What is the urban classic style about?

A couple stands before a house. They are wearing trench coats. The man wears white sneakers and dark trousers and a turtleneck sweater. The woman wears black boots.

Though not widely recognized as a type of style, the urban classic style has some unique and great outfits to offer and stands out from many other styles. But what is the urban classic style about?

The urban classic style combines two fashion trends: urban streetwear and classic fashion. This style likes to combine hoodies with tailored trousers or cargo pants with button-down shirts. Overall, the urban classic style likes to mix trendy fashion with timeless garments.

There is a lot more to this style though. If you want to learn more about the urban classic style as well as a comparison to the normal classic style, read on!

Introduction

The urban classic style is a conglomeration of many styles including urban, pop, classic, street style, or hybrid style. It evolved from the 1980s to what it is today. 

As a result of the classic style losing its dominance in the mid-1900s, new styles that weren’t that formal, emerged and so the classic style emerged too, into this fusion of many styles. As a breath of fresh air, it has been around since that, adapting to the trends and upcoming street styles.

The basic thing this style lives upon is a combination of the fairly dominant party, the classic style, and a mixture of all the others. The inspiration from the many styles, that work together to create this unique one, is represented in its fashion. This not only makes it very versatile but also leaves it with a glance of elegance and sophistication which the classic style is known for. 

This article will highlight some key elements of the urban classic style, as well as some clothes to wear and a comparison to the classic style.

Key elements of the urban classic style

Now we will look at the key elements this style lives by:

A woman wears a pair of white boots, a pair of jeans, and a trench coat. As an accessory, she has got a leather purse.
Source: Freepik/senivpetro
  1. The most obvious key element is the mixture of modern and traditional clothes and styles. As we’ve pointed out earlier, the mixture of these styles is what makes the urban classic style unique.
  2. You can’t unsee the influence, the classic style has on this one. Timeless silhouettes are only one of its heritages. Also, high-quality and tailored garments make this style what it is. 
  1. Another thing that comes from the classic style, is the neutral colors the urban classic style uses. Beige, white, black, navy, forest green, or grey are all tones that you can see in this style frequently. 
  2. To not let the classic elements go to waste but also to highlight trendy clothes, a combination of refined and casual is crucial. Therefore, I would recommend choosing at least one item from the classic style and one from the urban style to get that mixture in. 
  1. One thing you would only get with the dramatic classic style as well is the high level of self-expression the urban classic style offers. You can create highly individual outfits that represent your mood. 
  2. Lastly, the accessories refer to the classic style. Belts, scarves, purses, watches, and jewelry all are pretty common in the classic style and also in this style. For some more inspiration, check out my article about classic accessories.

As you can see, the urban classic style combines classic and modern things very well. Now we will look at the clothes this style uses to get a good perception of how to style your outfits. 

Urban classic clothes

To give a more detailed description of the clothes this style uses, it is necessary to split this section into urban classic clothes for men and women. 

Men

For this particular style, the clothes for men are a combination of trendy and classic items. If you want to check out classic items for men only, read my article about the classic men’s style.

A man wears a urban classic outfit: He wears a pair of chinos, a T-shirt, and a blazer on top.
Source: Freepik/svetlanasokolova
  • Blazer: A well-tailored blazer in neutral colors like grey or black will be great for a rather formal occasion.
  • Dress pants: Even though, this style likes to dress rather modern, a well-fitting pair of dress pants can’t be missing.
  • Chinos: As a more casual alternative to dress pants, chinos will work great.
  • Jeans: If you want to go even more casual, jeans are a great option. You can dress them up with a blazer.
  • Button-down shirt: Another way to dress up your casual outfit is by wearing a high-quality unicolored button-down shirt.
  • Sweaters: Turtleneck sweaters, crewneck sweaters, and V-neck sweaters all can be worn with this style. Opt for fabrics like wool, cotton, or cashmere. 
  • Hoodies: The urban classic style wouldn’t be itself without a hoodie. You should dress it up but it is a great option for your closet.
  • T-shirts: Another casual item is a basic T-shirt in neutral colors like white, black, or navy.
  • Polo shirt: The more elegant alternative to a T-shirt is a polo shirt. Try to wear it with matching colors and layer up.
  • Shoes: For shoes, sneakers, loafers, dress shoes, and boots will work just fine. As with many styles, they should only complement the outfit, not be a dominating piece.
  • Overwear: For overwear, coats and jackets will work as well as leather and college jackets.

As we can see from the description of these clothes, the urban classic style has a lot of rather casual items to offer for men. For a more elevated look, check out my article about the classic style for men

Women

For women, the selection of clothes will look a little different:

A woman wears an urban classic outfit: A pair of dress pants, a T-shirt, and a bomber jacket
Source: Freepik/fxquadro
  • Blazers: For women, a blazer will also be a great item to dress up your style.
  • Black dress: Another piece that derives from the classic style, is a little black dress. It will make you look elegant and sophisticated.
  • Button-down shirt: For more formal occasions, a button-down shirt will look great on any woman wearing it. Try to opt for neutral colors and high quality.
  • Skirts: For skirts, pencil- or A-line skirts will be the perfect option. Again, try to opt for neutral colors and quality fabrics like silk or cotton.
  • T-shirts: To dress a rather formal skirt down, a basic white or black T-shirt will be a great option.
  • Sweaters: A sweater, paired with a blazer or a coat, fits the urban classic style perfectly. Try to opt for cotton, wool, or cashmere.
  • Trousers: For trousers, skinny jeans, wide-leg pants, dress pants, and high-waisted trousers all contribute very well to this style.
  • Blouses: For blouses, any with rather plain patterns and neutral colors will look great with this style. Make sure to match them accordingly.
  • Shoes: There is a variety of shoes that you can wear with this style. Ankle boots, pumps, high-heels, sneakers, or ballet flats will work just fine.
  • Overwear: For overwear, trench coats, leather jackets, denim vests, or college jackets will fit perfectly.

As you can see, many of the urban classic clothes for women feature a rather relaxed and casual style, just like the men. Again, if you want to dress more formally, check out my article about the classic style for women.

Difference between urban classic style and classic style

This man wears the urban classic stye. He layers a sweater with a blazer and also wears grey dress pants and brown dress shoes.
Source: Freepik
Urban classic styleClassic style
Contains a mixture of trendy and timelessFeatures timeless garments only
Expression of personal interests and feelingsRather fixed outfits with less room for individuality
Rather casual and trendy outfitsFormal and sophisticated outfits
Experimentative silhouettesClassic and timeless silhouettes
Features a mixture of contrasting elements (e.g. Hoodies & Blazers)Combinates matching elements
Feature neutral and bold colorsOnly features neutral colors

Find out where to shop urban classic clothes here.

Conclusion

As you can see from this article, the urban classic style combines classic and trendy elements and therefore will be appealing the most to younger generations in comparison to any other type of classic style, which you can check out here.

On a personal basis, I very much prefer this style to wear on a daily basis and would recommend the classic style or others for special occasions.

If you found this article helpful and want to leave me a comment about any further ideas, write me one down below. 

2 thoughts on “What is the urban classic style about?”

  1. Pingback: 5 most famous types of classic style - Ultimate Aesthetics Guide

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