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'Notorious' fashion not new, but grooves
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The Jan. 16 release of "Notorious" at a theater near you not only depicts the life of rapper Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. Biggie Smalls or The Notorious B.I.G., but displays clothing that reflects sophistication reminiscent of Chicago gangsters of the early 20th century.
Where hip-hop fashion has evolved from mentions of Adidas (Run DMC) and Nike "Air Force Ones" (Nelly) to athletic jerseys and oversize denim in the late '70s and '80s, B.I.G.'s shout-outs regarding Versace, Moschino and Gucci, among others, moved the spotlight to high-end designers in the '90s. Sean (now Diddy) Combs got into the fashion game himself with his Sean John line, which hews to conservative patterns and fabrics.
Traditional menswear remains a marker of status, which is not lost on many a rap record (and on films, for that matter). Solid and pinstripe suits are timeless. "Notorious" does a nice job with the costumes, which combines street wear with boardroom attire. If the film wins an Oscar in this category, I wouldn't be surprised.
