Steez just isn’t what it used to be. From Dennis Rodman to Robin Williams, there are certain icons in the fashion world that used to exude steez, channelling an authentic, ineffable aura of easy style that just couldn’t be replicated. But lately, it’s been feeling like steez is seriously lacking. Here’s why.
What is steez?
Although the term ‘steez’ can be loosely summed up through its etymology - a combination of the words ‘style’ and ‘ease’, conveying a sense of cool, effortlessness - it's often difficult to pinpoint precisely what gives someone steez. Steez isn’t something that can be learnt or bought: either you have it or you don’t, and that’s partly what makes it so hard to describe.
First made big by rap group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five on their 1982 track “It’s Nasty (Genius of Love)”, steez has become a popular term in fashion, where it’s used to describe the slick, easy approach to style that some people naturally have. It’s worth noting that ‘steez’ is also a term used in outdoors action sports like snowboarding, where it has been adopted to describe being naturally light on your feet, but it’s steez in fashion that we want to talk about.
When it comes to clothing, steez is the difference between you wearing your clothes and your clothes wearing you. It’s a kind of je ne sais quoi that fashion mfers would argue is a God-given gift: you have it or you don’t. The term ‘sauce’ in the fashion world is arguably a synonym of steez, used to describe a person who has a certain style, confidence and attraction about them. Similarly to steez, sauce also can’t be pinpointed to any specific style of clothing or brand; it's more of a vague vibe than a distinct look, but both terms are rooted in being authentically yourself in the way you dress.
Who has steez?
One man that no one can dispute definitely has steez is Matty Matheson, the Canadian chef and restaurateur who’s become infamous for his fits. Whilst Matheson’s style doesn't immediately stand out as being overly unique - his looks are often made up of simple pieces like denim jackets, graphic tees, and workwear sets - they have this ineffable quality that gives them an undeniable sense of steez. You could argue it's Mathson’s styling, but the reality is that the root of his steez is found in his aura.
That’s because steez is not about dressing well: you could have the most impeccably styled fit and still lack steez. Instead, the root of steez lies in wearing clothing that fits your vibe and look, and that you feel completely comfortable in. Steez comes from dressing as your most authentic self; not playing dress up in a style borrowed from somebody else. Just look at the natural, casual way the likes of Tony Bourdain, Dennis Rodman, or Robin Williams wear looks that on someone else might appear unnatural or costume-like. That’s steez.
How is social media killing steez?
The reason we’re seeing a decline in steez lies primarily in the saturation of dupes and influencers on social media right now. With new items, trends, and cores blowing up every other week, we’re constantly being pushed to reinvent our style, encouraged to buy into the new big thing that everyone’s wearing right now. From adidas Sambas to Essentials hoodies, viral items are sucking individuality and personality out of the fashion sphere, resulting in thousands of people who are honestly starved of steez.
How do you get steez?
We know we already said that steez can’t be taught, but there are some things you can do to build on your steez. For one, stop wearing clothes that aren’t you. As a general rule, we’d suggest that, if you don’t like an item of clothing the first time you see it, you shouldn’t let yourself be convinced “it’s actually kind of cool” after the second, third, or hundredth time. Not immediately vibing with a piece of clothing means that, the chances are, it won’t help you out when it comes to steez. You should feel naturally drawn to the items in your wardrobe: too often nowadays we’re influenced to buy pieces that we don’t actually like.
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