As Leland says “hip is fluid and always changing”, fashion is always transforming and evolving. Just as a fashion becomes a trend it is out with a flash, however much more goes into the process of making a fashion a trend. This project will study the progress and stages of hip throughout various avenues of fashion, such as hairstyles, footwear, swimsuits, and designer clothing. The aim of this blog will be to determine when fashion is hip and when it is merely cool or mainstream. By studying the process that a style engages in, we will be able to clearly study the effects of cultural appropriation and determine if it is a crossover or takeover. Here are the plans for the various sections of our blog.

“In order to locate the source of hip, we must go to the root of the product: its origin. Styles originate from designers and their creations, so my blog will focus on designer trends in general. However, I will more specifically be analyzing the progression of hip as designer trends hit the runway, proceed to the red carpet for celebrity wear and then trickle down to the racks of department stores. After an overview of fashion history, I hope my blog accomplishes a summary of the newest period in fashion, the new millennium by focusing on how styles changed and how the media plays a major role in the cycle of hip. I focus on the styles of three specific designers: Dolce and Gabbana, Versace and Dior to learn more about the history of designers and how they develop into infamous clothing lines. Then I follow their styles to the red carpet, showing the influence celebrities have on designer clothes. Finally, I analyze the controversy of “knock offs” or imitations of designer clothes in the process of hip. The major findings of my analysis as a hip scout is designer clothes are hip because of their inaccessibility and relation to celebrities, but they lose their hip value as they are copied to cheaper versions, a mere ‘cool’. “ -Sarah

“My page on hair fashion examines how hairstyles change through models, celebrities, and to the average person. On the runway, my page shows fashion show from different designers such as Versace, Louis Vuitton, and Diesel. Each designer has their models with different hairstyles. Also, the runway in hair fashion is seen through the television series America's Next Top Model. In photo shoots, these high fashion models have crazy hair cutes, colors, and styles. Many of these styles would not be seen on the street but the models are still able to make it fashionable. While some styles do not catch on, some do, and in a few months, you may see a runway style on the street. Celebrities are very trendy with their hair fashion as well. With their lives on television and in magazines cute styles get picked up by society. My page looks at different celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Halle Barry and Natalie Portman. Their styles go from long and sleek, short and curly, even to bald. Celebrities may have a little crazy style, but it usually toned down from what is seen on the runway. Style seen on the red carpet is more apt to be picked up on by the average person, but yet some styles are rarely going to be seen in an average home. Finally, my page looks at the average person's trendy hairstyles. Where these styles came from is interesting to look at. Some are seen on the runway, some in magazines, and some are variation from styles seen in years past. Fashion has a way of trickling down, and simplifying on the way. Even here at Syracuse University, pieces from the runway and celebrities are seen in everyday hair fashion on campus. " -Jenny

“My page is about the presence of the bathing suit in the fashion industry. The bathing suit continues to change allowing people to express themselves in different ways for the beach. Here I focus more on the bikinis and the different styles that it comes in. From the different prints, to the patterns, down to the simple solid colors that make the spring/summer the most exciting time of the year. Here I show the styles from the runway, to the red carpet, and down to the rack." -Erika

“Feet don’t always have to be gross, especially when decorated with elaborately designed footwear. I examine what’s hip in shoes today, on the runway, the red carpet, and on your own shoe rack. I hope after you take a look at what I have to say about the hip movement within the shoe department you feel that it was well developed and easily understood. More than anything I would like you to look at shoes differently after reading my blog. Perhaps you’ll try to create your own shoe and become the next Edmundo Castillo or Manolo Blahnik! Or maybe you’re a screenplay writer and after reading my blog you’ll decide to write a brand new hit reality T.V. show about shoes and the people that wear them. To me, especially after doing this research and creating this blog I though hard about shoes and what it can say about the people in them. It seems that America sees shoes as a source of identity, like in the saying “Walk a mile in that person’s shoes.” It wasn’t easy making a hip analysis on shoes, but I did try my best, so whether you agree with me, hate me or live me, I hope that you choose to just consider my perspective. Though it may seem that shoes have somewhat been overlooked by prime time hit TV shows about top designers, I think it’s about time we all take a deeper look into what we put on our feet. I put a lot of focus on why certain shoes are hip, why certain designers are hip, and why you yourself are a hipster in the making. We have certainly seen a big change in the shoe business as we saw the old Converses coming back with some style and added color so let’s examine it together. The bigger picture to me is why they have come back, and who brought it back.” - Christina

We hope you take something away from our blogs and really expand your perspective on fashion itself. You can navigate to them using the links we provided for you on the left. We understand that you all aren’t fashion advocates, but we all wear something most of the time so why not take a look at what we have to say about, and if you agree or disagree about something let us know and comment on it!

From all us on the Hip Fashion Team.