Street Style Is Back Stronger Than Ever After a Two-Year Pause

The past couple of years might have changed fashion as we used to know it, but street style is now back in full force.

There’s no denying the power fashion holds, and fashion shows in particular are known to make ripples across industries. Just this week, Gucci shut down the whole of Hollywood Boulevard to hold its star-studded Love Parade show, with even more stars in attendance — almost all of them wearing Gucci, of course. But when the coronavirus pandemic started, fashion was one of the industries where the changes were most felt, especially when it came to shows like Gucci’s. 

Fashion is a heavily in-person industry that moves in seasons, meaning that twice a year for a whole month people from around the world congregate in the four fashion capitals — London, Milan, New York, and Paris — to enjoy the spectacle. With even more independent fashion weeks popping up across the schedule, fashion was more hectic than ever pre-pandemic. Then, everything stopped and shows were relegated to the online space. Most brands decided to live-stream their collections via platforms like Instagram for the whole world to see, which arguably is the most democratization we’ve seen in the industry in a while. But virtual spaces also meant one of the aspects the general public enjoys most was gone: street style.

While shows are the main attraction for buyers and editors alike, it’s the buzz of the streets that keeps fashion week interesting for everyone else. Back in September, Teen Vogue took over New York with photographer Lydia Hudgens to soak in the buzz and bring you some of the best street style moments from the city. Fashion is always looking forward, but New York street style is varied and can serve as an inspiration all year round so, sometimes, it is also nice to look back — especially as we head into the colder months.

Below, check out 41 street style shots captured by Lydia Hudgens: