Culture Vulture: Four trends that have revolutionised modern fashion

From inexpensive chain store brands to blow-the-mortgage designer clothes, people choose the style that gives them their identity.

Fashion writer Josh Sims recently released a book titled 100 Ideas that Changed Street Style - a dissection of key moments in fashion that changed the way we dress today.

The book highlights iconic items of clothing - how they were worn, what the look was born of, the cultural background of a particular style and how it resonates in fashion today. Four of these styles are prevalent on South African streets.

Grunge

This fashion trend - from the 1990s music phenomenon that featured bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden - made the untucked, oversized flannel shirt a fashion must. Today the unisex item has become just the thing to wrap around your waist over a simple vest worn with baggy boyfriend jeans. The look, regarded as sulky and edgy, must be worn with attitude.

Greaser

A style from the 1950s, the term greaser comes from the slicked-back hair of the time. The trend was popularised by American guys and dolls who joined motorcycle gangs, drove hot rods and listened to rock 'n' roll. The greasers made the leather jacket a classic item to have in your closet.

Hipsters

Girls often wear high-waisted skinny jeans and Doc Martens, have pierced noses and mohawk haircuts to complete the look. Inspired by fashion, music and urban living, ''hipsterism" began as an urban phenomenon of the 1940s and came from downtown New York City. Locally, the homes of the hipster are Joburg's Braamfontein and Cape Town's Woodstock.

Geek Chic

The ''anti-fashion" fashion trend arose in the year 2000. Young ''anti-stylish" individuals adopted ''geeky" items like oversized black horn-rimmed glasses, suspenders and braces, high-water trousers and felt hats. One of the prime movers in the local fashion industry, South African Fashion Week director Lucilla Booyzen, pulls this look off daily with her short fringe, nerd glasses and high-waist skirts.