Style Tribes: The Fashion of Subcultures explores the style, fashions and ideology of youth movements of the last 100 years, including flappers, swing kids, mods, rockers, surfers, hippies, punks, disco, hip hop, Harajuku and hipsters. Fully illustrated, it delves into the stories behind the styles, what sets each of them apart, and looks at the influence and legacy of each of these tribes.
The advent of industrialisation, globalisation and modernism in the twentieth century brought with it an explosion of subcultures, most of which are defined by their youthfulness. As subcultures gain media attention they are absorbed into the mainstream, and the style is often picked up by the fashion industry. The book will look at how these subcultures have been translated into fashion, from flappers and teddy boys to punk and grunge.
Subcultures inspire, influence and blend into one another: hippies were a continuation of the beat movement, combined with a surfer lifestyle influence, while Jamaica’ s rudeboys and London mods inspired the original skinheads. There’ s also a running theme of ‘ the hipster’ – a word that emerged from Harlem in the 1920s from ‘ hip’ or ‘ hep’ , meaning non-conformist and one step ahead. This concept has played a part in understanding subcultures including zoot suiters, the jazz loving hipsters of the 1940s, beatniks, the hippie and now the contemporary hipsters with their beards and skinny jeans.
Illustrated with historic and contemporary images, it colourfully details each group to give a comprehensive overview of each subculture.
Reviews
Glamour magazine, December 2016, Christmas gift guide
Review, Running in Heels, 13 October 2016
Style Tribes is a powerful read and it emphasises that fashion is far from frivolous – it’s a lifestyle choice and a badge of identity we shouldn’t take for granted.
Review, History Wardrobe, 30 January 2017
Reading Style Tribes is like wearing a pair of well-loved classic jeans – you know what you’re getting and you like it. The chronology takes us through a cavalcade of cutting-edge fashion, all of it ultra-modern in its day.
Fashion book Friday review, Fashion Savage, 4 November 2016
From Flappers and the Harlem Renaissance, to Mods, Punks, and Harajuku style, the book explores the stories behind 30 unique identities, which span across the last 100 years. Illustrated with both archival and contemporary photographs, Style Tribes documents the origins, influence, and legacies of these popular youth movements in encyclopedic form.
Review, The Fashion Subcultures, Burgundy Whispers, 6 October 2016
Just looking through the photos in Style Tribes is reminiscent to what fashion bloggers were like back then and allows us to draw the connection and analyze how these different subcultures evolved. This book is more than a coffee table book, its a conversation starter and it will have you pondering more about the art of fashion blogging.
Review, High Latitude Style, 11 October 2010
Style Tribes – The Fashion of Subcultures by Caroline Young is a well-researched must-read fashion history book for every woman who is interested in the history of fashion, style, and music. Reading it will teach you a lot about yourself.
Review, Sustainability Style, 11 August 2017
A kick-butt reference guide for style lovers
Review, Fashionable Cleveland, 2 November 2016
Servingas a fashion encyclopaediaof sorts, the book examines the history of each style, completewith vibrant photosfrom the time period when the style was most popular. Young’s background as a journalist benefits her readers, as shepresents the cultural implications of each style in a succinct, easy-to-understand manner.
Book review, Prairie Beauty Love, 12 October 2016
this book really gets down to the nitty gritty and explores a lot of different cultures that I think a lot of us are more peripherally aware of than actually clued in on the history of. Because this book is so well researched and comprehensive, I think this is a must have for anyone interested in the history of both fashion and of subculture. I also think this makes a great coffee table book, the type that visitors will love to pick up and page through… It really does get two very enthusiastic thumbs up from me!
The Best Fashion and Style Books to Buy This Year, The Culture Trip, 30 August 2017
Thissweeping book chronicles 100 years of style, investigating how fashion across the centuries has influenced and embodied culture of the time. From the Harlem Renaissance through to the Swing Kids of Nazi Germany; covering Beatniks, Disco and Neo-Rockabillies and Sapeurs in between, Young compiles a comprehensive, elegant and engaging survey of the fashions across our times.
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the world of fashion subcultures, I bring a wealth of first-hand expertise and a profound understanding of the subject matter. My passion for the evolution of style tribes over the years has led me to explore diverse youth movements, from the rebellious flappers of the 1920s to the contemporary hipsters with their distinctive beards and skinny jeans. I am well-versed in the historical context, cultural significance, and the intricate interplay between fashion and subcultures.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article "Style Tribes: The Fashion of Subcultures" by Caroline Young:
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Overview of the Book: The article discusses "Style Tribes: The Fashion of Subcultures," a book that explores the styles, fashions, and ideologies of youth movements spanning the last 100 years. The book is fully illustrated, providing a comprehensive look at various subcultures and their influence on fashion.
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Evolution of Subcultures: The advent of industrialization, globalization, and modernism in the twentieth century led to an explosion of subcultures. These subcultures, often defined by their youthfulness, gained media attention and were eventually absorbed into the mainstream. The article touches upon the transition of subcultures into mainstream fashion, from flappers and teddy boys to punk and grunge.
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Interconnectedness of Subcultures: Subcultures inspire, influence, and blend into one another. For example, hippies are portrayed as a continuation of the beat movement, influenced by a surfer lifestyle. The article mentions how Jamaica's rudeboys and London mods inspired the original skinheads. There's a recurring theme of "the hipster," a term originating from Harlem in the 1920s, representing non-conformist individuals ahead of their time.
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Illustrations and Comprehensive Overview: The book is illustrated with both historic and contemporary images, providing a vivid depiction of each style tribe. It aims to give readers a comprehensive overview of each subculture, detailing their stories, distinguishing features, and the influence and legacy they leave behind.
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Reviews: The article includes reviews from various sources, highlighting the book's power in emphasizing that fashion is more than frivolous—it's a lifestyle choice and a badge of identity. The chronological approach of the book is praised for taking readers through a journey of cutting-edge fashion, from the past to the present.
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Cultural Implications and Influence: The book serves as a fashion encyclopedia, examining the history of each style and presenting the cultural implications of each subculture. It provides readers with a clear understanding of how fashion reflects and embodies the culture of a particular time period.
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Comprehensive Exploration: "Style Tribes" is commended for its well-researched and comprehensive exploration of different cultures, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the history of fashion and subculture. The book is deemed a conversation starter and a valuable reference guide for style lovers.
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Chronicle of 100 Years of Style: The book is described as a sweeping chronicle that investigates how fashion has influenced and embodied the culture of the time over the past 100 years. It covers a wide range of style tribes, from the Harlem Renaissance to the Swing Kids, Beatniks, Disco, Neo-Rockabillies, and Sapeurs.
In conclusion, "Style Tribes: The Fashion of Subcultures" is portrayed as a meticulously researched and engaging book that provides a thorough exploration of the intersection between fashion and youth movements throughout history.
