Streetstyle: From Sidewalk to Catwalk

by Ted Polhemus

This is an up-beat look at street fashion from 1940 to today, celebrating some 40 different styletribes, which will accompany a major exhibition on Streetstyle at the Victoria and Albert Museum in November 1994. We see how the styletribes interweave and evolve - the American Modernists of the early 1950s living on in the English Mods of the early 1960s, who became the Hard Mods, then the Skinheads, then the Ois!; while the 1950s Folkies became first the 1970s Hippies and then the New Age Travellers of the 1980s and 1990s. But for today's fashion-conscious young people, this is not all ancient Streetstyle offers the 1990s fashion world a supermarket of styles from which to pick and mix. Anyone is free to be part Beatnik, part Raver, or part Punk, part Grunge; Goths one day and Indie Kids the next. More than 200 illustrations, including 100 in colour, document the styles and their wearers - on the street, but also on the high-fashion catwalk, to which streetstyle has made an enormous, if perhaps unwilling, contribution. Ted Polhemus's many books include "Fashion and Anti Fashion", "Popstyles", "Social Aspects of the Human Body", "Bodystyles" and "Rituals of Love". He is the external curator of the Streetstyle exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Art, Pop Culture

Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

Reviews

[Yasmin Sinclair]

Is about theme of the street style.

[Roy McDine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing illustrated and documented history of styletribes since the Zooties of the 1940s - loved it and surprised how little has changed in the 26 years since it was published.

[Brian Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book and decided to purchase it again. I bought it years ago when it first came out(when the indie kid/grunge section was current). I left it at work once and it got snatched, and I've thought about getting another copy for years. Ted Polhemus does a great job of cataloging subcultures and their style choices, and how those choices reflect the philosophy or activity of that subculture. He goes all the way back to the 40's starting with Zooties and ending in the early 90's with Indie Kids, Grunge, Cuties, and Riot Grrrls, and so many groups in between, and how many of the different subcultures blended and also how the range of fashions are used as a sort of 'buffet' of disparate styles used to combine into a unique look by some. I agree with another reviewer that there should be an updated volume, but the problem with that might be, as laid out in the book, other than Emo, Hipsters(the new ones), and perhaps Nu Metal, there hasn't really been any distinct subcultures with any distinct styles since then. All throughout the book is the idea of how the street styles of the subcultures influences the world of high fashion, and therefore, mainstream fashion. I get a strong sense that most of this book is based out of the UK, and I also get a sense that in the UK they take their subcultures very seriously(and that it is full of many of them!), not something I really feel is so much of a situation in the States. There is also a slight difference in terms as well. For instance the group called 'Technos' would not be called that here in the States(we don't have any group called 'Technos'), they would be referred to as 'Rivetheads' or simpy 'Industrial'. And perhaps there are some groups that he missed. All in all this is a really great book on both fashion and culture and I highly recommend it.
*Apparently, I just found out, there is an updated version. I found it on Amazon, overlooking it just thinking it was just a different cover design. New chapters have been added(none of the ones I suggested though). I'd love to read it,however it is pricey. Perhaps I can get it at the library.

[Edie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reviews fashion “scenes” as seen by an anthropologist. I loved the concept. I loved what I read. But I must quibble a bit. Non western styles are absent. (Apparently the revised version remedies this). The author seemed inclined to focus on men. Some women are represented but there definitely seems a slant.

I desperately want to read the revised edition. It looks fantastic. Unfortunately despite my efforts the quest failed. Interlibrary loan told me there were no available copies in any American library. I could buy it used, but at greater cost than I could justify spending.

Finally I thought I’d solved this problem by purchasing it on a kindle for my phone. I now have the book but with font so tiny it can’t be read. Normally one can pinch it to make the size larger, but for some reason this version doesn’t work that way.

I have complained to the seller and asked either for my money back or instructions as to how I can increase the size of the text. An email came back to me saying if I could send back the copy in perfect condition I’d get my money back. But how do you do this on a kindle? To make things worse they referenced a different book than the one in question.

I have since complained but have received no further response. I’m terribly disappointed (and a bit pissed off)!

[Allison Thurman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discovered soon after I graduated college and I was thrilled to learn that someone was studying subcultural style.

[Alessandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catalogue of an exhibit at the V&A in 1994-1995. An interesting look at subcultures and their fashions, mostly of the 'eighties and early 'nineties, but some going back as far as the 'fifties.

[Mơ Bư]

it's good

[Nyx · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book