American High Street Style, or AHS, is essentially what black and Hispanic women wore in the 1990s, but it has become a more “gentrified streetwear” look in the modern day. Instead of giving credit to their rightful creators, this trend once again overshadows black and Hispanic voices.
AHS style consists of non-designer clothes, baggy jeans, and lots of jewelry. I’m not sure why there is a new name for this, as it is essentially 90s streetwear or Soulaan/Chicano style.
In the 1990s, trending fashion was highly influenced by black and Hispanic cultures. 90s hip-hop was particularly influential not just as a music genre but also as a fashion style.
Baggy jeans, oversized graphic tees, gold chains, and hoop earrings were all staples of this era, pioneered by Black and Hispanic communities. Chicano culture brought forth elements like Dickies, flannel shirts, and sleek, gelled hairstyles, while hip-hop culture popularized bucket hats, tracksuits, and Timberland boots.
This isn’t a new phenomenon. From the appropriation of cornrows and baby hairs to the rebranding of the Chola style as “soft grunge,” Hispanic and black cultures are constantly turned into trends that discredit the original cultures.
The same fashion that was once deemed “too urban” or “unprofessional” when worn by Black and Hispanic individuals has now been rebranded as “American High Street Style.” Why is it only seen as high fashion when the right people wear it?
