The Origin and Purpose for the Baggy, Saggy Pants (Mens/Boys) Fashion
Posted: Tuesday, May 05, 2009
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
Not everyone agrees on where the baggy pants' fashion in men's and boy's wear first originated. One popular opinion is that when men are arrested and put into prison, their personal belongings are confiscated from them, this confiscation included their belts. Once their belts had been taken, their pants ultimately began to sag and bag. To cover their embarrassment, the men began to strut and swagger-proving that they were too tough to care that they were loosing their pants and leading young people to believe that baggy pants made them look manly and cool. They also say the larger, baggier pants are more comfortable to wear than pants that fit more snuggly. Another opinion is that the baggy pants look had its origin in the world of skate boarding or the snow boarding industry. Some believe the style has its origin in Hip-Hop or African culture.
Wherever the origin and for whatever reason, the fashion has been around for awhile-possibly as far back as 1989 and is still hanging around today. I can't help but wonder if it is more for showing off their fancy boxers than for making a culture statement. As I drove through town just this morning, I couldn't help but notice a young man walking down the street with the waist band of his pants falling just under his buttocks. His boxers were black with some type of bright pink and yellow designs that I couldn't quite make out. I wasn't staring at the young man out of admiration so much as confusion. As with all parents and grandparents the fashion of baggy, saggy pants has always eluded my understanding. But then I have never been one to follow the fashion statements even in my youth-which consisted of beads, tie-dye, headbands, Afros, etc., etc.
Some fashions come in and go out just as quickly while others seem to last longer. I suppose the more durable fashions depend on just how many different statements the fashion covers-such as, does this say I'm cool, does it say I'm tough, does it say I'm a non-conformist (which is what I'm actually doing-conforming-just not to an adult's vision of conforming), does it say I fit in with the in crowd. When holes-in-the-jeans' became a big hit, my daughter had to monitor just where and how big the holes in my granddaughter's jeans were. Another oddity since a pair of faded and holey (I know that's spelled wrong, but I just can't bring myself to write holy') jeans cost more than my entire wardrobe! When I was young, the holes in our jeans were come by naturally-too much crawling around on the ground while playing or working (picking cotton was done most often on the knees), too much rough scrubbing on the washboard by our mothers, and thread age. And we didn't have to pay an extra penny for those well-earned holes!
But getting back to the baggy, saggy pants issue, not only is it offensive to see someone's underwear, or worse, butt-crack (pardon my French); it can also be dangerous in the work place. Baggy clothes can easily get caught in machinery, or cause someone to trip and fall on any number of metal or sharp objects. Far be it from me to wish to curtail our young people's individuality, but there actually are some very legitimate reasons for enforcing dress codes in certain places.
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More commentsInteresting and humorous look at the baggies. Why would any parent allow his child to wear pants in such a manner that his underwear is exposed? Maybe if we met the parents, we'd have a better understanding of that question.My opinion exactly. Thanks for reading and commenting.Have a great day.Sandra
I like saggy, baggy pants. I think they're cool!Jaimie
HI, Loved your article. My daughter and I were talking about this last week. She is 28 and was wondering how could any one wear them baggy pants. We are like you, we don't like seeing someone else's underwear either. You Know if we did that we would be arrested. Keep up the good work. Love reading your articles.Thanks for reading and commenting, Deb. Have a great weekend.Sandra
Your article cracked-me up—ha-ha! Seriously, though, good article, I never heard any of the possibilities before that might have started the craze, very interesting—thanks.
Thanks for commenting, Steve, and Welcome to SearchWarp.Sandra
Great article. Well done.I am a "fuddy duddy" I don't wear anything fasionable and don't indorse clothing brads. However, I loved the story in the first paragraph about the men in prisons.Thanks, Connor, for reading and commenting. I'm not much into fads and fashion myself, but when I was young, I'm sure I tried to fit 'in' with the 'in' crowd when I could afford it.Sandra
Ms. Sandra,I cannot thank you enough for sharing this article, and I pray that it reaches far beyond our areas. This is a subject that is very personal to me, simply because I see it the same as you - "not only is it offensive ... it can also be dangerous".Thanks, Ronyae, for reading and commenting.Sandra
Sandra, almost. (1). Sagging pants was never meant to be fashionable. Prisoners wear their pants this low because belts are a popular way to commit suicide by hanging oneself, to hang others, or to use as a weapon in fights. Prisoners are also not allowed to have shoestrings for the same reasons. But there is an even more obvious reason why pants are sagging in prison. If the pants are below a man's bottom, it is to introduce to other men that he is homosexual. As Eazy E once said about women in skirts, "For easy access, baby."(2). Now to main street...Hip-hop fashion has been one of the most successful newly found industries in the world today. This trendy style originated from the urban streets of New York. The African Americans and Latinos wore the style to freely move doing the "Break Dance." It then became a mainstay of the Hip Hop culture.I did not know about skate boarding. From my communication with High School students, "the skate boarders just like the trend to look hip. However, one thing the kids did say: "It is for a thug life." Those that are caught dressed as such will have to identify themselves with colors and/or signs.
quick story...I once witnessed a police bust in greenville ms while working on equipment in a laundry mat in a not so good neighborhood..As the thugs went running from the cops i notice one approaching a fence. This guy had his pants sagging past his butt and as he approached the fence they went to his ankles causing him to faceplant into the cyclone fence....priceless moment watching cops cuff him..guess its a dangerous fashionHe no doubt barely had wet feet from the gene pool that spawned him. That was great.
i actually sagg my pants i like it but it first started in slave times when slave masters gave the slaves oversized clothes so that they would fall when they walked or ran which kept them from getting away
I happen to be someone that sags and I can assure you it is purely a fashion trend for most, despite many people's belief it is some kind of statement. I truly do appreciate your understanding that you cannot stifle one's individuality just because it doesn't go along with your own opinion, and I also agree that there are certain places where you shouldn't sag, at a job interview or in a factory for instance. It is just very refreshing to hear someone out of my age group that is so respectful and logical about the whole issue, most just condemn it and criticize us that practice it as unintelligent or unruly. Like you said, every generation has it's own fashion, this is just part of the fashion for this day and age.
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