How to Dress Like a Hip Hop Dancer

Oversized shirts, baggy jeans, lots of bling--the style of a hip hop dancer is confident, comfortable and fashionable. Hip hop dancers wear clothing that both allows them to move and reflects the current urban fashions. Since the 1980s, hip hop fashion has steadily trickled into mainstream American culture. With the advent of MTV and BET, the style of rappers and hip hop dancers has spread into millions of homes across the country. Popular artists like Jay Z, Nelly, and Beyonce have started their own clothing lines too, which helps spread hip hop fashion to an even wider audience.

Things You'll Need

• Baggy shirt
• Dark washed jeans
• Sneakers or boots
• Jewelry
• Baseball cap
• Sunglasses

Instructions

Male hip hop dancer

1. Put on a baggy shirt. Make sure the shirt fully covers your torso. Brands like Sean John, Akademiks and Girbaud offer a variety of T-shirts with screened graphics, images and logos. Baggy polo shirts are another option.

2. Wear a hoodie. If it's cold outside, put on an oversized cotton hoodie with a zip-up front. Both Phat Farm and Rocawear offer hoodies that come in an assortment of colors and screened prints.

3. Put on a pair of dark washed jeans. The jeans should have a baggy fit and sit low on your hips. Pepe Jeans and Ecko sell long dark jeans in a variety of sizes.

4. Choose your shoes. Hip hop dancers often wear sneakers or boots. Lacoste sells different styles of white sneakers. Timberland is a popular place for hip hop artists and dancers to purchase boots.

5. Accessorize your look. Put on a fitted baseball cap with a doo-rag worn underneath. Wear a couple of heavy platinum chains around your neck and sport a pair of sunglasses.

Female hip hop dancer

1. Choose a top. Tank tops and halter tops are popular choices for hip hop dancers. Fitted cotton shirts are another option. DKNY and Dereon both sell a variety of tops and Baby Phat also provides a line for plus-sized women.

2. Put on a jacket. If the weather is chilly, wear a cropped puffy jacket or cotton hoodie. Fur-lined hoods are a popular option. Lines like Coogi and Baby Phat offer a wide selection of hip hop outerwear.

3. Wear tight-fitting, dark washed jeans. The jeans can be flared or skinny-legged. The brand Apple Bottoms sells jeans that cater to women of all shapes and sizes. Beyonce's line, Dereon, offers jeans in an assortment of washes and colors.

4. Choose your footwear. Female hip hop dancers have a lot of options when it comes to shoes. You can mimic your male counterparts by sporting a pair of sneakers or you can choose an ultra-feminine style and wear high heels or dressy boots.

5. Add some bling to your look. Put on a pair of flashy hoop earrings and gold bracelets to complete your outfit.

Tips & Warnings

• Do your research. Watch music videos and read urban music magazines. Notice what the hip hop dancers and artists are wearing. Music videos on MTV and BET are good places to find the latest hip hop styles.