How low can you go?? Pants below the waist changing the way we view fashion. I hope not!

Yes, it's been a while since I've blogged. I'm in the process of moving into phase 2 of my promise to myself, which blogging has helped. I'm writing my book. I know...I'm surprised too.

I've met a wonderful woman Judith who is helping me. She is an amazing writer in her own right, but for me she's a great coach and becoming a wonderful friend. So she's been keeping me busy, but I didn't want to neglect this, because there are some really great people who are reading what I have to share.

So this week I decided to share my thoughts on fashion with you. In this weeks New York times, writer Bill Cunningham discusses how young men like to wear their pants and shorts below their waistline with belts embellished with lots of skulls, colored jewels and rhinestones. I found his comments funny, but the pictures are truly priceless. He speaks about the youth of NY looking for street creed by wearing their pants half on their rear-ends, and how they have evolved this look into something some consider 'glam'.

OH MY GOD is all I can say. Actually, last week I was coming home and had the misfortune to walk behind a young man who's pants rested under his bum. How do I know it was this low? His t-shirt didn't cover, and I got a birds eye view of his grey boxer shorts. Not a pretty picture on any level. So I did what every crazy New Yorker does, I asked him why? He was a bit taken aback then said 'cuz it's the style'.

ARGH!!!

As Mr. Cunningham eloquently explains, this originated in the prison system. They took the draw-strings out, and didn't allow belts in the pants of prisoners because both of these were used as deadly weapons. How this made it from the prisons to the public, I'm still not sure. I do know that a lot of rappers (Diddy, Jay-Z, Snoop Dog, DMX and 50 cent) were seen wearing this style back in the early 90's. I would presume that those 'want-to-be-' rappers thought that wearing pants low, would make them "hard" and/or "down with-it". The thing is, as life changed, as Diddy and Jay-Z evolved in their style of dress, others didn't. It's funny to me that as Jay-Z and Diddy created their own clothing lines, and began to dress with pants that rested on their waist, wearing belts and shirt tails in they seemed to loose their following. People said that they were 'perpetrating', and trying to be something they weren't. No, I just think they grew up and realized that to truly make it in this world, to truly be a success you need to dress the part.

I know I'm getting old because every time I look at young men who continue to dress in sloppy attire, I say something to them. I don't care that Mr. Cunningham thinks that the new 'cross, and skull' in flashy stones will create a new fashion statement. I can only hope not. I don't find it attractive, it's not sexy, and I would cringe if my daughter brought someone like that home to meet me. I know my son wouldn't even dream of it. Maybe it's a matter of adults taking the time to care enough to say something. Maybe it's a matter of enough young women saying to the young man in their life "if you want to go out with me, then you need to dress properly."

Am I trying to change you - not really, but I am trying to save you from tripping on your own pants. More so I'm hoping to protect myself from seeing your Sponge-Bob square pegs underwear.