Skateboarding has been around for a long time, and it’s still going strong!. There are many styles of dress when it comes to skateboarding, but there are two main types – the laid-back dresser, and the “I just rolled off my board” dresser. The former usually wears loose jeans or shorts, graphic t-shirts, and a hat or beanie. The latter usually wear athletic shoes (such as Vans, Etnies, or Adidas), jeans with holes in them (at the knees), and if they wear a shirt at all it is usually black. They also like to wear sunglasses.
For both styles of dressers, hair almost always is a major factor in the look. They usually have a skater hairstyle – either a mullet or long hair with a hat, or short hair with sunglasses and a backward hat. This is perhaps one of the easiest ways to dress like a skateboarder – just get a skater haircut! It’s also the cheapest!
The two main types of skateboarders
The Laid-Back Dresser…
This type dresses in loose-fitting clothes – usually jeans or shorts, but never both. They often wear graphic t-shirts with loud designs on them, perhaps related to bands or film companies (i.e., Jackass movie, Kid Rock music). These shirts need not be new – I’ve seen some skateboarders wearing t-shirts that are over ten years old!
The laid-back dresser also likes to wear hats and beanies. They wear these either backward or since this is laid-back, sometimes they’ll just put them on normally. Those who still live with their parents usually sleep in these hats, which is why they are often worn all the time.
My favorite picture of James Kelchner – he’s wearing a skate hat while holding an actual skateboard!
The laid-back dresser never wears athletic shoes, because this would ruin the “laid back” style. However, jeans are frequently dirty due to the frequent skateboarding, so holes are often apparent. Sometimes they aren’t even in the jeans! They can appear anywhere at any time – it’s okay, though, because they’re usually baggy enough to hide them until needed. It is not necessary to wear a belt at all times either – it may be kept in pockets or simply left behind.
The laid-back dresser usually doesn’t wear any sunglasses, since they don’t want to cover up their eyes. Hats and beanies do the trick.
The laid-back dresser usually shaves all or most of his hair off, so as not to hide anything with long hair – but making it look good is still important!
-The “I Just Rolled Off My Board” Dresser…
This type wears athletic shoes, unlike the laid-back dresser. However, they still wear jeans that have holes in them – at their knees. Sometimes these jeans are even ripped even before getting on a skateboard! I do not know why, but it seems to make the shoe fit better. The “I just rolled off my board” dresser does not wear t-shirts – however, they must have an awesome hairstyle to make up for it! They usually either have a mullet or long hair. Both are acceptable, but the mullet is preferred by most skateboarders.
They typically wear hats, but not always the same type as the laid-back dresser. The “I just rolled off my board” dresser’s hat is usually worn backward or forwards, while the other type wears it backward only for a brief moment after getting off of their skateboard.
The sunglasses are still needed to protect from sun and rain – these two dressers can be different, but rarely do they differ from sunglasses.
The “I just rolled off my board” dresser likes to show off his muscles by wearing a sleeveless shirt or a tank top – a very good way to get girls! It is acceptable to wear a belt if you’re trying to impress someone else who isn’t a skateboarder, though.
The “I just rolled off my board” dresser’s type of hair includes spiked and gelled hair styles – but still it is preferred to not cover up the eyes. However, sometimes they wear bandanas across their faces after coming home from a long day at school or work.
How to Get the Skater Style
-Buy a skateboard
The first step is to get a skateboard – this should be the primary goal if you want to dress like a skateboarder. No matter how much you spend on other items, your look will never come together until you have a skateboard! You could even buy an old one and fix it up so that it works better than a new board, but this is not necessary.
-Buy jeans with holes in them
It is not always recommended that you buy jeans that already have holes in them – it depends on how many you want and where they are. Of course, some skaters will tell you never to get ripped jeans while others don’t care as long as they’re cool, but it is up to you.
-Buy a hat
All skateboarders wear hats – this should be an easy step! However, make sure that you buy one that will not cover your eyes because the only sunglasses allowed are those worn to protect from sun and rain – no others like snowboarding glasses or goggles are allowed in this fashion.
-Buy athletic shoes or hiking boots
It is up to you whether you want to buy athletic shoes or hiking boots, but it is incredibly important that they are real sneakers. Tennis shoes are not allowed because they do not protect your ankles well enough – basketball shoes should also be avoided for the same reason.
Start with a pair of athletic shoes and see how you like them…
-Respect the skateboarders
Skaters are unpredictable, and it’s important to stay away from them as they can be very dangerous. If a rail is nearby make sure you’re far enough back so that when the skater falls off their board it won’t hit yours! For your safety, it is best to not go skateboarding when you’re in a strange place or around people we don’t know.
-Learn how to skateboard
This should be the final step in obtaining the skater style – no one will respect you if you aren’t willing to learn and practice! Learn at home and practice on your board over and over again so that you can go out in public and have people think that you’ve been skating all your life!
My Thoughts:
Skaters wear clothing that is comfortable, practical, and stylish. They do not follow fashion trends because they create their style. If you want to dress like a skater, make sure your clothes are functional for skating. If you want to look fashionable and sporty at the same time, then your dress code must be designed correctly.
Clothes: Button-up shirts, polo, and t-shirts are the most common item of clothing worn by skaters. However, if you want to look sporty while keeping your style, consider wearing a tank top. A lot of skaters wear these regularly because they’re both comfortable and stylish – a “must-have” if you want to dress like a skater.
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