Bushwick Street Style: ‘I Love the Ghetto’
Click images for larger. #1: Ariel; #2: Amy and Ace; #3: Royal
Introducing Bushwick Street Style, where our fashion reporter Sarah Conley accosts locals with her camera and bugs them about their outfits. Check out her site, Style IT–Jeremy
#1: Ariel, 21
Work: At a library
Shops: Got t-shirt at a pharmacy, jacket for $3 in Ventura, CA “b/c they don’t use jackets in CA.” He isn’t wearing socks.
Shot him: Corner of Knickerbocker and Stockholm
Misc: Sarah: “How did you get dressed?” — Ariel: “I just picked something up off the floor.”
#2: Amy, 17 and Ace, 18
Work: Both are students
Shop: On Knickerbocker and Myrtle
Shot them: Corner of Himrod and Wyckoff
Misc: Amy says, “This is how I dress everyday. I like sneakers, not real shoes”, Ace says he chose to mix those prints to match his new sneakers
#3: Royal, 22
Work: Freelance writer, in a rap group
Shops: Levis, buys “odds and ends”
Shot him: Corner of Greene and Wyckoff
Misc: Headed to watch The Ruins with a friend; “I love the ghetto”
I love the couple in the middle and the fact that he accessoriezed the shirt to the shoes!
oooh, the ruins! find him again and ask him how it was!
I like this new fashion focused series. There is definitely a mix of styles in Bushwick. It would also interesting/cute to get some elderly people discussing their fashion.
JorgeRB
Hey JorgeRB,
I have definitely seen a few well dressed elderly people. Unfortunately the one lady I wanted to shoot didn’t speak much English. Too bad!
Sarah
Bushwick def has a discerning style of its own – outfits which tell the tale of our hood. In particular I leave this to the eccentric as I dress rather casually in J. Crew and such w/ my Red Sox cap on straight. But I’ll be the first to admit that the styles I’ve seen on our streets is has become its own beast! Good job w/ the new section!
If Royal isn’t careful he will lose all blood flow to his feet. Although that could make a killer rap song.
#1. Has the same sense of style as I do when wondering the streets of Bushwick (’cept I’m never without my ‘old-lady’ carriage). Based on this random photo-shoot, I’m going to re-think my wardrobe.
#2. SHE is ready for her close-up! Lookin good! HE, on the other hand, couldn’t help but match his shoes since he chose to wear every pattern and color imaginable. And what’s with those Bushwick boys that still wear pants big enough for two bodies and waddling the streets to keep the pants from falling?
#3. Nice job with his “odds and ends” but probably looks good in whatever he chooses to wear (or not wear)!
Great idea for a post. Make it a bi-weekly thing, and ask people what they like about the ‘hood too.
Royal is sexy
royal looks stoned out of his gourd
I love this new addition to the blog. I was moved to share a Bushwick style watershed moment with all of you. Yesterday I bought legging jeans. Actually, the tag called them “laggings.” But my new laggings have the jean stitch painted on. Even the pockets. I love them. Got em on Knickerbocker near Dekalb.
You need to check out the kids at Broadway Junction on their way to school waiting for the L train. I get a runway show every morning.
LOVE this idea by the way! …needs a little more color though. ;o)
Nice feature! Here’s my question–I don’t live in Bushwick but I have a soft spot as I worked for a nonprofit there for awhile.
For young Latina women, it’s all about femininity–long hair and pretty (okay, maybe too tight) ponytails and sexy outfits.
But THEN, for some reason, around 50 many of these same women get these manly haircuts–short and not fashionable and not at all feminine. Their outfits are no longer sexy. I’ve seen the same phenomenon in Carroll Gardens with Italian ladies.
What gives? What happens that resigns these formerly hot women to frumpiness?
I would appreciate any thoughts on this!
Fashion blog Dresden IDEA.
But Dresden UNABLE to say single nice thing about style of B-wick people.
Dresden walk up to skinny-jeans lesbian. Dresden ask:
“Do you like the Ramones?”
Yes, lesbian responded.
“I thought so.”
And Dresden walk away. End of story.
Fashion here, like, uhm, not so stylish. More like style-less.
This is awesome, Sarah. I’ve seen some amazing outfits and people in Bushwick. So great you’re documenting them. Cool!
Hey, did anyone catch the rap battle on Myrtle last weekend? When I passed by there was a woman rapping and one of her verses mentioned her “period.” Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay. Does anyone know how this slam came to be?
Are any of these people born and raised in Bushwick? I assume not. So how can this be “Bushwick style”.
Second, I am sick of everyone throwing the word “Ghetto” around. It does not appear to me that any of these people would know ghetto if hit them in forehead.
I am sick of all of these people moving to this city and trying to co-opt the culture. Most of these “artists” are trendy d-bag trustafarians. Come on people get real.
ABM – you make a fair point that most of the “young professionals,” “new residents,” and “hipsters” (all of which are pretty much euphemisms for white people) are not people born and raised in Bushwick. However, I think you should “get real” about the fact that regardless of where we’re from, we’re here now. Most young people I meet anywhere in New York are not actually from the city, and may not still be here in ten or fifteen years time. However, that should not and does not prevent them from feeling a sense of pride and community in the neighborhood they live in. Bushwick has changed many times since the days of the Canarsie Indians, and the influx of young white people is just one more in a series of transformations that have occurred to the population of the area. The people living in any region do contribute to the style of that place, regardless of where those people or styles originated. Would you say that immigrants do not add to the styles of American clothing, food, music or art, because they were born elsewhere? That would seem like a foolish conclusion, and likewise you cannot make the claim that the white community in Bushwick is not a part of the local style.
Sweester – very well put. Its amazing how the people who claim to be Bushwick orginals dont even realize how many people were there befor them!
I would have said something more like “yo ABM, your a looser, get over yourself, stop living in the shadows and try to make a friend or two… jeez!”
The point for me is less “Bushwick originals” and much more the fact that they are dressed like shit.
The two on the sides look more like child refugees from Bosnia than young urban professionals.
Oops, I forgot, professionals have jobs not called “mom”.
I like to see grown up people dressed like grown ups, even if it’s stretched ear lobes and tattooed forearms, at least that’s valid – we’re not 4 year olds – you’re going to fucking retarded when you’re 40 still dressed like a retard.
Amy and Ace are teenagers, which means they probably still live at home and were probably raised here. Obviously ABM didn’t pay much attention to what was written and made some unfounded assumptions.
The two in the middle are locals – and they’re the most “natural” of them whole thing….
I have a lot to say about fashion, and I’m sorry if it comes across as angry, but seriously –
if you can’t carry it with some organic style, then you’re left sucking on a straw with your hand in your pocket, or massaging your bald spot…….
because you’re insecure…. which is THE ANTITHESIS OF STYLE.
Greetings,
Briefly, I’ve lived in Bushwick for 35 years and, depending on the age group, most dress the same. But I will say this, over 50 percent is bootleg when it comes to the pre 30’s. The blatancy! Right out of storefronts!
bushwick will always belong to anyone who been there since the 70s i left but i love my old neighborhood and i always felt safe and as far as fashion its whatever as long as it is not pajamas thats chicken head shit lol i love bushwick and if you over 20 no mini skirts or door knockers ladies please dress like an adult oh but what is up with the muffin tops ?????????if you have skin or fat that hangs over your waist please dont wear half shirts please