Though "street style" as a term — and blogger-making, bill-paying phenomenon — came into consciousness in the age of the Internet, the concept has been around for as long as people have been, well, wearing clothes and walking on streets. Today's big names certainly owe a lot to the likes of Bill Cunningham and his unexpected shots of stylish people going about their daily business, first published in The New York Times in 1978. But, a more ambitious history could trace the line of influence all the way back from Charles Baudelaire's written observations of dandies in The Painter of Modern Life to contemporary sites like The Sartorialist.
Since so much of fashion (and fashion photography) is cyclical, we thought we'd take a look back at the OG images that capture real-life style stars showing off familiar trends, way before they came around again. The result of our deep, archival dive is a collection of images dating back to the '20s that have serious sartorial staying power — no over-shuttered street style stars involved.
1928: Another stylish duo that prove collegiate sweaters and pleated skirts didn't debut last AW — they were around in the '20s!
Photo: Brooke/Getty Images.
1951: Feed the birds. Belt your blazer. Go for a cornerless hat. If you want to take a page out of this '50's style star's book, that is.
Photo: Archivio Cameraphoto Epoche/Getty Images.
1951: Let's bring back that perfect fourth position — and midi dress.
Photo: Popperfoto/Getty Images.
Lady bags are definitely "back," but they looked just as good back in the early '50s.
Photo: The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images.
1956: That guy's into her cocoon coat, contrasting hat, and bold makeup — and so are we.
Photo: Mondadori/Getty Images.
1958: The ol' walk and talk. Spotted here with toggle coats.
Photo: Popperfoto/Getty Images.
1959: Lady in red. Always head-turning.
Photo: Howard Sochurek/Getty Images.
1960: We should take a hint from this image and put our hand on the upper thigh instead of the actual waist. Then, we should get this pink ensemble.
Photo: KAMMERMAN/Getty Images.
This jumpsuit glistens, even in black and white.
Photo: Trinity Mirror/Mirrorpix/Alamy.
1962: This is a street style photographer's dream: Bright dress, perfect lighting, and a clear path for strutting.
Photo: Luis Marden/Getty Images.
1963: Brightly coloured thoughtfulness.
Photo: Popperfoto/Getty Images.
1965: A little bit of drama always goes a long way (for catching attention and camera snaps).
Photo: Archivio Cameraphoto Epoche/Getty Images.
1965: Oh! There you are! Two racing stripe coats are better than one (kinda look like Carven and we don't hate it).
Photo: Keystone/Getty Images.
1966: This is the sartorial version of Daft Punk street style circa 1966.
Photo: Richard Davis/Getty Images.
1965: Okay, she's just killing the game.
Photo: Popperfoto/Getty Images.
1966: At first glance, this is Blake Lively. In reality, it's a '60s fashion goddess.
Photo: Popperfoto/Getty Images.
1967: Sheers and feathers looked just as good in 1967 as they do today. Especially with that 'do.
Photo: Wesley/Getty Images.
1968: Looking off into the distance thoughtfully (and mod outfits) have been street style musts for decades.
Photo: Roy Jones/Getty Images.
1968: Lean with it, rock with it, like it's the late 1960s.
Photo: John Minihan/Getty Images.
1969: Nothing says nonchalant style like a bag over the shoulder. Can we resurrect this pose? And that cobalt blue?
Photo: Vernon Merritt III/Getty Images.
1969: Fashion police? Don't pull me over. It's just leopard print.
Photo: Keystone/Getty Images.
1969: We want to go back to 1969, take this coat, scarf, hat, and boots, and then come back to 2015 and get this exact shot up on The Sartorialist.
Photo: Stringer/Getty Images.
1972: We've said it before, we'll say it again: #twinning is back. Double points for making it work with an Annie Hall vibe.
Photo: Ian Showell/Getty Images.
1973: We're obsessed with her and those bellbottom overalls circa 1973. Topshop, please make this.
Photo: Graham Wood/Getty Images.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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