What is Street Style?
Why Skate, Surf and Travel Styles All Belong Together
Street style is more than a fashion trend. It is the story of how real people, real places, and everyday adventures influence the way we dress.
Street style feels like it's everywhere.
Fashion magazines talk about it. Social media hashtags it. All sorts of brands wrap their arms around it. But we’re betting they’d all give different answers if asked to define it.
So, what exactly is street style?
Listen to this Story on the 1923 Main Street Podcast
For us the answer is simple.
Street style isn’t a specific type of clothing. It's a way style develops. It definitely doesn’t start on a runway, street style starts with real people living their everyday lives. It grows from communities, cities, hobbies, music, travel, and culture before eventually influencing the wider fashion world (and yes, those runways).
That's why street style never really goes out of style. It's always evolving because people are.
Analog Vibes, Board Sport Roots
Before algorithms, there were skate shops, surf videos, snow trips, and stacks of magazines passed around between friends.
The 1923 MAIN – Skate Snow Surf tee captures that energy with a retro boom box design inspired by 90s board sport culture and underground print zines. Printed on a soft premium vintage-style t-shirt, it has the relaxed feel of an old favorite with graphics made for people who still appreciate real surf, skate, and snow style.
Also available in light colors and a hoodie version.
• Base Item: Gildan 64000
• 100% ring-spun cotton | 4.5 oz/yd² (153 g/m²)
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Quarter-turned to avoid crease down the center
• Blank product sourced from Bangladesh, Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Haiti or Guatemala
Disclaimer: Due to the fabric properties, the White color variant may appear off-white rather than bright white.
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it may take us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions.
Please note: since all orders are custom created, all sales are final and we do not accept returns, refunds or exchanges. Please check sizing carefully using the guide.
Street Style is a Collection of Influences
For our customers, skate style is probably one of its most recognizable influences of street style, but it’s only one piece of a much bigger picture.
Street style also draws inspiration from:
Skateboarding
Surf culture
Music scenes
Vintage Americana
Workwear
College campuses
Outdoor adventure
Travel
Local neighbourhoods and cities
Each one of these contributes something unique, and together they create what we recognize as street style.
Think of street style as a conversation rather than a uniform.
Skateboarding is a lot things, but complicated isn’t one of them.
The 1923 Main Street® Skate Black and White hoodie is for chill mornings, cool evenings or any time on or off your board. It’s mid-weight, comfy and has plenty of room to move so it won’t weigh you down when you ride.
Also available as a t-shirt.
• Base Item: Gildan 18500 • 50% pre-shrunk cotton, 50% polyester • Fabric weight: 8.0 oz/yd² (271.25 g/m²) • Air-jet spun yarn with a soft feel and reduced pilling • Double-lined hood with matching drawcord • Quarter-turned body to avoid crease down the middle • 1 × 1 athletic rib-knit cuffs and waistband with spandex • Front pouch pocket • Double-needle stitched collar, shoulders, armholes, cuffs, and hem • Blank product sourced from Bangladesh, Nicaragua, Honduras or El Salvador
Disclaimer: Due to the fabric properties, the White color variant may appear off-white rather than bright white.
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it may take us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions.
Please note: since all orders are custom created, all sales are final and we do not accept returns, refunds or exchanges. Please check sizing carefully using the guide.
Is all Skate Style Street Style?
Skateboarding has had a big influence on modern casual fashion.
Skate graphic t-shirts, hoodies, relaxed denim, skate shoes, flannel shirts, cargo shorts, and workwear-inspired jackets all became staples because they worked for skateboarders long before they appeared in fashion editorials.
Skate style values comfort, durability, and individuality—qualities that continue to define street style today.
But street style is broader than skateboarding alone.
Someone can embrace street style without ever stepping on a skateboard.
Carry the surf vibe and spirit of Aloha with you with our Dawn Patrol Aloha Inspired unisex tee.
Comfy, lightweight and ready for laid back beach days, sunny days with friends, or post surf sessions on the beach as the waves roll in. It’s the perfect blend of surf style and street style all in one classic t-shirt.
Gear up and get lost with sun, sand and surf. What more does one really need?
Base Item: Gildan 64000
100% ring-spun cotton
4.5 oz/yd² (153 g/m²)
Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
Quarter-turned to avoid crease down the center
Blank product sourced from Bangladesh, Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Haiti or Guatemala
Disclaimer: Due to the fabric properties, the White color variant may appear off-white rather than bright white.
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it may take us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions.
Please note: since all orders are custom created, all sales are final and we do not accept returns, refunds or exchanges. Please check sizing carefully using the guide.
What About Surf Style?
Surf culture has moved well beyond the beach.
Originally shaped by coastal surf communities, surf-inspired clothes now feel just as at home in mountain towns, cities, lake communities, and on weekend road trips to anywhere.
The appeal isn't about surfing, it's about the lifestyle.
Comfortable graphic tees. Relaxed shorts. A hoodie for cooler evenings. Sun-faded colours.
This is simple clothing that works whether you're walking a boardwalk, exploring a new city, or enjoying coffee on a patio.
Surf style has become part of the larger street style story because it represents a relaxed approach to everyday life.
Travel Might Be the Original Influencer
But long before social media, people brought home ideas from the places they visited. For example, a trip to California inspired a more laid-back wardrobe. A visit to Tokyo introduced new style silhouettes and an attention to detail. And a weekend in Copenhagen highlighted clean, minimalist design.
Exploring coastal towns – surfing or otherwise – encouraged lighter colours and casual layers. Travel has always shaped personal style.
Every destination leaves a small impression, whether it's a new way to layer clothing, a favourite colour palette, or a graphic t-shirt picked up as a reminder of an unforgettable trip.
In that sense, travel may be the original influencer.
For Women Who Ride Every Line of Life
Our She Who Rides Octo tee celebrates the freedom to move across snow, concrete, and water with a sense of strength, adaptability, and flow.
Crafted from soft, breathable cotton, this tee is built for long days at the park, beach sessions, and any time you just want an easy-wearing top. Lightweight and easy to layer, it delivers all-day comfort without sacrificing style. Designed by riders, inspired by the freedom to roam.
Also available as a hoodie.
• Base Item: Gildan 64000 • 100% ring-spun cotton • 4.5 oz/yd² (153 g/m²) • Shoulder-to-shoulder taping • Quarter-turned to avoid crease down the center • Blank product sourced from Bangladesh, Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Haiti or Guatemala
Disclaimer: Due to the fabric properties, the White color variant may appear off-white rather than bright white.
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it may take us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions.
Please note: since all orders are custom created, all sales are final and we do not accept returns, refunds or exchanges. Please check sizing carefully using the guide.
Why Street Style Feels Authentic
So how does that apply to street style? Unlike trends that appear suddenly and disappear just as quickly, street style evolves gradually over time and with each generation.
It reflects how people actually live (just like travel style influences).
That's why certain wardrobe staples continue to appear decade after decade:
Graphic t-shirts
Hoodies
Denim
Sneakers
Relaxed shorts
Lightweight jackets
Comfortable layers
The colours change. The outfits evolve. The graphics shift.
But the foundation remains surprisingly consistent because these pieces simply work. It’s pretty remarkable when you think about it.
Street Style is About Expression, Not Rules
One the biggest misconceptions about street style is that it means wearing certain brands or following a specific look.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Street style has always encouraged individuality. Mixing vintage with new. Wearing clothes that remind you of a favourite destination. Layering pieces because they feel comfortable. And building a wardrobe around experiences and not trends.
The best street style always reflects the person wearing it, not a fashion rulebook.
Why it Still Matters
At a time of fast fashion, street style stays refreshingly grounded.
It reminds us that great style doesn't have to be expensive, complicated, or dictated by someone else.
Instead, it grows naturally through the places we visit, the things we enjoy doing, the music we love, and the experiences that shape who we are.
Whether your inspiration comes from a skatepark, a surf break, a mountain resort, a city street, or a memorable road trip, every journey adds another layer to your personal style.
Street style isn't just about what you wear – it's about where you've been and what makes you, you.
Street style definitely isn't defined by a runway. It's written by real people, one adventure at a time.