghammer)

New Orleans is known for its culture and amazing food. From secondlines to beignets, the city is open to everyone. However, New Orleans is not popular for its fashion, even though every street in New Orleans could be a runway.

Fashion in the south is not anything like up north. Compared to New York, Paris, or the UK, New Orleans is not even on the list. Some might say that southern fashion is behind the rest of the world, but in reality, the fashion in the city is based off of many factors.  

New Orleans fashion is greatly influenced by its culture. Since culture is so rooted in everyday living in New Orleans, the fashion is just another component of the culture. There are many fashion designers that are emerging in the New Orleans area and are looking to achieve success in their fashion careers. In New Orleans, fashion is a lifestyle. However, over the years, fashion in New Orleans has been becoming a mainstream event.

The introduction to Fashion Week on March 18-24 of 2018 overtook the internet. Many bloggers and fashion designers from across the country were shocked by the amazing styles that were being displayed. The designs from NOLA Fashion Week were based off of the street wear of New Orleans, which ranges from ripped jeans and cropped tops to Vans and Dickie Suits. Everyday citizens are the fashionistas that Fashion Week takes its pointers from, and why wouldn’t they considering we have always been a city known for extravagant costuming.  

New Orleans has unusual and very unique costumes, especially during Mardi Gras time. Every year, people hit the streets in tutus, colorful wigs, and loud make-up. The get ups and southern style possess a flair unique to southern fashion. That southern fashion can be anything sporting bright colors, especially the neon colors that were popular in the 70s, to wearing gowns that are hand-beaded and feathered to perfection. It’s not all about colors and material, though, there are practical reasons for what New Orleanians wear.  

Due to the weather and the culture intersecting, this is a major reason for the roots of the fashion in New Orleans. Down in the south, it can get extremely hot, and since New Orleans has swamps it can get very humid. When thinking about what to wear, people in New Orleans have to be creative and practical, but also stand out. Citizens need to pick out cool materials, such as tank tops, crop tops, and the bright colors reflect that hot hot sun.

A lot of our activities, like second lines and parades, happen in the spring and summer sun, so anyone wanting to join the festivities wants comfortable footwear. Now you’ll see self-designed sport shoes, such as the latest trend with Vans. People can design their own Vans, so girls are wearing shoes that say, “Black Girl Magic” and “Melanin Poppin” out on the streets. The need for comfort also goes into clothing decisions, so sweat suits and shorts are often on the route. Attending these special events, people in the city want to stand out from the rest. When thinking of fashion in New Orleans, it’s not just about what is a trending style, it’s about what best fits the weather and the culture. From street boutiques to pop-up shops, New Orleans fashion brings out its culture even more.

Rashad Warren, fashion mogul, says that New Orleans fashion is a “blend of street wear and basic casual items. It’s really hard to describe fashion in New Orleans because it relies on trends.” Warren later goes on and states that he personally feels like fashion is in fact a big deal, even if New Orleans is not looked at as a “fashion city.”

Rashad Warren, designer (photo by: Kelley Crawford)

Shawn White, who caters at local fashion shows, says, “I would describe the fashion industry as timeless. If you look at major fashion trends from decades ago, you will notice some of the same trends in today’s fashion. I would always hear how the same shoes that people wear were out when my parents were growing up. Even with the changes made in the fashion industry of New Orleans, there will always be connections to fashions from another time period.”

Though New Orleans is not at all considered a ‘fashion city,’ it is. Fashion is self expression and the way people in New Orleans do that is by incorporating the culture and streetwear.

Thuy-Anh Smith is a Bard Early College student and senior at KIPP Renaissance High School.