The video for “Can it All Be So Simple” stands out in Wu-Tang’s catalog as one of its most memorable videos. The melcoholy intro to the track features the sound of rain falling as a haunting sample of “The Way We Were” by Gladys Knight & the Pips runs in the background. The vocal samples starts off with Gladys Knight’s voice stating “Everybody is talking about the good ol’ days, the good ol days’” before kicking into the familiar chorus—“Can it all be so simple then.”

That cuts right into the first verse by way of Raekwon, wearing a striking red, blue and yellow Snow Beach pullover from Polo Ralph Lauren. The piece—originally released in 1992—had been purchased by Raekwon the day of the shoot itself. Obviously, Raekwon had no idea at the time that the jacket would become iconic, but considering the presence and popularity of Polo in the Wu’s native NYC, there’s no way this garment wouldn’t catch on. In 2015 he shared the story behind his outfit for the video with Complex. Raekwon found the jacket at Abraham & Straus in downtown Brooklyn and purchased the last XXL in the store for a couple hundred bucks, commenting, "I felt like it was one of a kind because it seemed like this was the only jacket in my size waiting for me."

In the years since, the item has become one of the most sought after Polo pieces for hardcore Lo-heads. Collectors have paid thousands for the exact jacket, as well as other similar Snow Beach styles. Certainly Polo has been popular as a whole with various Wu-Tang members, but the Snow Beach jacket holds a special place in the group’s history. Raekwon even made his own flip of the jacket in collaboration with the brand CL-95 in 2015. Differing slightly from the original, this version is screen printed with a flipped “Linx Beach” graphic and has “The Chef” (Raekwon’s nickname) on the sleeve. CL-96 turned gave the item a Gore-Tex shell and a Thinsulate lining to update the style in its own way. In a feature on the company's website Raekwon considers the jacket a heartfelt homage to the original design.

“Of course we know that’s the original, but I think people recognize that I made that jacket a little bit more explosive for Ralph Lauren,” he says. “I wish we had a way to really communicate with them and just tell them thank you for adding onto the fashion world ’cause it’s clothes like that that gave us all the hope to become successful designers in our own way.”

Champion has reached a new audience of style conscious wearers in recent years thanks to new product designs and trendy collaborations with the likes of Supreme and Vetements. However the company has a history that almost stretches back a century. The “Knickerbocker Knitting Company” was founded in 1919 by two brothers, Abe and Bill Feinbloom, in Rochester, New York. The company found a market for its products providing college athletes with high-quality sporting apparel and patented its reverse weave technology in 1938, a method of knitting garments that minimized shrinking and optimized durability. This lead to the creation of its now-famous hoodies, which became a popular workwear staple for cold winter conditions. Its appeal translated over to the East Coast rap scene, with the brand being pretty much ubiquitous in rap videos during the ‘90s. The toughness and durability of Champion brand staples were a perfect compliment to the raw energy of the era.

On the track “7th Chamber” Raekwon spits “Champion gear that I rock, you get your boots knocked.” The spirit of competition is a recurring theme in hip-hop since its inception and Champion is a physical embodiment of that. Champion has been a reliable choice for the entire Wu-Tang Clan over the years, popping up again and again in public photos of the group. As the hoodies blur the line between absolute utility and the comfort of streetwear (not to mention general affordability), it’s no wonder that rappers today are still making their Champion hoodies a staple of their wardrobes.

Jerseys were seen in countless ‘90s rap videos and Wu-Tang definitely was part of the movement. Most of the crew were seen rocking various sports jerseys over the years—and not just those from local New York teams. Whether it was football, baseball, basketball or even hockey, the Wu have had an eclectic choice of game jerseys over the years. Not content with staying with on-field models, Wu-Wear has produced dozens of its own jersey designs over the years; many of the brand’s designs flip the colorways of classic sports teams to replace them with the iconic Wu-Tang ‘W’ logo.

Another hip-hop staple is the fitted baseball cap. Popularized and most commonly produced by New Era, the style has been favored by Wu since the group’s debut. A classic photoshoot in XXL Magazine’s October 2000 issue features the Wu-Tang decked out in Yankees jerseys, fitteds and batting gloves and all-white Nike Air Force 1s. Naturally, Wu-tang has dropped many official collabs with New Era featuring the Wu-Tang logo, once again bringing sportswear into their world and branding it their own way.

Calling back on the group’s sport-infused style, August 1, 2015 was the 20th anniversary of Raekwon’s classic album “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Raekwon got together with New Jersey based Packer Shoes to release a “Purple Tape” capsule collection commemorating the occasion. Alongside a “made in Italy” track Jacket and purple Diadora N.9000 “Purple Tape” sneakers, the collection included two New York Yankees New Era fitteds—in true Wu-Tang fashion.

Few clothing items are as ostentatious as a luxurious robe. The cover of Ghostface’s third solo album Bulletproof Wallets features him cooking up (literally) wearing a heavily patterned silk robe. It’s not the only time he’s flexed in a flowy robe however, having been photographed wearing full on boxing robes, including one embroidered with his alias—”Pretty Toney”—on the back.

Robes have long been in vogue with rappers, but Wu-Tang was definitely ahead of the curve with it. The robe remains a staple of sorts in rap, with everyone from French Montana to Migos, and A$AP Ferg to 2 Chainz rocking them at one point or another. Supreme even dropped two colorways of a boxing robe in collaboration with Everlast for the Fall/Winter 2017 season in both a signature red as well as an eye-popping leopard print (which, admittedly, would suit the style of Ghostface Killah).

But don’t think that Ghostface isn’t the only one from the Wu that is a fan of a solid robe. On 2014’s A Better Tomorrow album Cappadonna raps. “From the Wu-Tang Clan, my necklace and my heat/Bang bangifferent robe every day of the week.”

While each rapper in Wu-Tang really ran with their own style, the one constant in everyone’s style was that they wore their gear baggy. The look of ‘90s rap was oversized and Wu-Tang did not stray from that formula. It’s impressive to look back on old music videos and photoshoots and see the range of jackets that the crew flexed in. Everything from camouflaged M-65 military jackets and rain jackets, to oversized denim jackets were in the mix. The hit video for “Triumph” features Method Man rocking a big racing leather, while Cappadonna wears a colorful striped track jacket.

In a semi-promo track released in 1996, “Wu-Wear the Garment Renaissance”, RZA raps about all the gear he stopped wearing now that Wu-Wear was an option. He flips the time-honored hip-hop tradition of name dropping brands on its head, rapping:

>>>And spent time amongst the wise, went through a garment renaissance
And stopped wearing Benetton
Tommy Hill, Perry Ellis, Nautica, or Liz Claiborne
Ocean Pacific, Fila, Bill Blass and leave fitted
Quit the Armani sweaters with the Gucci wool knitted
Now all he buys, Kani's, Cross Colours, Shabazz Brothers
Mecca, Pelly Pell, 88, North Q, Bear and a few others
For the new year, strictly Wu-Wear

Regarless of whether or not RZA really did quit some of those brands, the video had the whole crew decked out in Wu-Wear with its trademark oversized silhouette.

Clarks Wallabees were first launched in the 1960s as a comfort-driven design inspired by moccasins. The shoes were developed in Ireland but rose to become one of Clark’s most popular models. Clarks hoped to replicate the popularity of its older sibling—the desert boot—with the design.

In the realm of hip-hop, Ghostface Killah is one of the biggest evangelists of the Wallabee, professing his love for the shoe countless times. In a reference to Ghost’s affiliation with the design, fellow group member Method Man made reference to it on the track [“Gravel Pit”’(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of-lpfsBR8U)

“Follow me, Wu-Tang gotta the best thing since Starks in Clark Wallabees”

Ghostface himself—the self-proclaimed Wallabee champ—has a penchant for rocking the shoes with pretty much anything. Not simply content with the stock designs that Clarks sells in stores, Ghost prefers to have them custom painted; it’s a habit he’s referenced in his rhymes, namely in the intro to the track “Glaciers of Ice”.

Of course, the photography for his album Ironman features him, Raekwon and Cappadonna in the midst of customizing an entire pile of the rapper’s de facto signature shoe. For sartorial advice on how to rock Wallabees properly, Ghost dropped knowledge on a segment on his MTV2 shorts series, The World According to Pretty Toney. Specifically, he cites some of his favorite color combinations being blue-and-cream or burgundy-and-grey. The hilarious video series is a must watch for any New York rap fan and served as promo for the book of the same name, which released in 2007

Ghostface’s love of Clarks runs deep—so deep, he even paid homage to them by naming a compilation of remixes of B-sides The Wallabee Champ. While Clarks were popular in East Coast New York rap in general, no one repped it as hard as Ghostface. To fans of his music the shoe has become synonymous with Ghost’s whole persona. But while the Wally has seen a resurgence in popularity amongst rappers, including Drake, it’s indisputable that no one has rocked the shoe as well as Ghost.

Through its music and visuals, Wu-Tang created its own fantasy world. It’s a realm that was influenced by martial arts, Staten Island and classic mob films—not to mention its own sense of swagger and style. They were able to give off an authentic feeling of ‘90s New York, capturing the grit of that era through everything each member did. Collectively, the group told a story through words but also through the way they dressed.

While its legacy on a musical level is unchallenged, Wu-Tang Clan’s influence on style within hip-hop is under appreciated. Wu-Tang helped the zeitgeist of ‘90s New York rap and its collective styles were a major part of that. Wu-Tang’s look has always been relied on the the individuality of each member bringing their own flare and energy to the equation. Wu-Tang didn’t just break the mold, they smashed it to pieces, and in the process inspired an entire generation of rappers to think and dress differently; the influence of the Clan runs deep, be it in racks of Wu-Wear or in a humble pair of Wallabees.