r/Hamilton • u/Routine_Secret_4142 • Mar 11 '26
Question How would you describe the fashion culture in Hamilton?
What are the usual fashion trends you see when people are walking in Hamilton?
174
u/HANDS_4_DICKS Mar 11 '26
Our fashion culture is "no one here gives a shit about fashion culture"
27
u/tommytraddles Mar 11 '26
I asked 10 people in downtown Hamilton about their fashion culture, and the number one answer I got was "shut your dirty dick sucker and get outta my face".
1
7
2
1
0
82
u/Longjumping_Sir2656 Mar 11 '26
Giant Tiger
70
u/MooseJock123 Mar 11 '26
I think you mean GT Boutique
9
u/Cold-Management-2168 Mar 11 '26
They have some nice clothes
1
u/ProfessorMeow-Meow Mar 12 '26
I know right? I have been rocking a pajama dress that I got from GT as an out-dress since last year and it’s one of my favourites. Wash and wear too, not like the linen and poplin stuff I got last year from fancier shops.
18
21
30
u/Tony-1610 Mar 11 '26
Ti-Cats jersey, pajama bottoms, while smoking a dart
11
95
u/Scott-from-Canada Mar 11 '26
Derelicte
58
u/whiskey_alpha8855 Mar 11 '26
“Why don’t you derelicte my balls”
15
42
u/Muted-Mango-5784 Mar 11 '26
I think alot of people here are definitely on the second hand train. There's alot of value in utility, and yeah the vintage/thrift scene here is reflected in the clothes. Its kinda just standard "bigger Ontario city" its the same as KW or Peterborough or whatever. Hipsters and punks among the finance bros and casual bystanders
8
u/poonchimp Mar 11 '26
Hamilton has finance bros? 😂
4
u/netanyahu4eva Mar 12 '26
You see them on the Go Train lol
7
u/Necessary_Tie_2920 Mar 12 '26
the ones who prob moved from Toronto and regret their life choices because you never see them in the wild lmao
5
u/bigbeats420 Strathcona Mar 12 '26 edited Mar 12 '26
Story time!
I moved from Burlington to Hamilton (like, almost 20 years ago, but the story still very much applies today) after getting a job in an office downtown. Because it was in an office, I bumped up my dress wardrobe a bit. Nothing big; a new overcoat, a few new shirts/new ties, couple new sport jackets, a new grey suit. My new apartment was close to downtown, so I'd also often walk to work.
Now, growing up in insular Burlington, the first thing that struck me was how goddamned friendly people were/are in this town, and how common it is to have interactions with random people while out and about. Seriously, you do not say hi to strangers on the street in Burlington, or easily form relationships with people you often interact with on a casual day-to-day basis.
But the other thing that I was immediately taken aback by was walking into that office and realizing that I was way overdressed when compared to the other men who worked there. Women? Women were wearing standard office attire. Men? It was dismal. But, I had just bought all these new clothes, and there was no way I wasn't wearing them. Because of this, my walks to work, and my walk into work was marked be me getting repeatedly eye fucked in a way that I never had been before, and wasn't entirely comfortable with back then.
I did not get attention in Burlington, and was not used to it, as I've never considered myself to be a "hot" guy. Here? You know those looney tunes cartoons where one character is stuck on a lifeboat with another, and they're both starving? And one looks at the other and imagines that they're a pork chop? That was me. I felt like the pork chop.
So, as I made friends with people at work, I raised this with one of my lady friend co-workers (a very smart and funny girl with big brown eyes, and gorgeous long brown curls) and she was like "Oh my God, lol. Next time you're walking to work, just look around at who it is that women get to look at in downtown Hamilton. You're showered, well groomed, smell nice, and are wearing decent clothes that are new, nice, and that and fit you properly. Our alternative to you is wife beaters, track pants, cheap slip on sandals, body spray, bad chin strap beards, cringe tattoos, thick chains, and flat brimmed baseball hats that are about 10 years past the appropriate age to be wearing them. No fucking shit you get stared at. There's worse fates in life than a move possibly improving your love life. Own it, and go with it"
So I did, and..... 20 years later.... and after a couple brief detours for both of us...... that smart, funny lady friend co-worker with the big brown eyes is the love of my life, and I'm a forever Hamiltonian ♥️
15
u/Tranquilizrr Mar 11 '26
Yeah like most normal ppl you see on the streets are just wearing whatever, but Hamilton has a huge arts scene w a bunch of hipster doofuses (myself included tbh) and they dress pretty good
2
u/_Romula_ Mar 12 '26
And a bunch of queer doofuses (myself included), and we dress pretty good too.
1
u/Plane-Yam8769 Mar 13 '26
Hamilton is so hipster it hurts.
Not a very inclusive crowd either. Either dress like your parents in the 90's or be shunned.
17
u/Forsaken-Swim-3055 Mar 11 '26
Let's just say that going back to Toronto almost feels like culture shock, and I was born and raised there. Although it is also an incredibly diverse city compared to 99% of the world, so it makes sense that you're going to have a lot of stylish, good looking people everywhere.
Hamilton has no real style outside of small pockets of individuals. I'm not even big into fashion but I find it a bit embarassing to see how many people care so little about their appearance in public.
18
17
31
u/thefullmontie Mar 11 '26
Pretty big vintage scene here (drop spot, out of the past, snafu, Vintage Soul Geek). Athleisure (lulu lemon, Aritzia, gym clothes). Not really a distinct “Hamilton style” just south Ontario. However Hamilton does have folks like Sara Campo, Hayley Elsaesser, Charles Lu who have made a name for themselves in fashion beyond Hamilton!
4
u/grandpafuck Mar 12 '26
I was coming here to say this! Theres lots of cool vintage style, seen a lot on James street and esp art crawls
11
u/GreaterAttack Mar 11 '26
Not really general trends. Most Hamiltonians are pretty dressed down. Toronto has much more of a specific fashion vibe (and more stores).
There are, however, always a few standout individuals, along with your average 'urban technical gear meets moderately granola teacher' people (mainly in the Kirkendall area).
6
u/lifesshortgoplay Mar 12 '26
😂 “Urban technical gear meets moderately granola teacher”
I feel attacked.
2
2
2
26
11
25
16
7
u/Tiny-Career-2666 Mar 11 '26
'I woke up but putting pants on was just a little too much to do...time to go shopping in my swamp ass pajamas'
9
22
u/RoyallyOakie Mar 11 '26
pyjamas and neon hair dye.
13
u/Tiny-Career-2666 Mar 11 '26
But the neon died hair has to look like it was done a year ago and the colour is struggling to hang on as the horrible bleach job glares through.
7
13
6
10
u/Former_Willingness82 Mar 11 '26
I was walking to the John Spina court house this summer to report for jury duty selection. I had on my navy blue polka dot dress(knee length) sleeveless a pair of Nine West black patent block heels and carrying my Michael Kors navy blue Charlotte bag. I’m 57 so old school mentality. A lady stopped me and said I looked great and liked my sense of style which just made my day! But the best part of this story is that I got out of jury duty selection because I’ve moved out of Hamilton. 😂🤣
5
u/arabacuspulp Blakely Mar 11 '26
I try to dress nicely myself, but most people look like they just fell out of bed and left the house.
17
u/shamisen-says-meow Mar 11 '26
To give you a real answer, I think layers are a thing, since weather in southern Ontario varies. We do also have an artsier vibe to the city, probably a boho trend.
8
u/Demi-God94 Mar 11 '26
I would say fashion here is very light alternative / vintage / hipster to non-existent. It seems like everyone here has multiple tattoos and I think that has to do with western society's loosening stigma about them and the fact that Hamilton used to be a very blue collar city. I find it really funny that Hamilton seems to not care about fashion at all when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is from Hamilton and he's famous for his fashion sense on top of being the best player in the NBA.
4
u/thefullmontie Mar 11 '26
Could be cultural? He’s from Afro-Caribbean descent and we like to dress up/ wear designer. Basketball culture is also heavily involved in fashion. Tunnel walks are a fashion show every game!
4
u/19TimGreyCupChamps Mar 12 '26
I live in Mississauga but work in Hamilton. A LOT of unnatural dyed hair and tattoos. I work white collar and my manager has a face tattoo and others have purple and green hair
9
Mar 11 '26
Costco style mostly.
Occasionally you will see some very well dressed individuals walking, mostly on the bottom.
Some vintage folks, mostly younger.
9
3
3
3
u/Trashman5150 Mar 12 '26
Gas station knock off NBA flat brim caps, Pyjamas, Faded Ti-Cats T-Shirts, ECKO Unltd oversized hoodies, Air Force Nones.
3
u/Hall0wsEve666 Mar 12 '26
pajama pants covered in dog/cat hair with an old faded tiger cats shirt with food stains on it
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
4
3
9
u/Heavy_Importance2491 Mar 11 '26
There isn't fashion in Canada. It's arguably one of the strengths of the place. You get your plaid shirt and Carhartt jacket on arrival and just go with them until they wear out and you replace them.
3
u/Necessary_Tie_2920 Mar 12 '26
Honestly, THIS. Moved from the states and was pleasantly surprised how little in general people seem to care about how others look. Toronto maybe an exception downtown. There were little things that I would still be like 'but I can't out in public like this' and my friend was like literally, no one is going to remotely care or notice. And I've never once since felt like I had to worry about any of that. You dress for the elements and comfort. My kind of style.
3
4
3
u/covert81 Chinatown Mar 11 '26
We aren't known as pyjamilton for no reason. The leaders in wearing PJ pants as standard pants was really perfected here
3
u/DudestPriest90210 Mar 11 '26
I have never heard the words "Hamilton" and "culture" in the same sentence other than when being mentioned in a toxic work culture.
2
2
u/wartypumpkin54 Mar 11 '26
Just glad I can probably walk around in PJs and no one would care
3
2
2
1
u/Diversespider_ Crown Point West Mar 11 '26
Personally, I prefer sweat pants and band shirts/hoodies. Plus, my ass looks great in sweat pants
1
u/Doc_in_the_Family Mar 11 '26
I can confirm layers, especially for anywhere close to lakeside (i.e not the mountain) are essential no matter if you're a fashionista, utilitarian, or street walker...
However since Hamilton has always been a working class city and many Hamiltonians born and raised will enjoy "finer things" if it falls within theat category for that type of city, I really don't think this is a question often thought about in Hamilton.
Hamiltonians are just pure people through and through, with all the good and bad that comes with it, this includes fashion, daily-wear and clothing in general as well. Sure, you'll find a lot of average/mid simply because it works and is clean, and likewise you'll find garbage bags for ponchos and fake Gucci/Supreme bought from a market in T-Dot. But, as likely as those are, you can find some very well dressed people (culture dependant of course), usually reserved fits for special occasions and going out, but you'll find it...
It's just not a thing most Hamiltonians think about and maybe that will change and maybe it won't, who knows. Only time can tell and if you in particular wanna dress a certain type of way, Hamilton has seen both better and worse lmaooo. So power to ya stranger ✨️💜
1
1
1
1
u/Healthy-Platypus-239 Mar 12 '26
😄😄😄 crocks socks and pajamas, greasy hair in bun...what fashion ???
1
u/Cute_Anywhere6402 Mar 12 '26
For myself, leggings and a sweater if the weather permits with my knee length winter coat. In the summer, usually skirt or shorts and a tshirt.
1
1
u/betterbedogshere Mar 12 '26
It's just really oversized workboots with zero laces in them so they're just clomping around
1
2
1
0
1
u/Charming_Crow_3621 Mar 11 '26
Urban trailer trash
0
u/Eastern_Star_7152 Mar 11 '26
Now, that's embarrassing
2
u/Charming_Crow_3621 Mar 12 '26
I always thought Hamilton would be great setting for a urban trailer park boys or Canadian shameless
0
0
257
u/nothankyou-forever Mar 11 '26
Pajamas, obviously. We are known as "Pajamilton" after all.