Young women of size feel comfortable, sexy, chic or sassy in urban plus-size clothes designed to fit their curves. Urban clothing offers trendy fashions in a number of distinct styles. What many people don't realize is the connection between urban clothing and the music world.
Fun Confident Styles
Urban styles are fun and eclectic and can be mixed and matched to create cool, confident styles. To build an urban wardrobe, start with basics like plus-size skinny jeans and pair them with a large shirt or tunic accessorized with a belt. To change up your look, wear your over-sized shirt with a pair of leggings and boots, or add a denim mini skirt over the leggings for a layered style. Part of the fun of urban fashion is you have the freedom to create your own unique look!
About Urban Clothing
Urban styles originated as what became known as streetwear in the late 1970s in direct correlation with the emergence of punk music. Punk evolved into hip hop. and overall the music was rejected by the mainstream but grew a into a subculture within skater and surfer communities. Here the worlds of music and fashion intertwined as music groups sold tee shirts to their fans. These shirts influenced entrepreneurial fans who followed the trend and branded their own shirts along with products like surf or skate boards.
The clothing became known as skatewear or surfwear. By the mid-1980s, the two became one as more brands carried these styles across the country. A decade later, urban clothing was popular around the world, and today it has grown to include an eclectic selection of styles from casual to eveningwear.
Brands that Carry Urban Plus-Size Clothing
The following brands have origins directly connected to the music world, and they offer a varied selection of urban plus-size clothes:
Apple Bottoms
Apple Bottoms is a company started by hip hop music artist Nelly. This company markets itself as a "lifestyle brand for trend-setting women," and their plus size line does not disappoint. They pride themselves on offering urban style to all women no matter their shape or size. Their plus-size clothing line includes:
- Activewear
- Dresses
- Hats
- Jackets
- Jeans
- Leggings
- Pants
- Rompers
- Sweaters
- Tops
Baby Phat
Baby Phat actually started as a temporary endeavor designed for publicity to bring attention to a hip hop men's fashion line called Phat Farm. Once Baby Phat hit the runway, the popularity of the line not only kept it going but growing. Today they carry a wide range of clothing for women of all sizes. Plus size options include:
- Dresses
- Jackets
- Jeans
- Jumpsuits
- Leggings
- Outerwear
- Pants
- Shorts
- Skirts
- Sweaters
- Tops
Deréon
Deréon is a clothing line designed by singer-songwriter Beyoncé along with her mother, Tina. It was named in honor of Beyoncé's late grandmother, Agnèz Deréon. Designing clothing wasn't new to the women. While Beyoncé performed with Destiny's Child, Tina was their clothing designer. Today Deréon's curvelicious plus size line offers:
- Activewear
- Capris
- Dresses
- Jeans
- Jumpsuits
- Outerwear
- Pants
- Shorts
- Skirts
- Tops
Rocawear
Rocawear is another company launched by a music icon. Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter founded the company, and while they still have a large selection of urban styles, they've branched out to include mainstream fashion as well. Plus size clothing options feature:
- Activewear
- Dresses
- Jeans
- Jumpsuits
- Outerwear
- Pants
- Sweaters
- Tops
Freedom to Mix and Match
All of the brands listed here have ties to the music world that gave birth to urban and hip hop clothing. Just as each song is mixed in a unique and creative way, each urban outfit can be built with the same creative freedom. Feel free to mix, match and layer to put together a look that flatters your curves.
