Skate Fashion

Skateboarding style is no longer solely for the people you see carrying their boards around campus. The style has changed and evolved over the past few years into more of an original and unique sense of fashion as opposed to just following the typical college trends.

Sophomore, Erik Ottoson, said skateboarding was a huge part of his life for many years, so the style is just something he grew into. Ottoson competed in the amateur circuit, and trained with professionals before coming to college. He now keeps the skateboarding style alive by sporting his skater fashion daily around campus.

According to Ottoson, the skater style has evolved into two distinct categories, the loose fit skater style and the tight fit skater style. Ottoson says he falls somewhere between the two styles.

The loose fit style consists of the baggy pants, big T’s and new era flat brimmed caps, which most people may think of when they think of the typical skater.

“The loose fit skater look is more of a relaxed fit,” Ottoson said. “Their shirts are very urban like, kind of like graffiti; they become one with the streets.”

On the contrary, the tight fit skater style is more of the tight pants and fitted shirt look. Junior, Josh Hollar chooses to follow this growing trend because of the comfort aspect of the style.
“I do skateboard, but I dress like this because it’s comfortable. I actually think tighter jeans are more comfortable than looser. I just like them better.” Hollar said.

Skater shoes are an additional facet that makes the skater style distinctive. A simple way to tell if someone has skater style is to check out what they’re wearing on their feet. If someone is wearing Etnies, DC, Emerica or Vans shoes, chances are they have the skateboarder fashion sense. Most skaters display these brands on their feet, but do these shoes actually help you skate, or are they just for style?

“On a skateboard, there is grip tape on the top of the board. The flatter your shoes are, the better they will be able to hold onto the grip tape,” Hollar said. “Skateboarding shoes are made especially to grip onto that grip tape.”

This developing style is not just seen among males on campus. Females are also making this trend unique amongst themselves. Junior, Tricia Cummings has her own very distinctive sense of style.

“I would describe skater style as a little bit out there, but definitely very fun,” she said. “It has really changed a lot since it first began when Avril Lavigne first became popular. Everyone started skateboarding and dressing skater, but now people really do their own thing.”

Ottoson agreed.

“Skater style is a little rebellious,” said Ottoson. “It’s off the wall.”

“It’s off the wall” is actually a tagline for the popular skater brand, Vans, and Ottoson says it is just a great way to sum up skater style overall.

Skater style has definitely evolved over the past few years. Most people can probably remember when skater style was strictly a baggy t-shirt, with baggy jeans, and wide Vans with colored laces. However, today’s skater style has become a diverse collection of brands, fits, shoes, and styles. The mixture displays a huge array of individualistic style, both for fashion purposes and functional purposes as well.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 24 2008. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry