Fashion Fact: Are They Sagging? Think Twice Before You Let Them

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Sagging is, simply put, a way of wearing trousers. What were you expecting? We talk fashion and only fashion here, buddy. Now that that's clear, let's move on to the main topic. Sagging or 'low-riding' is a fashion trend that has taken the world by storm. Both men and women sport low-rise pants, especially jeans, however the term sagger is used to denote only men.

Where and how did this style of dressing begin? This practice started in the city of Los Angeles, California among prison inmates. And you thought all the hottest trends in the land are birthed only on the runway, didn't you? Well, prisoners were not allowed to wear belts as belts make for great weapons so pants were let to hang loose and hence, we had the first saggers.

There is yet another important aspect of the origins of the low rise trousers. It is said that since heterosexual relationships were out of scope in prisons most men turned to homosexual ones. Needs have to be met, right? Therefore, men who were interested in other men, sexually would let their pants ride low to send a message. The sight of a man in low riding pants was enough to let everyone know that he was open to a sexual encounter. Quite a strong symbol, isn't it?

Hip hop artists in the 1990s turned the sagging jeans look into something else entirely. It was no longer limited to prisons and these musicians infused this into mainstream fashion all over the world. Overnight you had men and women wearing jeans so low one would be able to sneak a peek at the cheeks! It was shamed by many a conservative folk but who can stop head strong teens and young adults?

The outfit was used as a symbol of rebellion against and rejection of mainstream values and dressing norms. It became a symbol of freedom and cultural awareness and was donned by many to send out a message to society. This also led to laws being passed to prohibit the wearing of baggy, low waist pants and there was much unrest and protests. Too much for a pair of jeans, you think?This was the result of existing racial turmoil in the United States and other countries. Racial profiling was a common phenomenon back then and African American male youths were targeted heavily due to their appearance among other things.

In contemporary times low rise jeans have been shelved as high waists are trending right now and love them as much as their racy predecessor. If you're a sagger I'm sure you'll never give up your low riders and we think that's great. But now that you know how, why and where they began, do you still want to sport them? Do you believe they're just a pair of jeans? Do you think that you're wearing them as a way of protesting against society? We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this.

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