British music publication NME is largely responsible for coining the term New Rave in 2006 to the dismay of an entire generation of electronic music fans. While the genre has suffered its fair share of criticism (all hype, no authenticity), bands such as the Klaxons, Hot Chip and Cansei de Ser Sexy thrive in the DJ booths and on the dance floors of New York. New Rave has also made an impression on tastemakers in streetwear who, regardless of their loyalty to the music, have started to integrate elements of the look in to their summer wardrobes.
After a year of hot debate in the music community over New Rave’s authenticity, a number of the genre’s fashion trends have bled in to the New York streetwear scene. From a larger perspective, inspiration comes not only from New Rave and our friends over the pond but also from a variety of all-American trendsetters such as streetwear brand PegLeg NY, art collective Paper Rad, music events like Trouble n’ Bass, bands like Baltimore-based Thrust Lab and streetwear magazines like MissBehave.
Using contemporary pop culture as a point of reference, fashionistas also surf YouTube for archived pop culture content like old music videos. While thrift stores are a given for throwback finds, eBay is the preferred source for early ‘90’s gear like sunglasses, jewelry, and other accessories.
New York’s New Rave is quirky but not outrageous. New Yorkers seem to understand that New Rave is as an ironic twist on the original Rave scene not a literal throwback to the glow sticks and backlight lipstick of yesteryear. This aspect is perhaps the largest departure from UK’s New Rave trend which tends to be more in-your-face Rave than subtle references to the 1990’s.
Subtlety is why accessories are important for the New Rave New York look as they allow for experimentation without commitment. Mixing and matching vintage and throwback pieces from past seasons is an easy way to update a look and test the New Rave trend. For instance, a vintage Chanel scarf paired with a Tokidoki bag and wrap around sunglasses from 1993 or odd-ball eyewear and suspenders are low-commitment versions of the British trend. For conservative fashion followers even a striped shirt and white shorts can be transformed by throwing on a day-glo patterned cap reminiscent of 1990’s rave gear. For those who dare, Nintendo controllers can be used as an ironic adornment but technology-turned-accessory flirts “over-the-top.” Achieving a New Rave New York look is all in the quirk of the accessories not how loud they scream.
As a rule of thumb, color is good and should be used creatively especially to achieve an urban twist on the trend. Once reserved for all-over print hoodies and designer jeans today’s streetwear style icons are borrowing elements from New Rave to craft their summertime look. Those who subscribed to the matchy-matchy trend of last year have abandoned all-over prints for big, bright and bold graphics and cut-and-sew color block shirts. The crazy colorways in footwear and blinged-out jewelry are still a part of the look albeit more refined.
However you cut it, New Rave in New York is a trend defined by ironic subtlety and stands in contrast to its British counterpart. Much like the first round of Rave, only certain elements of the New Rave scene made it through international borders however those that did will continue to drive trends through the summer and in to fall.
