Gucci Monogram Dapper Dan Jacket Worn by Van Silk

Hip-Hop fashion took on many forms and styles of expression, while the music has always represented creativity, the fashion in Hip-Hop took on that same effort where artists, DJs, dancers, and fans of the culture would dress to express their fashion taste, what people in their community were wearing locally to influence urban street wear or B-boy style. The street/B-Boy style included jeans, sneakers, tank tops, over-sized clothing, large gold jewelry, velour sweat suits, Cazals glasses, and Kangol hats. The Hip-Hop style of the 1980s were so unique in New York, one could tell the difference of what neighborhoods and boroughs people were from based on their style of dress.

Daniel Day (b. 1944), known as Dapper Dan, is an American fashion designer from Harlem, New York. As New York’s premier designer of custom leather goods, Dapper Dan worked out of his boutique on 125th Street in Harlem tailoring to all the city’s top Hip-Hop artists. His boutique operated from 1982–92 and is most associated with introducing high fashion to the Hip-Hop world. Dan's trademark was his bold and unauthorized usage of logos from high-end luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Fendi. 

Van Silk (Ralph Barella, birthday unknown) is a legendary Hip-Hop promoter. Van Silk grew up in the South Bronx and was a major promoter of uptown clubs like The Roxy. He promoted over 300 shows in the late 1970s with promoters like Mike & Dave, Ray Chandler, and Arthur Armstrong. Van Silk is also the Founder and creator of Hip-Hop Pay Per View specials, "Rap Mania" and "Sisters In The Name Of Rap”.