FASHION
Our Obsession With Street Style
By: Grace Stecher
Street style – the hot commodity on the sidewalk and the catwalk – is redefining the landscape of modern fashion. Rooted in the bustling streets of major cities, it brings freshness to the fashion arena, showcasing eclectic and accessible styles in stark contrast to the often unattainable luxury of high-end fashion houses. It provides a window into the everyday fashion choices of ordinary people, offering real-world inspiration for our daily attire and reinforcing the idea that fashion is not just a luxury for a select few – but a universal expression accessible to all.
These days, you don’t have to live in a big city to experience or emulate street style. Instagram accounts such as @watchingnewyork capture candid photos of New York City's most fashionable residents, sharing a glimpse of the newest up-and-coming trends straight from the streets of a global fashion hub. A similar account, @sufits_, popped up right here on Syracuse University’s campus and is filled with photos of students walking on the promenade, showing off their best outfits. So, why are we so fascinated with street style and candidly capturing it?
The street style we’re familiar with today has its roots in 1990s New York City, Los Angeles, and Japan. Subcultures like hip-hop, surf skaters, and graffiti influenced designers like James Jebbia, the founder of Supreme, a brand dubbed the “Chanel of streetwear.” While typical staples – like baggy jeans, unique sneakers, and graphic tees – persist in modern streetwear, Instagram accounts like @watchingnewyork show us that today’s interpretation of the style is much more diverse.
Courtesy of GQ
Johnny Cirillo, the visionary behind @watchingnewyork, calls himself “The People’s Paparazzi” for good reason. He gives ordinary people a chance to showcase their style to his 1.2 million followers through candid photography. No people featured on @watchingnewyork have a stylist or glam team; they created their outfits themselves, which is why so many everyday people love these photography accounts. Most of the pieces shown aren’t designer but are typically thrifted, handmade, borrowed, or from stores the average American shops at, which helps us realize we all can create unique outfits.
Cirillo often interviews the people he photographs on his TikTok account @watchingnewyork, which allows viewers to get an even more in-depth look into what everyday people are wearing, where they get their pieces, and why they style them the way they do. One of his most popular videos, with 5.1 million views, shows us why street style impacts the average person. A woman, Monday, describes how she created her entire outfit out of old Starbucks coffee bags while homeless on a train in Chicago and now sells similar burlap pieces. Stories like Monday’s help convey how clothing doesn’t have to be luxury to be beautiful and meaningful. Something as simple as a coffee bag can be transformed into an outfit worthy of professional acclaim.
While @watchingnewyork remains the most popular candid street-style photography account on Instagram, copycats hope to capture personal styles from different areas. Syracuse students are most likely familiar with @sufits_, an account nearing 3,000 followers on Instagram highlighting the best-dressed people on Syracuse University’s campus. By alerting students via IG stories when a photographer will be taking pictures in front of the Schine Student Center, @sufits_ is less “candid” than @watchingnewyork. However, it still gives Syracuse students a way to see what their fashionable peers are wearing or inspire their next outfit – a blessing for any busy college student.
Street style is one of the most valuable elements of the fashion world. Fashion can often feel inaccessible to those who can’t purchase designer clothing or hire a stylist to create the perfect look. Accounts like @watchingnewyork and @sufits_ allow us to see what everyday people are wearing through one simple, unposed, unedited photograph. They show that what makes an outfit great isn’t how much you spend on it, but the personal touches you include. A reused coffee bag or your mom’s old jacket can be used to create an outfit rivaling those on the runway. These accounts also provide style inspiration for viewers, helping us to rethink and repurpose what we already own rather than buying a new piece every time we want a new outfit. Through @watchingnewyork, we see that anyone can create a paparazzi-worthy outfit, it just takes individuality and personality.