# Can someone explain the rationale behind "low" pants? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630 "2009-10-29T16:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/21 "2009-10-29T22:05:36Z")
Why did I have to miss the era when jeans so tight you could tell what religion a guy was were in fashion? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/22 "2009-10-29T22:17:01Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > The thing is, this style was around back in the mid 90’s at least, so I’d have expected it to get old and go away by now. I’m surprised to hear it’s still around and considered rebellious. I’ve been surprised for years that this look still hasn’t gone out yet. I remember it being a dress code issue at my school way back in 1992. At the time I lived in a smallish and not especially fashion-forward city in the South, so I suspect that this trend had already been around for a while in bigger cities. But even 1992 would make it a 17 year old trend, probably predating the births of many of the boys who wear their pants this way today. ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/23 "2009-10-29T22:54:07Z")
I’m surprised that the girls like this fashion well enough for it to live on. When I was that age, if a guy had needed to hold his pants up in order to walk, we’d have all been rolling on the ground laughing. For the fashion to still be here, I can only assume that the girls will actually date these guys. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/24 "2009-10-29T23:04:58Z")
I have never, ever heard a girl say she liked the saggin’ pants look. Not in 1992, not today, not at any point in between. A lot of girls probably never really cared either way, but I don’t believe it was ever a fashion that drove the ladies wild. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/25 "2009-10-29T23:26:19Z")
What’s really weird is that they are often wearing 3 or 4 layers: boxers, athletic shorts, and then jeans. Sometimes there are briefs under the boxers., though I don’t think that is usual. It’s really a very modest look, the reverse of the lady wearing a petticoat, an underskirt, and over skirt with the over skirt hitched up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/26 "2009-10-30T00:13:18Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > What’s really weird is that they are often wearing 3 or 4 layers: boxers, athletic shorts, and then jeans. Sometimes there are briefs under the boxers., though I don’t think that is usual. It’s really a very modest look, the reverse of the lady wearing a petticoat, an underskirt, and over skirt with the over skirt hitched up a bit. The overall trend seems to be for boys to wear more and more concealing clothing. Shorts are never above the knee and are often almost to the ankle, and shirts or sweatshirts are knee-length. It makes average guys look heavy and heavy guys look like refridgerator boxes. Maybe that’s the idea. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/27 "2009-10-30T01:04:20Z")
You know, I never thought about it, but I bet people think I’m one of these people. My belt broke a while back, and my pants are now too big for me. I haven’t had the opportunity to get new ones (as I have to buy them special). So, I sometimes catch myself holding my pants up with my hands. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/28 "2009-10-30T01:07:41Z")
I got over saggy pants eons ago. They seem pretty normal to me now. I’ve moved on to being faux-appalled at the more recent and most opposite trend - [skinny jeans](http://lancedrummondsmusic.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/skinny-jeans.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/29 "2009-10-30T01:20:43Z")
Wow. My son had never get to wearing those, **Zip**. His legs would look like swizzle sticks. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/30 "2009-10-30T01:33:43Z")
I think it’s funny to see wanna-be (or actual) gang-bangers sporting this look, and how it forces them to waddle instead of walk. They look like a bunch of penguins trying to be tough. ---
**Author:** ![Dripping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d2c977/32.png) [@Dripping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dripping)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/31 "2009-10-30T01:34:17Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Does the style piss you off? That’s reason enough for them to wear it. 😃 See this is interesting. The style does not irritate me nor “piss me off”, I just think it looks totally retarded. I mean, seriously so stupid that my estimation of the wearer’s IQ plummets. Are young men who do this aware at all that people who see them wearing pants like this [http://www.omgsoysauce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/ghetto-low-pants-black-guys-thug.jpg](http://www.omgsoysauce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/ghetto-low-pants-black-guys-thug.jpg) think they are stupid, rather than cool? ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/32 "2009-10-30T01:46:17Z")
I was told it was to make it easyer and faster jailhouse sex. I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/33 "2009-10-30T01:47:22Z")
> [@jamicat](#): > > yes, those in prison are the epitome of society and should be revered…:rolleyes: > > Which settles my case on why those who have pants to their knees deserve no respect from me. a - men! ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/34 "2009-10-30T02:26:06Z")
For what it’s worth, I think my older co-workers look absolutely ridiculous with their “high pants”. Men wearing jeans (yes, jeans!) pulled up so they button above the navel. Cuff length set so that socks are showing when they are standing upright. When they sit down, they show about three inches of sock. …but I do think sagging is pretty silly. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/35 "2009-10-30T02:54:42Z")
> [@Dripping](#): > > See this is interesting. The style does not irritate me nor “piss me off”, I just think it looks totally retarded. I mean, seriously so stupid that my estimation of the wearer’s IQ plummets. Are young men who do this aware at all that people who see them wearing pants like this [http://www.omgsoysauce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/ghetto-low-pants-black-guys-thug.jpg](http://www.omgsoysauce.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/ghetto-low-pants-black-guys-thug.jpg) think they are stupid, rather than cool? See, it sounds like it irritates you. A little bit. It does. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/36 "2009-10-30T03:06:37Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > I’ve been surprised for years that this look still hasn’t gone out yet. I remember it being a dress code issue at my school way back in 1992. At the time I lived in a smallish and not especially fashion-forward city in the South, so I suspect that this trend had already been around for a while in bigger cities. But even 1992 would make it a 17 year old trend, probably predating the births of many of the boys who wear their pants this way today. On the other hand, I’m always surprised that it continues to attract people’s attention after 17 years. It seems to me that as a trend it has long since come and gone. I was in a 90% white middle school in the early to mid 90s and it did pass through as a phase where anybody with style wore baggie pants way down on their waist. I was too young for my female classmates to be sexually mature but they definitely liked the look on a stylistic level. Now, and for at least 10 years, it’s been far less ubiquitous. In college I volunteered at a middle school with a largely low-income Hispanic population. I remember being surprised to see the style of dressing as it’d disappeared as far as I knew. Most of the kids were really sweet and nice people who occasionally tried to act like thugs, but almost all of them were really poor. So all I’m saying is that as a style it really is dramatically limited compared to how popular it was among youths in the early to mid 90s. If it’s 2009 and you’re still amused or irritated by young poor minorities adopting an admittedly silly fashion, that’s ok by me. It just makes me wonder if people like that are aware how old the ‘look’ is and how much wider spread it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/37 "2009-10-30T03:31:30Z")
I’ve run across this style much more in the last three or four years than, say 10 years ago. In fact, it seems even more exaggerated. In the old days, the pants were just baggy, and slightly below the waist. Nowadays, I always see the pants belted below the butt. And I second what the others said about the layers: the boys are usually wearing basketball shorts underneath (then, presumably, underwear). Either they’re expecting that their drawers might be seen (a la the petticoat analogue) or they’re just ready, at a moment’s notice, to join a pick-up game of basketball. Hey! Maybe they’re all superheroes, wearing costumes under their disguises! Like the old Harlem Globetrotters cartoons! Ready to fight crime with basketball! ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/38 "2009-10-30T03:36:55Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I got over saggy pants eons ago. They seem pretty normal to me now. I’ve moved on to being faux-appalled at the more recent and most opposite trend - [skinny jeans](http://lancedrummondsmusic.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/skinny-jeans.jpg). Or better yet, combine the two and you get [skinny jeans](http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd120/hipsterrunoff/photographs/zac_efron_011908_13-thumb.jpg) [that sag](http://karendecoster.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/complaint.480-300x188.jpg)! I’ve seen lots of guys walking around in skinny jeans that start at their upper thighs. ---
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/39 "2009-10-30T06:15:57Z")
> [@Lips\_Obsession](#): > > Subject pretty much covers the question. I’m sure anyone near an urban area has seen it. Younger people wearing jeans (and shorts) very low - low enough that you can see their underwear, sometimes so low you’d think they’d trip and fall over them. Other than “street cred”, what is the reasoning behind this fashion choice? I think I one time heard it was an attempt to “mimic” the prison population who supposedly didn’t get belts and received ill-fitting clothing… but I don’t know if there is any accuracy to that. So…what’s the deal here? Yeah, and what is the deal with that band Nirvana, you can’t even understand what they are saying. And that rap music, it is just so loud and they are singing about drugs and gangs. And there are these violent video games that have the kids shooting at people. What is the deal here? 😃 I think that these pants are more appropriate: [http://www.celebritynooz.com/images2/gary-sandy-then.jpg](http://www.celebritynooz.com/images2/gary-sandy-then.jpg) [http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTIzNzc4MjM1Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMzU2MDI2.\_V1.\_SX289\_SY400\_.jpg](http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTIzNzc4MjM1Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMzU2MDI2._V1._SX289_SY400_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630/40 "2009-10-30T06:30:18Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > For what it’s worth, I think my older co-workers look absolutely ridiculous with their “high pants”. > > Men wearing jeans (yes, jeans!) pulled up so they button above the navel. > > Cuff length set so that socks are showing when they are standing upright. When they sit down, they show about three inches of sock. > > …but I do think sagging is pretty silly. Why the hell isn’t there a dress code for this?! They just wear them this way to piss us off! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-rationale-behind-low-pants/515630.md?page=3)