Urban Styles chronicles the under the radar phenomenon of Punk Hardcore music blending with Graffiti in the metropolis known as New York City. This tale is told through the eyes of band members that were adept at wielding spray cans and writers that represented New York Hardcore on the streets as well as related iconography that reinforced the connection between these two subcultures. The conventional notion of what a graffiti writer is supposed to look and be into, is challenged, as stated on this quote from the book's jacket: "When you hear the term Graffiti Artist most people think of B-Boys in Kangol hats parachute pants and break dancing. No one thinks shaved heads, Doc Martens and CBGB mosh pits! But there was and is a strong connection between the NYC graffiti scene and the NY Hardcore scene..." Lou Koller from Sick Of It All A vital component of this synthesis was, the native to NYC, inclusion of Hardcore fans within traditional Graffiti crews, sometimes at odd with one another, but always united in spreading the aesthetic of this music onto a wider visual medium. Inside the book you'll find interviews with key crew members as well as the first writers who played in bands; the ones that followed them and the modern day practitioners that are still upholding this tradition. There is also a plethora of iconic images within, culled from record/demo tape covers, flyers, t-shirts and paintings that celebrate the union of these two street cultures, most of them never seen or done specifically for the book. Underground movements, art, music, sociology, urban cultures; all of these disparate yet related topics are a piece of the puzzle. They collectively shine a spotlight on subcultures that have gone on to have a far reaching influence onto the world-at-large and it all can be traced back to this concrete jungle known as the big apple.

Harlem style has become a global style, bringing sophistication to urban home design everywhere. In photos that explore the work of some of the hottest names in contemporary urban design, this book surveys the historical roots and the stylistic elements that define this trendsetting aesthetic. 100 photos.

In Berlin Street Style, noted design expert Angelika Taschen defines the unique fashion sense of this hip city. The book showcases the popular “anti-chic” look seen throughout Berlin, offering advice on how to create a simple, casual, and appeal­ingly disheveled appearance with vintage pieces, essential basics, and carefully selected accessories. For travelers to Berlin, the book recommends the city’s top destinations for fashion, beauty, design, and culture. With street-style photography and hand-drawn illustrations, this accessible style guide explores how Berlin women dress and where they find their fashion inspiration, highlighting trendsetting blogs and local labels.

Infantus urbanus (defn.): Young mammal raised in city environment. Infantus urbanus love nights at the opera, modern architecture, and fine cuisine. Difficult to spot at night due to their penchant for black clothing. See also URBAN BABIES.

Dive into the heart and soul of urban life with "The Soul of a City: Deep Dives into Urban Culture" by T.J. Ravenscroft. This compelling exploration transcends conventional boundaries to examine the intricate tapestry of human interactions within the built environment. Ravenscroft navigates the dynamic interplay between social, economic, and political elements that shape urban spaces. Through detailed analysis and evocative narratives, the book reveals how cities become arenas for the convergence of ideas, relationships, and cultural expressions. Whether you are an urbanologist or simply curious about the essence of urban living, this book offers profound insights into the forces that make cities vibrant, complex, and endlessly fascinating.

The Nigerian and West African practice of aso ebi fashion invokes notions of wealth and group dynamics in social gatherings. Okechukwu Nwafor’s volume Aso ebi investigates the practice in the cosmopolitan urban setting of Lagos, and argues that the visual and consumerist hype typical of the late capitalist system feeds this unique fashion practice. The book suggests that dress, fashion, aso ebi, and photography engender a new visual culture that largely reflects the economics of mundane living. Nwafor examines the practice’s societal dilemma, whereby the solidarity of aso ebi is dismissed by many as an ephemeral transaction. A circuitous transaction among photographers, fashion magazine producers, textile merchants, tailors, and individual fashionistas reinvents aso ebi as a product of cosmopolitan urban modernity. The results are a fetishization of various forms of commodity culture, personality cults through mass followership, the negotiation of symbolic power through mass-produced images, exchange value in human relationships through gifts, and a form of exclusion achieved through digital photo editing. Aso ebi has become an essential part of Lagos cosmopolitanism: as a rising form of a unique visual culture it is central to the unprecedented spread of a unique West African fashion style that revels in excessive textile overflow. This extreme dress style is what an individual requires to transcend the lack imposed by the chaos of the postcolonial city.

Based on Urban Design Associates’ in-house training procedures, this unique handbook details the techniques and working methods of a major urban design and planning firm. Covering the process from basic principles to developed designs, the book outlines the range of project types and services that urban designers can offer and sets out a set of general operating guidelines and procedures for: Developing a master plan, including techniques for engaging citizens in the design process and technical analysis to evaluate the physical form of the neighborhood, centered on a design charrette with public participation; Preparing a pattern book to guide residential construction in a new traditional town, including the documentation of architectural and urban precedents in a form that can be used by architects and builders; Implementing contextual architectural design, including methods of applying the essential qualities of traditional architecture in many styles to modern programs and construction techniques. This invaluable guide offers an introductory course in urbanism as well as an operations manual for architects, planners, developers, and public officials.