Fashion, like hip-hop, is a movement that is always pushing the envelope and delving into the unprecedented, so it’s only natural that baggy pants (long associated with hip-hop fashion) are on their last leg. Rocking jeans became a symbol of youth rebellion during the 1950s, after they were popularized in the movie Rebel Without a Cause. During the 1960s, activists participating in the civil rights movement typically wore jeans while canvassing for voter rights and during freedom rides. This brought the look to the national stage, as it became very popular among teenagers in the 1970s. Inherently rebellious, the hip-hop community would embrace this American wardrobe staple, taking it to the next level in the early 1990s with the popularization of baggy and sagging jeans.
The trend of baggy pants originated in prisons where inmates were not issued belts and therefore wore sagging pants. At this time, hip-hop fashion was transitioning from a loud and proud “MC Hammer” look to the masculine “tough guy” image that artists such as Too $hort and Ice T promoted. Style was largely influenced by gang culture and the budding bling era. Sagging, baggy jeans played into this look perfectly. In 1989, Michael Jordan was the first athlete to wear baggy shorts in the NBA. It was not long before people noticed the power hip-hop held (and still holds) in the fashion world. Soon, young people around the globe embraced the look, turning a phase into an industry.
While many people recognized the financial opportunity presented by the baggy jeans movement, others chose to use the style to perpetuate discrimination and hate. Sagging was banned statewide in Florida and Arkansas schools. The town of Delcambre, Louisiana, implemented an ordinance against sagging pants, levying a $500.00 fine and up to six months in jail against offenders. Levi’s, which refused to manufacture baggy jeans, saw a 15% drop in sales. Meanwhile, staple brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, and DKNY profited off of their versions of the style. Hip-hop entrepreneurs such as Russell Simmons, P-Diddy, and Jay-Z also chose this time to get in the fashion game.
The 21st century saw new generations of rappers, all naturally seeking freshness. Many of the rappers popular in the 1990s matured into moguls (while others faded to black), trading their baggy outfits for classic separates. The NBA implemented a dress code which banned many urban fashion trends. Hip-hop stars began allying themselves with rock stars, incorporating elements from skaters, hipsters, and metrosexuals in their lavish wardrobes. As the quest to possess the most possible swag evolved, jeans got skinnier and skinnier, with some men even shopping the ladies section for the ultimate fit. The trend is about cool confidence (and what says confidence like shopping for women’s jeans?). Although many pants are tighter, sagging is still the norm for urban fashion lovers. Not everyone has embraced skinnies with the enthusiasm of Lil’ Wayne. That being said, even the most skeptic of hip-hop heads (like Jay-Z) have to admit that baggy is so last century.
i remember the style was first baggyyy outfits then ignorant twisted the style too swag thatz a decreased…….. i swear