Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Remember Stussy Retro Surf & Skate Wear

Stussy Secrets - Once A Must-Have, Now Vintage Surf & Skate Apparel

Was it spelled Stussy or Stüssy? Was it pronounced "Stew-Cee" or did it rhyme with "hussy"? Didn't matter! If you were a skater, snowboarder, surfer or raver back in the 1990s, you most likely owned something from the Stussy clothing line.


Created by Shawn Stussy, Stussy was for sure one of the coolest, hippest clothing brands between the late 1980s through the early 1990s.

I was somewhat surprised to discover Shawn Stussy is still bringing it. Gotta love our fellow aging hipsters. Although Shawn sold the Stussy brand to his business partner and old fiend, his S/Double Studio line of hip gear seems pretty freakin' cool for us mature, former ravers. Slick looks that are more J.Crew than loud. If I wasn't so financially conservative these days, I'd definitely order my husband some new jeans or shorts from S/Double--for now he's all Old Navy. Then again, why waste coolness on a man that doesn't care? Anyway...

Clueless about Stussy? Here are a few things you should know the '90s fashion phenomenon.



1. Shawn began his brand by selling shirts out of his car in Laguna Beach, California. At age 24, Shawn Stussy, an avid skater and surfer started his own surfboard company.

2. Stussy was possibly more popular in Europe than in the USA and continues to sell overseas.

3. In 1984, Shawn's old friend Frank Sinatra Jr. joined him in marketing his brand -- funny there's no relation between his business partner and the famous crooner.

4. Back in the early 1990s, my friends and I would head to Soho to visit the Stussy Store and load up on fashionable rave apparel.

5. Shawn Stussy has a blog right here on Blogger! Check him out here!


*Image from http://slamxhype.com/


30 comments:

Bossy Betty said...

Thanks for the 411 that will make me the coolest kid at the party!

Ms. A said...

You got me on this one, I don't recall it.

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

I don't know this brand, but I was never cool.
Cheers,
Robyn

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Riot Kitty said...

Wow, how do you remember this stuff? That was so big my freshman year in h.s. (90-91.) Can't believe this guy is still around. How did you find his blog?

Marlene said...

I'm with Ms. Anthropy on this one. CLUELESS.

TS Hendrik said...

It was bound to happen. You finally hit something I don't know anything about. And I hung out with the skater kids. But then fashion has never been a strong point with me.

Jerry said...

I remember Stussy! I so wanted to get some of the shirts but could never find them as a kid because I was lame. LOL

ScoMan said...

My brother loved all things Stussy, right into the mid to late 90's.

He might even still own a Stussy shirt or two today.

Copyboy said...

Am I wrong in thinking he's the Ed Hardy of the 90s?

1950s Atomic Ranch House said...

You make me appreciate all the things I didn't think much about back then lol...

I was still wearing my Flashdance leg warmers in the 90's hee hee...

Mimi said...

Ahhh--the great Stussy debate. I had a Stussy t-shirt. Only to impress the cute skater boys I wanted to hang with. Wore it with my Chuck Taylors. We always pronounced it "stew-see".

Amber said...

I'd totally wear that Stussy shirt you have in the picture.

I went to Catholic School and wore a uniform so I wasn't able to fully embrace this fashion phenomenon. But I definitely remember how cool the brand was.

sara said...

Talk about a flashback. I just had the most vivid memory of a kid that I was sort of crushing on in middle school. He was a Stussy junkie. Also upon reflection, perhaps not that attractive...

Salt said...

Ohhhhh memories. I was such a little skater girl when I was younger. Without a skateboard of course. I just hung out with all the skater boys. I think I still have one of my Stussy hats somewhere....

(We said "stew-see")

Ashley King said...

i DO remember stussy.... i didn't hang OUT with skater boys.... i WAS one.... yeah, i looked like a boy.... horrific!!! and i had a stussy wallet.... with a chain, but secretly hid the chain so no one would think i really WAS a boy.... i am SHOCKED that so many people have never heard of this brand!!!! nuts!

love how you always take me back in time.... love it!

cinnamonkejaro said...

The difference between Ed Hardy and Stussy (I pronounce it Stew-see, btw) is Stussy was more skater/Raver/Surfer Stylie. Ed Hardy, I don't know what it is. (I think) it's ugly, and kinda guido-y.

Hutch said...

Stussy was all the rage back in the jr. high days, I can't remember if it was before/after/at the same time as No Fear, but it definitely fit with the bagby shirts and jeans craze. I was pretty preppy though so not sure how I pulled it off! :)

MoonDoggie said...

Aaaah stussy - brings back some memories. Btw, we used to pronounce it stoosee (short oo as in book)

Macey said...

I remember Stussy!!! I always pronounced it wrong! LOL
When I was in h/s the big thing was No Fear.
He who dies with the most toys...still dies. Remember that?!

Lauren said...

Oh my gosh I had SO much Stussy when I was in junior high. I grew up right near Laguna Beach, so that might be why I remember it. I also loved trying to write his name. Man I was cool then

Pat Tillett said...

Ally,
A new bit of original bling for you tomorrow at my place
you better show up, girl...

VKT said...

I guess I am too old to remember this brand. I had never heard of it until you mentioned it. sigh

Anonymous said...

I rememebr this brand. I was a skater kid..more into the grunge thing (Surprised?) But some kids at school wore it...

Megan said...

Ah, Stussy!!! The memories. These were HARD to come by in the midwest - I had an aunt who lived on the east coast who got me Stussy gear and I thought I was the coolest thing ever.

Powdered Toast Man said...

Why have I never heard of stussy before? I feel out of the loop.

Sara Louise said...

Back in high school, I'd only date a boy if he was decked out in Stussy, and I'd usually end up stealing a hat or t-shirt or something. Cute boys wore Stussy

California Keys said...

The Stussy headquarters is about two blocks away from me!

Ali said...

To this day, I can still tag the Stussy logo, right down to the umlaut over the "U". I practiced it a lot on notebook paper.

I remember Stussy and Mossimo were both big around the same time and I was utterly baffled with I started seeing Mossimo at Target 5-6 (maybe more) years back.

Frau Haselmayer said...

Oh, yes, Stüssy! Awesome! I even dragged my parents in the Stüssy Store in NCY (we're fomr Germany) back in the 90ties to get some t-shirts...

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