# The origins of white trash fashions **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 17, 2007, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389 "2007-06-17T21:16:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/21 "2007-06-18T04:27:34Z")
I think a lot of fashions start out being cool for white America in general, then get passed down to our trailered brethren and cistern. For example, I remember things like No Fear t-shirts and Oakley Blades sunglasses being cool at my high school, then a few years later only TPT would be caught dead in them. I remember Tommy Hilfiger making its way from the runway to the Wal-Mart, literally. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/22 "2007-06-18T04:40:57Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] I’d love to know the origins of white trash fashion; Are there white trash fashion [/QUOTE] I also consider “white trash” to be an offensive racial term. Come up with your own \*non-racial \*term. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/23 "2007-06-18T05:34:45Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] I also consider “white trash” to be an offensive racial term. Come up with your own \*non-racial \*term. [/QUOTE] Again, **suggest a fucking alternative**. The one I mentioned was labeled too PC. Offensive or too PC - there’s got to me one in the middle, and whatever I come up with is bound to offend someone, so I’ll leave that task to you members of the offenderati. After all, you know best, since you’re the arbiters of what is offensive and what isn’t, and obviously have _never_ said anything that has offended anyone. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/24 "2007-06-18T06:00:48Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] I also consider “white trash” to be an offensive racial term. Come up with your own \*non-racial \*term. [/QUOTE] Trailer Trash. A lot of people get miffed about this one as well, because they don’t understand it. They see “trailer trash” and think it means “all people who live in trailers = trash”. It doesn’t. It’s referring to a specific demographic, and one that often happens to live in trailer parks. Not everyone who lives in a trailer park is “trailer trash” just like not everyone who is white is “white trash”. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/25 "2007-06-18T06:45:30Z")
Back in the late 70’s and early eighties round ‘bout these parts, giant, wide, leather, boys or men’s Gauntlets/Bracewlets were quite common. They had some awesome storebought and handmade Leatherwork goin’ on. Designs Spartan. I wish that fashin trend would come around again. I think it accompanied the big belt buckles and the wide rawhide belts. Kind of a Heavy Metal Origin… Ozzy has a lot to do with natural Native American Themes…howling wolves eagles… Army/Navy surplus stores probably contributed early on and might be the culprit. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/26 "2007-06-18T06:48:30Z")
Ohj, and the gauntlets snapped…they were snap leather. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/27 "2007-06-18T08:04:55Z")
> [@](#): > > **elmwood** : Are there white trash fashion shows, where buyers for Petro, Pilot, Travel Centers of America and county fair concession owners gather to check out the latest in bandannas and flannel? Say whut? Read your own post. You just got through saying that their “fashions” seem to endure…“If you bought your white trash wardrobe in 1987, it’s still quite up-to-date today…” But I’ll let you in on a secret. The best text-tile mills are up Norftf. Even norftf of Buffalo. That flannel don’t wear out. I have wolf sweatshirts because I used to teach people about wolves in a wildlife park. The dark background absorbed the sun’s rays and helped to keep me warm. (A wildlife park tends to be mostly outside.) I have heard that some people in New York and other big cities make judgments about people based on the garments they wear. How stupid is that? “Hey, Louie, lookie! Here comes another one of dem bozos with a chain! Har! har! Wadah loozuh!” ---
**Author:** ![PerditaX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@PerditaX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PerditaX)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/28 "2007-06-18T11:29:06Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] Trailer Trash. A lot of people get miffed about this one as well, because they don’t understand it. They see “trailer trash” and think it means “all people who live in trailers = trash”. It doesn’t. It’s referring to a specific demographic, and one that often happens to live in trailer parks. Not everyone who lives in a trailer park is “trailer trash” just like not everyone who is white is “white trash”. [/QUOTE] “White trash” isn’t an economic level - it’s a lifestyle. I live in the South and, in fact, live in a mobile home. I would consider myself lower-middle class. I also have a B.A. in Literature (with honors). If you want to see the difference, there’s a perfect example on TV every week. The character of Joy on **My Name is Earl** is the absolute essence of white-trashiness! Obviously I can’t be trash - I’m a Doper! 😉😃 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/29 "2007-06-18T12:14:40Z")
I was going to mention Joy as an example, actually 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grossbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@Grossbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grossbottom)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/30 "2007-06-18T12:36:45Z")
I think there’s white trash clothing, and faux white trash fashion, the latter being ironic. The wallet chains and the cheese t-shirts are definitely the latter. As for the real thing, I don’t think it has a style per se, just a tendency to wear whatever they thought looked good at Walmart. I honestly don’t know if there’s some level of the textile industry that makes an effort to create clothing that will appeal to that market, or if labor being so cheap in that industry, they just churn shit out and throw it away if no one buys it. Interesting question. I don’t find “white trash” offensive, but maybe that’s because I’m not, and I don’t go out of my way to internet power trip on being the pretend language police, which helps. But in the interest of continued amity, I’ll suggest an alternative, appropriated from William Gibson: meshback. It’s a reference to those crappy K-mart ballcaps only they seem to wear, with the plastic net instead of a proper backing. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/31 "2007-06-18T12:38:28Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] Again, **suggest a fucking alternative**. [/QUOTE] Just because someone want to call someone else “nigger” does not mean that people of color must come up with an alternative. Call 'em “poor whites”, “country folks” or “hillbillies.” ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/32 "2007-06-18T12:51:32Z")
Who effect “white trash” fashions-like John Kerry (scion of a NE aristocrat family, multi-billionaite (by marriage, otherise poor as a church mouse))? Kerry was seen wearing a carhart jacket, and lace-up construction boots. He was also using colloquialisms “I wanna buy me a huntin’ licence”. I am waiting for Jonathan Edwards to revert to his WT roots-and ditch the $400 hairstyle for a buzzcut and wifebeater tee-shirt? ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/33 "2007-06-18T13:08:08Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] Suggest an alternative term, please. I’ve seen the offenderati on the SDMB get upset over the use of “redneck”, and saying “working class Caucasians of a rural Confederate cultural orientation” just sounds silly. [/QUOTE] No one’s obligated to provide you with an alternative. No matter how you look at it, it’s a demeaning, derogatory phrase. The term “white trash” should not be used if you wouldn’t use words like “nigger” or “spic” in a similar context. Show the same respect to my social and ethnic background that you’d show to anybody else. That’s all I ask. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/34 "2007-06-18T13:28:36Z")
Just wanted to interject in here… I have always described my upbringing as “White Trash”. I was. I no longer am, but that’s through hard work and moving. And more hard work. But I am not offended by the term in the least. Because a WalMart “Get r Done” shirt and primer spotted Buick does not White Trash make. There is a great deal more that goes into it than that. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/35 "2007-06-18T13:31:17Z")
How about “people”? “Why do _people_ wear…” Seems to work even without the pre-judging. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/36 "2007-06-18T13:56:49Z")
[QUOTE=Duke of Rat] How about “people”? “Why do _people_ wear…” Seems to work even without the pre-judging. [/QUOTE] Or maybe just “poor whites.” Why is it that so many people can’t be made to see the inherently derogatory nature of the term “white trash?” ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/37 "2007-06-18T14:20:04Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] Suggest an alternative term, please. I’ve seen the offenderati on the SDMB get upset over the use of “redneck”, and saying “working class Caucasians of a rural Confederate cultural orientation” just sounds silly. [/QUOTE] Did I not tell you several threads back that “Confederate” is a whole hell of a lot more offensive than “white trash” ever could be? But nooo, that you ignore. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/38 "2007-06-18T14:32:21Z")
[QUOTE=Duke of Rat] How about “people”? “Why do _people_ wear…” Seems to work even without the pre-judging. [/QUOTE] I agree completely. So why \*do \* people wear white trash fashion? ---
**Author:** ![guppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7feea3/32.png) [@guppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guppy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/39 "2007-06-18T14:57:23Z")
I would guess that the main reason why poor people’s fashion is out of date is because they’re poor. If you’re having problems paying the rent a shopping spree at the Gap or Banana Republic would be pretty stupid wouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389/40 "2007-06-18T15:05:30Z")
[QUOTE=BMax] Oh, but the fashions do change; at least the hairstyles do. No more mullets, trailer park denizens now sport crew cuts and shaved heads. [/QUOTE] Someone needs to tell our visitors at the science center, then. I’ve seen them all-kiddie mullets, femmullets, you name it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origins-of-white-trash-fashions/408389.md?page=3)