Baggy Pants

[sapphire]

This from CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/17/baggy. ... index.html

What are your thoughts? I know this subject was discussed in another thread, but what do you think of the legal implications and if they could impact men's fashion freedom?

[Departed Member]

Disgusting (from an aesthetic sense) it might be, but to enact such laws is a clear breach of human rights. Forget all the racial 'bandwagoners' hype - it's just a 'teeny' fashion trend that'll curl up and die - well it would if folk just let it. I have great difficulty not howling with laughter if I see the like in the UK, I must admit. Still, it's marginally preferable to seeing size 20 ladies trying to waddle around in size 16 tr*users!

[sapphire]

I agree that the style is disagreeable. My concern is what will happen if these statutes are upheld and the repurcussions that would hobble what people choose to wear.

I think this is very dangerous legislation.

Others? What do you think?

[crfriend]

Disgusting (from an aesthetic sense) it might be, but to enact such laws is a clear breach of human rights.

I'll have to second that. Clearly the "look" is an aesthetic abomination, and, for the most part, the "practioners" of the "look" are (to put it charitably) clueless, but the look is not something that can be legislated out of existence for to do so would impinge on other aspects of life that we hold dear (like freedom of expression).

If an "answer" is required for this "fashion trend", I think the proper response would be one of ridicule and laughter ("...And tuck up those pajamas!") not one that carries time behind bars. Laughter is an enormously powerful force and should be applied well. Of course we're likely to get laughed at, too, so where does one draw the line?

As far as an impact on blokes wearing skirts goes, well, we're not exactly making "plumber butt" a part of our daily routine and we seem to be rather proud of our sense of modesty when it comes to things "about the middle and bottom"; it should be a non-issue because the "offensive bits" are not in play with the garb we wear.

[Sarongman]

Whilst I deplore the "fashion", it will go away of it's own accord. Let it get to the infants and then watch the "cool" teens drop it like a hot potato! This looks like the work of the neocons that surround the buffoon in the white house.

[Pythos]

to quote Monty Python,

HERE HERE, WELL SPOKEN BRUCE.

This is another conservative push to limit our freedoms.

I hate the look. But if this passes, then laws can be put out for men wearing anything other than pants or shorts. Spandex could be down right out lawed, Women could be pushed into wearing only skirts.

This is something that could be a slippery slope.

Clothing should be a personal choice, not one controlled by others.

[SkirtDude]

deleted

[Gregg1100]

Hi All,
First post for a while. Bought a motorbike so been more iterested in that for a while, but still wearing skirts at home.
Those baggy pants are completely YUK, I would never wear them, ---don't wear shorts either, not since I was at school. But no law should be passed to ban those baggies---let them be, and they will I hope be consigned to the history book,----as said here, if they ban those, what else will they try ?.
Welcome from me to the ladies that have joined this group- thank you for your invaluable input and guiding ideas for us.
Regards,
Greg

[Peter v]

Hallo, it's double, while having legislation banning those unsightly pants, it is indeed a slippery slope, yet it should not have gone so far. Why did it go so far? I believe it's not only a fashion craze, but might have strong binding with gangs, criminal identity. Something which aparently may be the only thing many underprivaliged people have. There is a thin line to fashion and criminal signals, uniforms. I dont think that wearing pants that really don't fit, are only a nuisence to the wearer and showing your behind is purely fashion but more like a statement of defiance.
Although it is copied by young impressionable people without them realising the meaning of it.

"I'm showing that I am not capable of rational thinking, I dare the authorities and any normal person to stop me, I laugh at you, therefore wear pants that are too big for me, and I dont care that you see my behind. i show that i can do this and get away with it. "

Although this Kind of behavior is difficult if not impossible to stop in the beginning without a dictator state, I do believe it has gone too far. It is right that it should stop. It's not about the pants, but the pants are used in the behavior. Let us hope that not the pants, but this behavior can be attended to. With that the pants will dissappear. Don't ask me how though.

We have those pants here in the Netherlands too. Skaters pants. In the Netherlands it's more fashion than a statement.

Let us hope no one makes a slope to slide down on. We know where it will end. A good thing that it was put to our attention. We are warned.
Like already is said, better to leave it as is, than to start legislation that will put an end to all freedom.

Peter v.

[Sasquatch]

Correct me if I'm wrong and have misread these ordinances, but it isn't the bagginess of the pants that is considered misdemeanor, but rather the fact that it exposes, intentionally, underwear. Perhaps this isn't as offensive to many people as it is to me (and I'll be the first to admit a double standard - when a woman exposes her thong waist band by wearing low rise jeans, I LOOK!!) but I really don't want to see some dufus hanging his boxers out there for public display. What if the next trend is low-hanging pants sans underwear? Do you really want to be looking at someone's hairy butt-crack?

Wear what you want, be it skirts or pants so baggy it looks like you just crapped a load in them - but, please, cover up the skivvies!

Sasq

[crfriend]

Why did [the wearing of "droopy drawers"] go so far? I believe it's not only a fashion craze, but might have strong binding with gangs, criminal identity.

There are several schools of thought on this one, and I'll bring up two:

1) Poorer folks frequently can't afford to buy new clothing for each new kid that comes into the family, so "hand-me-downs" are very common, and frequently don't fit terribly well.

2) It's a play on prison clothing where belts are not issued for reasons of safety (they make for prettty good weapons, and are easy to hang one's self from). This has predictable results -- the trousers tend to sag, although not as much as is "fashionable" "outside".

Both of those likely have some validity, and I'm sure that others here can suggest more reasons thy the "fashion" is as big (pun fully intended) as it is.

Let us hope that not the pants, but this behavior [associated with them] can be attended to. With that the pants will dissappear. Don't ask me how though.

The "fashion" can be dealt with through ridicule -- it's a remarkably powerful force. Take a look at how the mere threat of it shapes what we're willing to wear -- and what we're aiming for doesn't expose what's not supposed to be exposed! I think that if enough ridicule and laughter gets directed at these (little) men they'll drop the "fashion".

Attending to the associated behaviours, however, will be rather more difficult. Law enforcement can address the symptom, but putting yet more young men under the "care" of the "justice system" will not help alleviate the disease.

[Peter v]

Correct me if I'm wrong and have misread these ordinances, but it isn't the bagginess of the pants that is considered misdemeanor, but rather the fact that it exposes, intentionally, underwear. Perhaps this isn't as offensive to many people as it is to me (and I'll be the first to admit a double standard - when a woman exposes her thong waist band by wearing low rise jeans, I LOOK!!) but I really don't want to see some dufus hanging his boxers out there for public display. What if the next trend is low-hanging pants sans underwear? Do you really want to be looking at someone's hairy butt-crack?

Wear what you want, be it skirts or pants so baggy it looks like you just crapped a load in them - but, please, cover up the skivvies!

Sasq

Hallo,
Do you really want to be looking at someone's hairy butt-crack?
When I read this I had to think immediately about Very Very many men, possibly with large waists, who when they bend over they expose their crack and that seems to be """"Normal"""" although I don't find it amusing at all. Apparently they don't have long enough shirts and possibly the low waist pants that seem the rage today. It's the typical vieuw, of a man bent over under the kitchen sink, and you can see his bare ... Not really very nice. But those men are just your everyday men. What's to be done with them?

It's a sliding slope, and the un interested way so many go so clothed, can be the reason why others mean it is enough and need to put a halt to it. So they get what they are asking for, and we get caught in the middle. I sure hope it doesn't come so far. But it would be "nice "if people had a bit of respect for others, and dressed in a neat manner, instead of not caring one damn.

Peter v.

[Kilty]

I don't think you can link wearing baggy jeans to violence anymore than you can link wearing skirts to being effeminate.

I think these comments on black culture have gone too far for my liking. We wear them baggy to feel cool in hot weather (you seriously are not going to get any brotha in a skirt, let alone a kilt ), we don't all carry guns are not out for violence. I think violence exists in all cultures and walks of life. To put it in a way most of you wouldn't understand "we don't get down like that."

I think upon reading this thread, that's the end of the road for me here (Skip, I know would be pleased to know u succeeded in driving my black ass out the door!), I'm throwing the kilts in the trash. It's not about following society or whatever terms you may throw at me, but TBH this 'men in skirts' thing will never catch on. I think the various threads on things like underwear to go with skirts and "What are you wearing as you type this" has killed off any remaining 'curiosity' I had.

I do want to be an individual and separate from everyone else, but walking around in a skirt won't really work for me.

I'm not wishing to go down the TV/TS path, and IMHO this is the first rung on the ladder.

Goodbye ladies

Kilty (aka Jermaine to some! )

[Bob]

Yet another racist fashion ban. Six months in prison, for showing your butt? Don't you think that's a little bit excessive? Would a fashion ban on popular white teenage fashion ever have that kind of penalty associated with it?

[Departed Member]

I'm reaaaally sorry to bring this up - but - what the h*ll have baggy 'pants' (tr*users?) got to do with 'racism'? Very possibly, such ill-conceived garments might have had their origins in an area (of the USA?)where an ethnic majority prevailed. So what? Seen on films, they've been 'adopted' by some youngsters as some sort of rebellious 'icon' - just like Punk fashions came, went, came back and became 'respectable', then they may even do the same (but hopefully, not!)! In the meantime, I reserve the right to laugh out loud when I see them on the street (like I did last week in the Netherlands when I saw a young gent with the crotch roughly six inches above his ankles!).