california fashion homage

[stevejobs]

Most of the major fashion brands take their styling cues from either Europe (Zegna, Armani) or New England Prep (Ralph Lauren). These two styles have long dominated men's fashion since at least the 1950s, but other subcultures like black urban (ghetto) rap/gangsta have made their way into guys' closets.

One other subculture I am trying to think of that has been forgotten is tied to the post-war California boom, particularly SoCal. What kinds of clothes would be representative of this imagery and attitude? Are there any brands that can be identified with what it represents?

 

[vitaminc]

Besides the California Tuxedo, there's that tatoo-artist turned fashion designer shop....

 

[justsayno]

i was thought of street wear. mc hammer style

 

[acidboy]

I think companies like Dockers have cornered that niche.

 

[sherwin]

bay area excluding SF has no style... everyones in a hoodie and flip flops

 

[Coho]

You have never been down the gay district I take it? I got lost there once and everyone was so stylish.

Originally Posted by sherwin

bay area excluding SF has no style... everyones in a hoodie and flip flops

 

[justsayno]

flip flops and hoodies are stylish in Silicon valley

 

[JLibourel]

I think the "Old Hollywood" of the likes of Adolphe Menjou, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Fred Astaire, Gary Cooper and others was indeed an epicenter of elegance and style. Unfortunately, that era is long gone, and I don't know how much of its legacy lingers on. Not much, I fear.

 

[TonyThe Tailor]

The actual "California Look" in tailored clothing was big in the '70s with Louis Roth & LeBaron (the Kurtzman Family, which went on later to make Jhane Barnes and Hilton as American Fashion) and Ratner Clothing (which also owned the California Clothing Company & Hang Ten).....

 

[vitaminc]

Originally Posted by justsayno

flip flops and hoodies are stylish in Silicon valley

Flip-flops and hoodies are for unemployed kids. The official engineer's uniform is polo or free company T-shirts + khaki that doesn't fit + sneakers from Big 5. And the more elegant dressers will wear classic California tuxedo without tie.

 

[AdamInSF]

Originally Posted by vitaminc

... And the more elegant dressers will wear classic California tuxedo without tie.
and IME, without the jacket.