Utility clothing and streetwear specialist with over 10 years' experience in customer advice, fit and fabric selection.
How Do Skaters Dress?
Are you fascinated by the world of skateboarding? Do you want to adopt the trendy skater look? Luckily for you, you don’t need a skateboard to pull off this fashion style. This way of dressing has become very popular among young people due to the rise of skateboarding as a sport. Indeed, to fit into this style, everything starts with a certain number of criteria to respect. From your clothes to your shoes, everything must be chosen with care.
Today, as your fashion advisor, we are going to teach you the art of dressing like a skater.
The skater style became a phenomenon in the 90s. The clothes are practical, loose, and comfortable; they don’t restrict skaters and offer a certain level of protection. The aesthetic can be described as casual and carefree.
To develop this topic, we will cover, among other things:
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General information about skateboarding
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Skater clothing
Hop on your skateboard and let’s explore the world of skater fashion.
General Information About Skateboarding
First of all, what is skateboarding?
Keep in mind that to be credible and not look like a poser, it’s not all about the clothing style. You also need to know a little bit about this universe. What could be better than a simplified summary of what skateboarding is and its various disciplines? Skateboarding is a board sport focused on seeking thrills. It is practiced by both professional athletes and enthusiasts to perform acrobatic tricks or as a means of transportation.
This sport consists of gliding using a skateboard. Skateboarding, whether practiced as a sport or a passion, in a dedicated or improvised setting, is subdivided into several disciplines, all of which share the systematic use of the board, but also and above all the performance of various acrobatic tricks that often combine art and gymnastics. Freestyle is one of the first disciplines to utilize the skateboard. Largely influenced by the popularity of another thrill sport, surfing, freestyle involves performing acrobatic maneuvers similar to those performed by surfers on breaking waves.
Very quickly, skateboarding sought to move away from the world of surfing and found its own identity in a new discipline: street. Street skateboarding consists of reclaiming the streets to perform more or less complex tricks of gymnastics and athletics, bordering on artistic research. Street skateboarding goes beyond that, as an urban movement in the same vein as graffiti. Graffiti artists express themselves by tagging walls, ramps, and urban furniture. Street skaters do it by skating on them. This practice of skateboarding in public places is not always appreciated by authorities, who view this urban sport as a safety risk and a source of damage to public property.
Some governments have therefore built dedicated skate areas, known as skate parks. In these places, a discipline of skateboarding developed: ramp or vert. It consists of moving on more or less high slopes with adequate speed to lift off into the air and perform acrobatic tricks or simply for the beauty of gaining height. Another discipline related to skateboarding is downhill. Downhill consists of taking a sloped road, seeking speed and slides, much like a surfer on a giant wave.
Being stylish isn’t just about following a clothing trend. The minimum you should do is understand how this movement was born and what its sources of inspiration are. Thus, what better way than a simplified summary of what skateboarding is and its different disciplines.
Skateboarding: from an object of distraction to its culmination as a sport
Skateboarding has been classified in the category of extreme sports. It is a community that brings together professionals and enthusiasts. Skateboarding consists of gliding on a launch ramp to perform tricks.
Skateboarding, whether practiced as a sport or a passion, in a dedicated or improvised setting, is categorized into several disciplines. These all have one thing in common: the use of a skateboard. Also, the tricks performed call for the use of gymnastic techniques and know-how specific to the sport.
Freestyle is one of the first styles of practice to explore with your skateboard. Widely popularized, many love it because of the sensational aspect it provides. As the name suggests, you can perform as freely as possible all the acrobatic tricks you like. Beyond this form, we also have street skateboarding, which is much more entertaining. It gives rise to the execution of certain more or less dangerous performances.
What is Skater Style, Really?
If skateboarding became famous, it was especially from the 60s and 70s. This fashion brought with it the skater style, which developed alongside it. However, from the 90s onwards, skating experienced a decline. This can be explained by the rise of new sports that were coming into fashion.
Moreover, skating still maintains its notoriety through digital channels. In the middle of the year, modernized skating asserted itself more to the world with a surge in its activities.
Activities that have had ramifications reaching our era. Major events like the X-Games were created and are broadcast on our screens. Other events were added, magazines, videos, and with the support of the internet, skating was propelled once again. From now on, no one could contest the supremacy of the sport.
We also note the active participation of certain brands like Au shops skateboards, Au shop Girl, Au shop Flip skateboards, which have favored the availability and consumption of quality skate equipment.
The global imposition of skating is demonstrated through indicators such as the Street League. It is a competition for professionals in the field at the global level. We find at these occasions big names like: Nyjah Huston, Eric Koston, Paul Rodriguez, Andrew Reynolds, Ryan Sheckler, or Torey Pudwill. The winner of the competition receives compensation of over 200,000 US dollars. At this stage, it is classified as a professional sport.
Elsewhere on other continents, such as Europe, skating has become a very popular sporting discipline. Each continent creates its industry with its own pros and events. Furthermore, we can affirm that skateboarding has a very big social impact.
Skateboarding has become a source of income for quite a few people. Everything moves so fast in the field that every day we notice the meteoric growth of skateboarding.
From that moment on, the culture and clothing trend of skating imposed itself on the young public. Ergonomic and convenient, the skater style is based on a simple, functional, and very suitable dress code for the sport. It also offers a certain level of protection, an aesthetic, and a very casual vibe. For many long years, its presence was undisputed. Today, the skate style is back in fashion.
How Do Skaters Dress?
The fact of wanting to dress like a skater must come from your own desire and truly please you. Many of them have a particular personality that they try to express in their clothing attire. It is a streetwear style.
Because of this, do you like the skater look? Because there is the possibility that you could adopt their style without being a skater for real. Some might see in you the character of a poser. If you love this style, don’t let yourself be reached by any form of negativity.
Dressing like a skater depends on your ambitions. For this reason, if your next favorite attraction will be skating, then it is totally justified. It is your right to want to adapt to this style.
In such a case, however, the most important thing is to practice skateboarding. Join a group of skaters, work with diligence, and become the best. It is only after that that you will be able to dress like them.
Since it is a very common fact, skaters in general are very happy with who they are, and that is why they hate those who are just there to imitate. The culture that has formed around skateboarding has created habits among its members. You must respect them when you are a newcomer to the community.
There is no place for fake people. For that, you must master your subject, be sharp in your practice, and above all progress by changing your style. Humans are endowed with an incredible capacity to judge their neighbor. Thus, you must not make the mistake of showing yourself in a skater look and then ridiculing yourself during a trick. You are certainly looking for a special style; that is how you should proceed.
Start by choosing the type of skater you want to become. There are several, and each of them has their own style. In general, skaters like to feel comfortable when they dress. They must be free in their movement in order to succeed in the acrobatic tricks they perform. This is, among other things, the very essence of skateboarding. For those who have already seen a skater dressed, they have surely noticed that they love certain key clothes: tight or baggy pants, flat sneakers, graphic t-shirts, tight t-shirts, tank tops, snapback caps.
If you have decided not to stay in a particular style, then the casual skater look suits you. By making a combination of styles, you will succeed. The casual skater style is tight jeans, flat shoes with bright colors, a tight t-shirt. You can add other clothes like a leather track jacket, slim jeans, and a beanie.
A) Know the general skater style
Globally, the skater has their own way of dressing. This is so mainly because they have to perform tricks. Among other things, freedom and comfort are required to form the perfect outfit for a skater. Of course, you will have to expect your clothes to get destroyed (blood stains, torn clothes, worn-out clothes in a short time). In order to perform tricks, you must try to make the clothing comfortable to be at ease. However, you can overcome these problems by wearing sportswear. Otherwise, one bad start, one single discomfort in your action, and it could be fatal for you.
Flexible shoes are what we recommend. The soles of your shoes must be of very good quality; they must have formidable grip. These are the shoes that skaters often wear. It is a technique to integrate into a collective of skaters. To appear more authentic, wear shoes designed exclusively for this type of exercise. The brands that make good shoes for you are: éS, DVS, Fallen, Supra, Vans, Circa, DC, Emerica’s, Converse, Adio, Etnies, and Lakai.
If you want to pass for a fake skater, destroy your shoes around the toes. On the other hand, if you want to be a real skater, with time, it will happen all by itself. Even then, brand-new low-top sneakers being already destroyed is not credible at all.
For now, if you are a real skater or want to become one, your torn shoes will show that you have worked hard. The torn shoes show your journey in the field. Others will show you respect every time.
To pass for a fake skater, tear your shoes around the toes. On the other hand, if it is really skating you want to practice, they will tear all by themselves in no time. Keep in mind that brand-new shoes that are already torn might not be very credible. If you plan to become a skater, let your shoes wear out naturally to show that you have worked hard to achieve this result.
Big names like Element, Baker, Analog, Quicksilver, Volcom, Vans, and Billabong are recognized as classic brands in skateboarding. Try your hand at snowboard brands, such as Burton. It is common to see skaters also practicing snowboarding. Instead of sliding on solid ground, the game takes place in the snow this time. You are not forced to draw your clothes from all these brands.
Just know that they offer enough clothes likely to please skaters because of the style. Bianca Chandon, Dime, All Timers, Supreme, Antihero, and Palace are brands that have international renown. Visit their shops to build your skater wardrobe.
Simplicity is what we recommend when you want to adopt the skater’s clothing style. We are not asking you to spend huge sums on new clothes and shoes. In the meantime, a worn-out t-shirt or a short-sleeved shirt, jeans are enough to be at the top of skateboard fashion. You can well be elegant as a skater, but don’t let it feel like you tried too hard.
B) A skater outfit in the punk look
For this outfit, two elements are to be worked on: the casual look and your attitude. It’s not enough to just dress the part. A punk skater, to be what they are, must be able to assert themselves, be bold, and above all have the ability to defend their look. Dare is what defines a punk skater. They have a taste for rock and punk melodies. So, are you ready to embrace these genres of music?
Otherwise, it would be better for you to go and immerse yourself in this world where high-pitched sounds and noise get along well. During your skate sessions, you can confirm your taste for this style of music by putting on your headphones.
Aggression defines the punk skater. That is why you must wear t-shirts with aggressive illustrations. Ambient colors such as black and red are classic colors for followers of the skate punk style.
Somewhat violent images abound among them (bloody skulls). In addition, the best choices you can make in clothing are t-shirts that illustrate punk bands. You must be creative and authentic in your clothes. Browse thrift stores to look for vintage printed shirts.
To alternate between your t-shirts, the tank top option is available. It is very bold to want to wear a tank top. Since often, the goal is to reveal their tattoos, which is an act of a bold nature. Dyeing your hair is something to plan for. These types of skaters are popular for the fact that they dye their hair. Their favorite haircut is the mohawk or having long hair that hangs over the eyes with some colored strands.
You must wear tight jeans. All punk skaters of this era wear tight jeans with dark colors like black. You must then ensure that the jeans are elastic enough to perform your acrobatic tricks well. For a punk skater’s shoes, two solutions will be available to you.
You are entitled to shoes with flat soles that grip the ground well. They exist in several colors, but for a punk skater, light gray or black will be more than enough. To adopt a retro punk style, Converse will do the trick.
Jewelry counts for punk skaters. It’s the same with hip-hop skaters, with the only exception that they don’t wear much of it. Not only do they like jewelry, but also spiked belts, earrings, piercings, and tattoos.
So, are you ready to adopt the punk skater look?
C) The hip-hop skater outfit
The big brands you need when you have to dress as a hip-hop skater are: DGK, Zoo York, Phat Farm, City Stars, Dunks, LRG, and South Pole. These are hip-hop brands that allow this style to be asserted more. For your shoes, think about wearing pairs from the DC or Nike SB brands and other shoes for skating.
Unlike punk skaters, those of the Hip-Hop school dress with warm and bright colors. The t-shirt, long-sleeved shirts, pairs of shoes, and snapback are no exception; they all bear the mark of high coloration. For other skaters, they want to be cool, so they prefer to wear white shirts accompanied by some colorful accessories (cap, shoes, or jewelry).
Therefore, it is important that you come across as someone kind and casual. It is through the T-shirts you put on that you could convey this message. Your pants must also have style. The hip-hop skater is in a context where they vary pants a lot. Some wear skinny jeans loose at the waist, others prefer baggy jeans (Tommy jeans), and there are those who use cargo pants or joggers.
To build your hip-hop look, choose one of the varieties of pants mentioned. The goal is to stay within the skater ideology. So, whatever pants you have chosen, they will have to be comfortable to allow you to perform tricks.
Most of the time, to pair with a snapback, you have to accompany it with a men’s hoodie. Moreover, the snapback cap is very important for the details of the style. There is a panoply of them on the market, from different brands and in different styles. To be brief, we won’t tell you that such a brand or such a style is perfect. The essential thing is above all that it should please you and that it be a snapback. The last accessory to make the style complete is rings and chains. A hip-hop style skater loves bling-bling chains and rings very much.
D) The rasta skater outfit
You want to dress like a skater, you can choose the rasta or hesh skater style. Very often, the rasta skater outfit gives the impression that you don’t care about anything. For those who want to adopt this style, know that it is a dirty look. Skaters who are fans of this look have the particularity of wearing dirty clothes. The message of these is simple. They have nothing to prove to anyone and attach no importance to what is said around them.
Apart from that, there are other specificities you must take into account. You must let your beard grow, and above all, it must be messy. Your facial hair follows, as well as your hair, on which you will put dreadlocks. It is because of this sign that we manage to differentiate them. Don’t overdo it when you want to adopt a rasta skater outfit. Otherwise, you are not in this style.
Make the difference so as not to look like a classic skater in their clothing. Try canvas clothes and a beanie instead. As for color, opt for red, yellow, and green. These are colors that rastas very often wear.
Women Can Also Dress as Skater Girls
It is not only men who skate and excel in the field. It must also be recognized that there are women who try it. As clothing, we advise them to wear slim jeans, shoes with colors like dark gray, and a beanie.
Nevertheless, women are very fragile; at the slightest misstep, they could get hurt. Therefore, it is suggested to often wear a tracksuit or a hoodie to cover the body. Do not dress in a revealing way.
The look for women is not so different from that for men. It is enough that they take the clothes like the men’s but adapted to them.
The Essential to Keep About Skater Clothing
If you have to remember one thing about skater clothing, it can be summed up in one word: simplicity. The skater look is the easiest to copy. Everything else will depend on the kind of skater you wish to be. Do you want to be a punk, rasta, hip-hop skater, or a classic skater in their traditional style? What is certain is that we will not decide for you. All of these styles are considered components of the streetwear look. You have the necessary information to make the choice that will please you and suit you best.
