These days men's fashion really sucks. How did that come about? Everything is shapeless and looks like it came from a one-size-fits-all store. I don' t mind skateboarders' fashions because they're funny. You have to admit that wearing parachute-size pants almost below the buttocks is hilarious. No, what I object to is the urban gangsta look. Gangsters should look debonair and swashbuckling. I can't imagine Bogart taking any of these guys into his gang.
What's with the dress-length t-shirts and the tuke (spelled right?)
caps that cover the ears, even in the summertime? Well, at least they're flamboyant and that's something. What I really don't understand is the middle class suburban variant exemplified by Chicken Little's clothes. What's with the tight green Arnold-Palmer T and the shapeless, oversized shorts? Click to enlarge it; the shorts look like the bird has a load in his pants. What man who wants to attract women would dress like he was wearing a diaper?Ditto the buccaneer shorts that the kid is wearing in the tiny picture. Oops! Blogger deleted the picture but you know what I'm talking about: long, wide pirate shorts and thick, rippled sneakers that look like astronaut boots!
Girls won't wear this stuff. They ransacked the past and came up with tight 70s bellbottoms and bare midriffs.
hahahaah you have to admit cholos and latino gangsters make funny cartoon characters. they translate well because you can exagerrate the shapes. Surprisingly there is a balance, a tight wife beater, and then baggy shorts, tight on top baggy on bottom. kind of the same theory of girls wearing baggy halter tops and tight shorts. Gangster apparel is just the tip of the ice berg, the funniest i think are scene/hipsters (i've already drew some)
ReplyDeleteI'll try to post pictures along with my next studies.
I think a real cool part of fashion was late 70's early 80's NY urban/hiphop stuff. They didn't wear baggy clothes at all, they actually had really cool style
like check out this picture!
hilarious combinations of fur coats and fat laced tennis shoes.
Man, I've seen homeless guys in better fitting clothes! It really seems that they pull this shit out of the trash and randomly assemble a look! Would YOU employ anyone dressed like this? What could they ever hope to become? It also make it harder to run from the police while holding up your pants leaving only ONE hand for firearms.
ReplyDeleteNot very functional.
One thing I like about living in Japan is... people wear clothes that fit. They actually choose the proper size, and therefore, most people end up wearing things that flatter their bodies.
ReplyDeleteUnless they're really into the gangsta scene, in which case they dress like the dudes in the pictures you just posted.
On my days off, I end up hanging out with gaijin wearing XL tees when they really need Ls or Ms... it makes them look rumpled and frumpy in comparison to Japanese guys of comparable age and economic status.
I feel like we're putting on quite a shabby show over here. Not presenting ourselves in the best of light as international ambassadors of goodwill and whatnot.
One thing I really love is... people who are into subcultures, be it urban gansta or 1977 punk or 1960s mod or 1950s rockabilly really do it up perfectly, with all the details. Impressive.
Good lord, and the girls! My my my, the girls...
It started with economics. In poor families you end up wearing your older brothers pants, shirts. Your Mom dressed you that way to save money. Slap a belt on to keep up your pants. Thats the origins. No one was trying to look "cool". Now it's become a desired look by some. Intentionally buying clothes that are too big.
ReplyDeleteIn elementary school, some kid shit his pants and had to wear the Janitors extra work clothes...I remember how humiliated the kid was! Now everyone looks like the kid who shit his pants!;)
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to talk about "latest men's fashions," since the fashion seems to vary a lot. The big, baggy clothes are only one segment of men's fashion. As someone mentioned below, some young guys are wearing tight women's jeans and t-shirts (I suspect this look is very uncomfortable for... anatomical reasons). Some other guys wear "vintage" clothing (i.e. Salvation Army) and the stuff is not baggy, but just weird and poorly-fitted enough where you know it's from a Salvation Army.
ReplyDeleteThere ARE plenty of young guys walking around in pretty average, nice clothes though. I doubt a well-fitted shirt and pants in a correct size will ever go out of style. It probably varies by the neighborhood you're in how many of these guys you actually see, but they're not so unusual.
...the shorts look like the bird has a load in his pants.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason that statement just had me laughing so hard. Poor little Chicken Little...
Actually, Brian is right - according to fashionistas, the "saggy trousers" look is on the way out in "urban fashion", and the look is now more fitted and colorful.
Also, Uncle Eddie, according to fashionistas, for women's fashion, the 70's tight bell bottoms are so last season. Their raiding the mid-80's "big over tight" look (long, belted oversized tops over tight leggings).
I'm still waiting for my pointy-toed shoes and skinny ties to come back into style.
ReplyDeletethose boys wear what attracts the ladies. unfortuantely most women are hypmotised by the media to find those clothes attractive. the extra long t-shirts are a variation of musilm shirt stlye i fink. some rappers claim to be muslim, but as you may already tell their fans take the music waaay to seriously. i must agree with david, the very early hip-hop fashion is quite neat looking.
ReplyDeletei also agree on the point about the scene kids they have annoyed me more so than the hip-hop kids, and if viewed from the back you cannot tell the difference between most boys and girls. these kids are trying to ressurect the 80's pop looks and they are all too young to know the true horrors of 80's pop.
A preppy/gangsta drawing of Jorge is just screaming to be drawn Eddie!
ReplyDeletethe tuke (spelled right?)
ReplyDeleteActually, we Canadians spell it "toque" or "tuque".
Me, personally, I could care less about fashion.
I remember a piece from a Dennis Miller rant about this very subject. It went something like this: "..... it's true that men only wear clothes for two reasons. 1) To keep us warm. 2) So women can't see how small our dicks get in the winter time."
Maybe it's because I live in a liberal-arse town (Portland) but hardly anyone I know dresses like that anymore. That was late 1990s stuff.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I'm hanging with too much of an artsy crowd, but we're enjoying things like slim fit pants, vintage 60s t-shirts, newsboy caps... basically trying to convince people we just stepped off the boat from the Atlantic.
Are a large portion of males actually still dressing like this now?
It's a complete fact that these guys offer no sexual appeal. If one of these guys asked for a date, the girl would be completely unaware of what she would be getting later. If only they knew how much more ass they would get if they showed off their packages.
ReplyDeletesorry.
hey eddie/Kali, i posted some pictures from the party
it mostly depends on subculture and trends, but if you really want to break it down.
ReplyDeleteyou have your urban/hiphop stuff right now, which is where stuff like fubu and jay-z product lines dominate, where it is baggy, but the appeal is in custom denim, baggy jeans with ridiculous designs on them, XXXL t shirts and poofy jackets, this crosses over into sophisticated urban which is like those newsboy hats beige, and not as baggy clothes, dressier shirts and layered bullshit (these are the dudes that listen to jill scott, john legend and kanye west)
then there is the underground hiphop scene, which is puke earth colors, less baggy, more emphasis on lame ass bob marley che guevera, t shits, graff shirts, knitted caps are super popular, and super wack rare reiusses of shoes, of all sorts of nasty colors are super popular.
then there is the hipster/scene/emo shit, which also overlaps into 16 year old skateboarders, basically the shaggy haircuts, way too tight jeans or pants,studded belts, tight band shirts, and band hoodies, thin shoes like ascics osaka tigers or slippons.
then there is the matured scenester hipster look, which branches out more into a "style" but when you group all of them together (i.e. silverlake bar, spaceland) it all looks the same. These people are the best because they try to maintain a sense of individual with their "style" but they go about it same way as everyone else, so you get a mish-mash of melrose hipster thrift shop attire, american apparels, jet rag, american rag, slow, wasteland, etc. etc. type of look that is being done to death by the 19 - 28 year olds, and while they may have spent years trying to perfect a certain specific style or era by copping some rare scarf or jacket its futile.
then for girls, it could be entirely different, you see a lot of rich girls wearing pricey-er designers from like fred segal, but still obviously influenced by hipster leanings.
its really amazing. theres a bunch more not worth mentioning, like punk, frat boy, Orange county and inland empire abercrombie and fitch/ american eagle, famous stars, the whole surfer san diego lines of clothing.
then you have the whole nasty club attire for guys in hollywood which is basically 300$ designer faded torn form fitting sometimes bootcut jeans along with nasty pointy designer shoes and a long sleeve button down(sleeves rolled up, import beer in right hand), sometimes a cheap sportcoat.
I am seriously considering bringing a small doodlepad next time i go out in hollywood bars clubs etc.
its a goddamn jackpot of cartoon inspiration.
Please, Eddie, don't be a player hater!
ReplyDeleteI see young men walking around town here in NC trying to look "bad ass" dressed with those Junior Samples britches. My observation is that it's hard to look cool when you have one hand grasping your pants so as to keep 'em from falling down to your ankles while you and your buds are walking down the street.
But, then again, I used to wear a leisure suit back in tha day, Dawg!
Ya put it up Jorge! I want to see!
ReplyDeleteWhat's the deal with facial hair? I remember when a well groomed mustache or beard was manly and respectable. Even a tightly trimmed goatee seemed worldly and exotic (especially when teamed up with a pince-nez.)
ReplyDeleteNow it's all about the neck beard.
Frits of all Eddie, what you are your photos are of "Gangstas" not Gangsters. As for fashion today, as I see in the perspective of the black community,the super baggy look is starting rto fade out.I see people my age,late teens,wearing dress shirts,white tees,and jeans. The shirt is usually completely un-buttoned and the collar in popped as well the the cuffs and the jeans are are baggy but there is a belt.
ReplyDelete"I hate those pseudo-Communist hypocrite leftist pothead hippie faggots."
ReplyDeleteYou love that word faggot don't you Jorge ? Are you gay and in denial ?
The thing I love about this look is when you're asked to raise hands above your head and not move, down fall the pants. I don't relish anyone being hassled by the man, but when see six guys being detained and they're all standing there with pants around their ankles, you gotta laugh.
ReplyDeleteI wear comfortably loose, lightweight, non-scratchy clothing. I don't like either baggy jeans, or super tight jeans, because I don't like jeans in general. I don't care about style or fashion; I wear what's comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about the fashion, but I listen to undergorund, indie hip-hop music. I think it's alot better than the mainstream, commercial garbage you hear repetitively on Hot 97, Power 105.1, or, if it's pure "hip-pop" phoniness as I call it, KTU or Z-100.
We would have no need clothing if the birthday suit wasn't so taboo.
ReplyDeleteHey, most animal cartoon characters don't wear any pants or shirts. Just hats and neckties.
I'll never understand the XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXL t-shirts on guys who probably don't weight more than 120 pounds. You might as well call it a stylin' night gown. Maybe they should start marketing matching night caps (and candlesticks!) too!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank Hot Topic for the overabundance of 'mallternateens.' They're saturated to the point where I think they're no longer a minority. 'Punk' styles have become as pop as bubblegum.
The thing I love about this look is when you're asked to raise hands above your head and not move, down fall the pants. I don't relish anyone being hassled by the man, but when see six guys being detained and they're all standing there with pants around their ankles, you gotta laugh.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about any of you but i've been to jail. I say "to" not "in", because I never did a stretch but I have been in lockup a few fun times.
First thing that happens after you empty your pockets is they make you remove your belt and your shoelaces.
It seems that a lot of guys got so comfortable that way that they are now taking that look back out to the streets.
Maybe they just figure it's one thing they won't have to bother with the next time they get picked up.
"By that logic anyone calling someone a facist must hold conseravtive tendencies and calling someone a pinko must mean you're secretly liberal.(A derogatory term vs. the neutral term.)"
ReplyDeleteNot really the same thing. People who use the word gay in a negative context so frequently sometimes,and I stress sometimes,maybe in denial of there own homo-sexuality.I won't comment any further on this because I don't want to go off topic anymore.
"use the spanish term weco so nobody is offended."
I am not offended.
What I've heard about the urban gangsta tough guy look is that it evolved from prison uniforms, which for most prisoners are issued several sizes too big and don't stay on worth a crap.
ReplyDeleteThere's also a variation on this theory involving prison rape which probably isn't true, even though rape is undeniably pretty prevalent US prisons.
David: Great comments! I can't wait to read them again and try to absorb all the ideas there. The picture of early rappers is terrific!
ReplyDeleteI went to your site and saw the girl types you posted there. They were great, particularly the liquored-up girl in red.
Jennifer: I got the word "load" from John. Before he said it I hadn't heard it since I was a kid.
The fashion trends you refer to are a throwback to prison garb from the 30s and 40s.
ReplyDeleteGo take a look at The Shawshank Redemption and you'll see a lot of similarities.
You live in LA and y ou see people who look like they live in LA. Go to bumfuc, kentucky and not everyone there sports a gangsta style.
ReplyDeleteIn southern cali you just have a higher saturation of latino and black gangstas and wannabees.
I only like the hardcore gangsta stuff, otherwise it's just modern R&B except rappers can't sing well at all.
ReplyDeleteRappers sing?
The only appropriate outfit for men: Soft, comfortable plain solid color T-shirt (no "heather", no sayings, no Nike logos, no ring collar with a contrasting color, NO STUPID POCKET), and normal, not-washed-in-bag-of-rocks Levi's, loose enough to hang slightly below the belly button so as to enhance cuteness and avoid mooseknuckle. And sneakers. Not "running shoes." Sneakers.
THAT'S ALL. Burn the rest.
"You don't find jeans comfortable?Maybe you haven't found good jeans yet, you gotta break them in. ARe you into more "alternative" hip-hop or the hardcore gangsta stuff? I only like the hardcore gangsta stuff, otherwise it's just modern R&B except rappers can't sing well at all. Radio blows."
ReplyDeleteI just think jeans are scratchy.. When they're new, they're often stiff and hard. When you wash them with fabric softener, they tend to fall apart. When you wear them out, they might get faded and full of holes. (I don't care whether they're faded or not, though.) Baggy ones are heavy and thick, making me feel like I have to take a shit. Non-baggy jeans are often those tight-ass, genital-crushing kind that country music fans like, that rip when you move your legs too much. Plus, I hate wearing anything with a zipper.
There's a college station that has an underground hip-hop show once a week at night that I listen to, and that's not bad at all. None of that "bling-bling", metrosexual, nursery-rhyme rap. No phony-ass gangsta wannabees who live in gated communities. Real good beats of a wide range of types; some are harsh and violent, some are bouncy and fun, some are hype, some are scary, some are really depressing, some are smooth and soothing, just to mention a few. There's even a huge variety within these types. But that's just the production half of the equasion! Besides lyrical content, there's a broad spectrum of voices rhyming over these beats, each with a different type of flow. Unique, original, highly-skilled and experimental hip-hop; beats, lyrics, flows, and vocal range. Sure, there's plenty of not-too-good ones, and ones that just plain stink, but hey, not everything can be great.
I'm sure you've heard of Busta Rhymes, NaS, Canibus, Redman, members of the Wu-Tang Clan, and Mobb Deep (even though they've almost sold out). But have you ever heard of Pharoahe Monch, Bumpy Knuckles, M.O.P., Celph Titled, or 7L & Esoteric? Just to name a few, as well as old-school legends like the Roots, Gang Starr, Biz Markie, Kool G Rap, or even KRS-One (even though you might not like his message)?
Eddie;
ReplyDeleteI'd have thought you'd be more enthusiastic about goofy menswear.
Someone told me the droopy-jeans effect first caught on in holding cells where gees had their belts confiscated, not that THAT makes any sense.
The girls might protest, but my informal research shows that the most common women's clothing fetish is a nice Italian suit.
I think hiphop & rap music was developed as an excuse to use subwoofers as sonic weapons.
ReplyDeleteLet's roll down the street in our fancy-wheeled Cadillac and assault people with bass!
"And "simon says" has the best hip-hop beat of all time, that 40'S movie theme music is SICK!!"
ReplyDeleteI believe that's the old Godzilla theme song.
When I saw this picture of King George IV in his earlier days I thought "Wow, so the early 19th century is finally back in style." He's got not only the upturned collar, but also the hair.
ReplyDeletenahhh gangsta looks are really cool, i think you people are gangsta haters cuz ur always beat by them, grow up you trash rockers
ReplyDeleteYEAH RIGHT! I love cholo or chicano looks and they look clean and a lil bit formal besides really looks like a gangster. Ur just curious or cant afford their style, or if you wear their style it looks funny to you hahha
ReplyDeleteI cant believe people here are actually refering to this as fashion at all. Also what certain people are stating here as new trends coming in are actually old trends going out (here in the uk anyway). Maybe there just a couple of years behind. For some excellent up to date mens fashion check out GQ magazine the UK edition, ive imported the US version and its a little poor on fashion no offence intended. or check out GQ style website.
ReplyDelete"The only appropriate outfit for men: Soft, comfortable plain solid color T-shirt (no "heather", no sayings, no Nike logos, no ring collar with a contrasting color, NO STUPID POCKET), and normal, not-washed-in-bag-of-rocks Levi's, loose enough to hang slightly below the belly button so as to enhance cuteness and avoid mooseknuckle. And sneakers. Not "running shoes." Sneakers."
ReplyDeleteIt's only appropriate if you're from the trailer park