2008 Woodie Awards
Baggy pants get the crack-down
Dr. Greg Rabidoux
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: Perspectives
Really now, I blame plumbers everywhere. If plumbers (the more overweight and sweaty the better) had not made this current fashion of wearing your pants so low that it exposes your underwear or, in the event you "forgot" your undergarments, exposing your hot cross buns, then we would not be facing the current backlash against the unholy trinity known as the baggies, the droopies and the thongies. Darn those plumbers and secondly, those handymen who have insidiously corrupted our youth, stricken our woman-folk with the "falling disease" and in general, re-affirmed that we, as a nation, are going somewhere rather hot in a hand-basket. Though, apparently, we are going to make sure our backsides are well aired-out along the way. Not buying it?
Well, how about this version? The current fashion statement, particularly with young men and to a great extent young men of color, of wearing shorts that fall somewhere around their waist and hover perilously close to their tailbone, ever-threatening to head fully "south" for the winter, apparently started in prison. Inmates and gang members in the 1980s were not given belts to "accessorize" their droopy, orange jumpsuits for fear gang-bangers would commit hangings, beatings and homicides with the belts. The result was a droopy, sloppy look which by the early '90s had made it into gangsta rap videos, which then was embraced by suburban skateboarders and is now popping up on youths everywhere. And some cities like Atlanta are cracking down on what several officials and concerned members of the community see as more than just a fashion statement, but rather a symptom of a bigger problem - the lower the self-esteem, the lower the pants.
While Atlanta officials consider banning the wearing of pants or shorts that expose boxers, briefs or thongs, other areas like Delcambre, La. have already, metaphorically speaking, spanked would-be offenders with an ordinance banning such fashions. The ordinance carries a $500 fine or six months in jail (where presumably you would then have no choice, but to not wear tight-fitting clothes given the mandatory droopy, orange jump-suits). Talk about coming full fashion-circle.
Well, how about this version? The current fashion statement, particularly with young men and to a great extent young men of color, of wearing shorts that fall somewhere around their waist and hover perilously close to their tailbone, ever-threatening to head fully "south" for the winter, apparently started in prison. Inmates and gang members in the 1980s were not given belts to "accessorize" their droopy, orange jumpsuits for fear gang-bangers would commit hangings, beatings and homicides with the belts. The result was a droopy, sloppy look which by the early '90s had made it into gangsta rap videos, which then was embraced by suburban skateboarders and is now popping up on youths everywhere. And some cities like Atlanta are cracking down on what several officials and concerned members of the community see as more than just a fashion statement, but rather a symptom of a bigger problem - the lower the self-esteem, the lower the pants.
While Atlanta officials consider banning the wearing of pants or shorts that expose boxers, briefs or thongs, other areas like Delcambre, La. have already, metaphorically speaking, spanked would-be offenders with an ordinance banning such fashions. The ordinance carries a $500 fine or six months in jail (where presumably you would then have no choice, but to not wear tight-fitting clothes given the mandatory droopy, orange jump-suits). Talk about coming full fashion-circle.
Be the first to comment on this story