From Street Food to Street Fashion
By Lily Miro
The best creative endeavors are the ones vetted through the public eye. This is the streets. Whether it's the vintage Vivienne Westwood bag you adorn on your daily walk to work or the mouth-watering Birria Tacos served from a small truck between La Cienega Blvd. and Sepulveda Blvd. - the creative choices we see on the streets are the epitome of authenticity. This is where the link between street food and street fashion comes into play. No one is being paid to approve the halal stand on the corner of the intersection; it is simply there and thriving because the public has an unadulterated love for it. No one is being paid to approve or promote the eclectic outfit of the woman who picks up a shawarma wrap from the halal stand on her lunch break. She is being herself only for her approval and for the streets to see.
Big cities such as Los Angeles and New York are a melting pot of different cultures. Thus, they are a melting pot of street food and street fashion. The clothing we wear as we step out of the comfort of our homes and the food we go buy after taking this step are inextricably linked. In a 2022 article, Vogue interviewed a variety of people in Los Angeles about their street style. The article explored how street style is indicative of Los Angeles culture. Model Matisse Andrews states that the easy quality of life that exudes from the streets of LA “influences style in a way, again, where it just feels kind of effortless”. In a similar vein, facialist Angrea Galdamex explains the connection between her style and her own LA culture. She wears a shirt she has had since she was little and a beautiful Wales Bonner skirt that she picked out because it reminded her of a baseball shirt, and she loves the Dodgers. Galdamex also admits that “Chicano culture is a huge part of my style influence”. Between her subtle nods to the Los Angeles baseball team and her inspiration being her own culture, with roots heavily founded on the streets of Los Angeles, it is clear that street fashion is linked to the culture of the city.
Similarly, street food is catered to the needs of the people who walk the streets. As a staple of south Los Angeles food trucks, street tacos are integrated into the city's culture. Los Angeles’ proximity to the Mexican border has allowed for the most traditional Mexican food outside of Mexico to seep into the city. Many of these cuisines have become street food, as quick lunches for city workers on their lunch breaks were necessary. Thus, street tacos were born.
In the same way, street fashion in LA has adopted the undertones of the city. Many people have started to wear shoes that are best worn when driving, such as kitten heels, tall boots, and platform sandals. As a non-walkable city, street fashion in LA has transformed around driving efficiency. Additionally, the cultures of LA, specifically Latino cultures, have seeped into street fashion. This is seen with Andrea Galdamex’s Chicano influence.
On the opposite coast, New Yorkers are sporting muted tones, fur socks with vintage Dior kitten heels, chich trenches, and fur coats. As the weather is colder in the east, streetwear is becoming elevated yet cozy. Just as New York street food brings a comforting, warm pick me up to the hustle and bustle of the city. New Yorkers are playing with warm weather basics, turning them into suitable staples for fall and winter. While the mini skirt is always a trending piece, people are incorporating midi and long skirts into outfits. Some even opt to place their mini skirts over a warm yet stylish pair of pants. Many are also taking advantage of New York’s vibrant art scene and opting for creative accessories that bring a touch of camp art to their outfits. An example of this is Shuang Bright’s memorable New York Fashion Week street outfit, in which she lightly held a Simone Rocha flower purse.
From Los Angeles to New York, street fashion and street food are the same. The styles that we see in our everyday lives and the food that we consume for a pick-me-up are heavily influenced by the city's culture and inspired by the consumers rather than the producers.