# Which modes of fashion do you view as "inappropriate" for the public? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 20, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303 "2012-09-20T19:12:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/21 "2012-09-20T21:40:44Z")
A business suit would be inappropriate fashion for going to the beach or to a barbecue. Several of the options on the poll are, I believe, pretty damn stupid looking anywhere, but that does not make them any more “inappropriate” than my bow ties. ---
**Author:** ![ctaylor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@ctaylor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctaylor)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/22 "2012-09-20T21:43:04Z")
Other (please specify): Sloppy men in baggy shorts, flip-flops (thong sandals), and t-shirts. Wear crap like that at home or on the beach/boat dock, not walking around in public! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/23 "2012-09-20T22:11:26Z")
But I think we can all agree that leggings are inappropriate on anyone, anywhere, right? ---
**Author:** ![core\_dump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@core\_dump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/core_dump)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/24 "2012-09-20T23:06:32Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > But I think we can all agree that leggings are inappropriate on anyone, anywhere, right? Degree of inappropriateness is directly proportional to the age of wearer and the diameter of the limbs. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/25 "2012-09-20T23:14:48Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > But I think we can all agree that leggings are inappropriate on anyone, anywhere, right? Nope. Leggings are the norm for cross country skiing. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/26 "2012-09-20T23:14:53Z")
Other: Bottomless, in the case of walking down the public sidewalk in broad daylight. Seeing somebody’s gender-specific-parts should mean something other than “gosh, it’s hot, and I have sunblock.” ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/27 "2012-09-20T23:18:07Z")
I put shirtless men, meaning away from a place no shirts are ok (beach, pool etc). Also, shirtless women and saggy pants. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/28 "2012-09-21T00:28:09Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Nope. Leggings are the norm for cross country skiing. They also look a lot better for downhill than some of the hot pink zip up one pieces I’ve seen in the hill. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/29 "2012-09-21T03:09:00Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Racists find pants sagging inappropriate because it occurs in “black culture”. I thought the sdmbers were more enlightened than that 😕 Why can’t people find ethno-centric styles to be inappropriate? I don’t like sagging pants, aggressive piercings, anime cat ears, or leggings either. Not to mention footbinding? I thought dopers were more enlightened than to make conditioned knee-jerk generalizations without forethought. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/30 "2012-09-21T06:50:14Z")
Saggy pants are bad enough but lately I’ve noticed some young guys around here wearing them, literally, under the butt. My sons, tho, say that’s cool. Since those guys are clutching their pants in the front they know he’s not likely to be one to choose to throw a punch. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/31 "2012-09-21T08:54:34Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Racists find pants sagging inappropriate because it occurs in “black culture”. I thought the sdmbers were more enlightened than that 😕 Since when is there a monolithic “black culture”? Sagging pants are a jailhouse style; government issued clothing rarely fits well. The area on display indicates the wearer is ready for some backdoor action–in jail; outside, the wearer might just be a clueless fashion victim. I’ve seen the look done rather neatly–which should be impossible. But many African-American men are exceedingly sharp dressers & would never appear in such a getup. I’ve also seen those particular baggy pants on white men past their first youth–often accessorized with a backwards baseball cap. That’s a definite fashion no-no. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/32 "2012-09-21T11:38:52Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Racists find pants sagging inappropriate because it occurs in “black culture”. I thought the sdmbers were more enlightened than that 😕 How is it racist to find a particular unfortunate “fashion” choice unpleasant to inappropriate when the person making that call doesn’t care what the wearer’s skin color is, and couldn’t care less about the source of said “fashion”, just doesn’t want to be looking at a stranger’s underwear or rump in public? ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/33 "2012-09-21T11:40:56Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > But I think we can all agree that leggings are inappropriate on anyone, anywhere, right? Here’s a really unfortunate one, IMO (and Ms. Fashion I am not): jeans with super-skinny legs and saggy rump area. To me, that looks like there’s a very badly overloaded diaper involved somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/34 "2012-09-21T14:23:11Z")
On the contrary. There isn’t nearly enough cleavage showing or shirtless women in public. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/35 "2012-09-21T14:33:17Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Since when is there a monolithic “black culture”? Sagging pants are a jailhouse style; government issued clothing rarely fits well. The area on display indicates the wearer is ready for some backdoor action–in jail; outside, the wearer might just be a clueless fashion victim. > **[Sagging Pants](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sagging-pants/)** > > Was the fashion of sagging one's pants born of a prison mode of signaling sexual availability? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/36 "2012-09-21T17:25:03Z")
None. I don’t like several of them but that doesn’t make them inappropriate, it just means I don’t like them. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/37 "2012-09-21T17:36:35Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > \, just doesn’t want to be looking at a stranger’s underwear or rump in public? I worked with a couple of plump young ladies who liked to wear the low-riding jeans. It was a warehouse, and they often had to bend down and lift stuff - that was a whole lot of rump on display! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/38 "2012-09-21T18:41:34Z")
I don’t find any of them inappropriate. The only thing I’d really find inappropriate about dress is people doing it specifically to draw attention to themselves rather than because it’s just how they dress or reflective of their needs or beliefs. That is, I’d be perfectly fine with people being naked or at least nearly naked, provided they’re not doing it for shock value. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/39 "2012-09-21T18:56:55Z")
Fashion is largely arbitrary; I’d find some of those things personally unappealing, but not “inappropriate”. For all we know in a hundred years high fashion will be wearing nothing but a loincloth and Pope hat. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303/40 "2012-09-22T16:59:59Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > For all we know in a hundred years high fashion will be wearing nothing but a loincloth and Pope hat. WTF!?!? 100 years!?!? I wear that to work now! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-modes-of-fashion-do-you-view-as-inappropriate-for-the-public/635303.md?page=3)