When the world was introduced to Tommy Hilfiger in 1985, brand recognition was not so easy, in fact, his first few seasons of designing menswear were just a little off-putting for some, his stuff back then leaned hard on young-and-hip references to achieve that signature look: athletic branding, overused digital fonts, and details like logo-microphone-wearing uniforms that looked way too rehearsed. But even with these early kinks still to be worked out, Hilfiger was quickly establishing himself as the authentic voice of American youth and working at staying there. By the late ‘80s, he’d started adding more sophisticated streetwear influences like knitted sweaters and track pants to his stable of on-trend looks. And by the turn of the millennium, he’d completely taken it over with a full-blown frenzy of localized streetwear crazes like technical sportswear and faded heritage detailing that have defined his ever since. Technical Sportswear
Perhaps most surprising of all the Tommy Hilfiger trends we’ve seen over the years is technical sportswear, sure, there’s always been a healthy interest in activewear for men, but it’s typically been a subculture unto itself, with no real influence from fashion. But with the widespread influence of gym culture in the early 2000s, a new generation of designers got excited by the style’s athletic influences and the idea of creating high-performance clothing, Hilfiger was at the forefront of this movement, and by 2002 he was producing technical sportswear focused on such hits as zippered hoodies, cropped track pants, and compression-style compression shorts.
Hilfiger’s technical sportswear has always been about the details and about taking cues from athletics for the fit and fabrics, but it’s never been about re-creating the look and feel of a specific sport. So if you’re looking for something a bit more tailored and a little more specific, Tommy Hilfiger’s technical sportswear is a great place to start. Strewn Heritage Dressing
The Tommy Hilfiger trend that’s perhaps been most successfully adapted to the modern era is his love of antiqued detailing, this trend started with the brand’s penchant for vintage Americana details like American flags printed on American-made textiles and hand-stitched details. But as the brand’s own aesthetic grew more abstract, it was only a matter of time before that aesthetic was applied to the rest of the clothing lineup, by the early 2000s, tommy hilfiger was regularly featuring graphic prints and rayon-and-spandex knits that were cut to look as if they’d been faded with muck. Paired with natural fibers like twill or cotton, this look is one of the most authentic and authenticating looks you can wear to feel like you were born in the ‘90s. The Japanese Influence
The influence of Japanese culture on American fashion is the most wide-ranging and, perhaps, the most successful of the Tommy Hilfiger trends, this influence began when Hilfiger embraced the idea of localizing his brand to fit the local tastes and cultures of the various cities where he had retail stores. But it went beyond this to embrace an entire mood and aesthetic of Japanese-inspired fashion that took cues from traditional Japanese aesthetics as well as modern Japanese streetwear influences. Localized graphics, bold neon accents, and innovative takes on traditional Japanese textiles like check and kimono prints have all been signature components of this look and while this look always had a local flavor, it’s only been in recent years that it’s expanded internationally with brand-sponsored collaborations with Japanese brands.
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