Fashion is different everywhere and as a teenager in the U.S., it’s easy to think that trends here set the standard. If you step outside the country, you’ll see that style isn’t all the same. Different countries have their own unique fashion takes influenced by culture, climate and history. While oversized hoodies, sneakers and athleisure wear dominate American teen fashion, other parts of the world have entirely different takes on what’s cool. VALLEY is fully invested in this phenomenon so let’s take a look.
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Street Style: U.S. vs. The World
In the U.S., streetwear is super common. Think baggy jeans, graphic tees and chunky sneakers. Brands like Nike and Adidas are super popular and casual comfort is super normalized. But in places like South Korea, street style is more polished and intentional. Teens in Seoul mix oversized fits with tighter yet, formal layering to produce a more put-together image.
Meanwhile, in Paris, street style leans more chic with fitted clothing, neutral colors and high-quality basics. They also have different daily expectations. In the U.S., it may be okay to wear things like a sports bra and athleisure wear out to buy groceries. In Paris and other European countries, it may be looked down upon.
School Fashion: Casual vs. Put-Together
American high schools are all about casual comfort: hoodies, leggings and sneakers are the everyday uniform. But in Japan, school fashion has an entirely different vibe. While uniforms are common even outside of school, fashion is more playful, with layering, skirts, collars and more like a traditional private school look. European teens, especially in places like Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom tend to dress more put together. They wear things like collared shirts with a school emblem on it, keeping it classy and comfortable yet put together.
Direct Head to Head
In comparison to the United States, Europeans have very different values in their clothing. People in the United States may be buying from companies like SHEIN and other cheap brands. A lot of Europeans like to shop from brands such as Zara and Stradavarius, which were both founded in Europe. Not to mention in comparison to the United States stores, they tend to be a lot more modest, less cut and more professional.
Unlike the United States teenager who wears a shirt cut up into pieces, Europeans seem to take more of a covered approach. Even stores which are located in both countries are different. Brands like Brandy Melville will have different products depending on the country to fit the standards of that location’s society.
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Where Fashion Is Headed
With social media connecting fashion worldwide, different styles are combining more than ever. Korean inspired layering, European minimalism and even thrifted vintage looks are becoming more popular among American teens. As fashion continues to evolve, the mix of styles from different cultures will only grow.
No matter where you are, fashion is a reflection of personality and culture. Whether it’s oversized streetwear in the U.S., structured minimalism in Europe or clean looks in Japan, style is always shifting, proving that there’s no single way to dress, just different ways to stand out.
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