Wear Your Jeans Low? New York's Anti-Sagging Billboards Target You

New York State Senator Eric Adams wants you to pull up your pants. And he's putting up six billboards in Brooklyn to convince you.

The Senator has waged the "Stop the Sag" campaign against "urban" men who wear their jeans so low that their underwear is exposed. He alleges that the fad started in prison when inmates weren't allowed to wear belts via WWD claiming: "The sagging pants culture represents an immature disregard for the basic civility, courtesy and responsibility that our young men should display."

The billboards display two young men, one of them African-American, wearing their jeans so low that you can clearly make out their boxers and their butts. The accompanying slogans include "We are better than this!" "Stop the sag!" "Raise your pants, raise your image."

The response has been divided. Russell Simmons feels Adams is unfairly targeting and condemning the urban male African-American community:

“I like Sen. Adams, but this is wrong-headed and a waste of time,” said Russell Simmons, the founder of Phat Farm and Argyle Culture. “This is the latest example of adults trying to repress the creativity and individuality of kids. Why would kids want to dress like Sen. Adams? There is no connection to saggy pants and the ability to succeed. Just look at what buttoned-up America has done to the rest of the world and each other. Why can’t kids be different?” 

Jeffrey Tweedy, Vice-President of Sean John, doesn't necessarily embrace the sagging jean trend, but feels it is freedom of expression:

 “We are a sophisticated brand. I actually get offended when I see some stores style their mannequins with saggy jeans. But remember, this is about youthful rebellion. They are doing it to get attention — there’s a cool factor involved.” 

President Obama previously gave MTV the take on saggy jeans I most agree with:

“Here is my attitude: I think people passing a law against people wearing sagging pants is a waste of time.…Having said that, brothers should pull up their pants. You are walking by your mother, your grandmother, your underwear is showing. What’s wrong with that? Come on. There are some issues that we face, that you don’t have to pass a law, but that doesn’t mean folks can’t have some sense and some respect for other people and, you know, some people might not want to see your underwear — I’m one of them.”

In this economy, the money Adams is putting into Brooklyn billboards could fare better by, I don't know, restoring the city's struggling education system.

Not that I love seeing a man's boxers exposed. I just don't see the value in waging a campaign against how kids choose to dress.

Why? Because it changes all the time. If it's not saggy jeans, it's long white tees that look like dresses that you'll take issue with.

Furthermore, I'm sure the young "urban" men who sag their jeans will feel attacked by the billboard's message and further alienated from the older community as a result. Consequently, they will continue to rebel by wearing their pants low and nothing will change...well, nothing except the gap between the young and older communities, which will widen.

What should he have done instead, you ask? Enlisted Jay-Z to deem sagging jeans "wack" in a song. And told T.I. to wear fitted jeans with a belt in his video. That would have changed everything.

What are you thoughts on the campaign? Discuss.

Kisses,

Coutura

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VIDEO GLAM: Erykah Badu's "Window Seat": Why I Want to Be Naked Too

Erykah Badu is truly an icon. For her latest video, she ditched the eccentric clothes, the famous afro, even the Rick James-inspired style she rocked last week on the Wendy Williams show, for a raw, naked look. Yes, naked as in butterball, butt naked. Click here to see the video.


The neo-soul icon gave the ultimate artistic expression when she walked confidently down the Dallas street where JFK was assassinated, disrobing with every step.  By the end, as Erykah stands naked in broad daylight surrounded by unsuspecting passersby, a shot rings out, her head snaps and she falls to her death, with blue blood flowing from her that reads "Group Think." Whoa.


The concept is so deep and freeing. I emphatically applaud her. It's open to interpretation, but my take is that it isn't pure nudity, or sexuality like we've seen in previous videos (i.e. Lady Gaga's nudity in Telephone). As Erykah disrobes, she's shedding her "group mentality" and freeing her body and also, her mind and spirit. She's boldly and fearlessly expressing her individuality and defying the group's way of thinking, mirroring what JFK did as President. Many believe he was assassinated for his unique, bold ideology and so too, was Erykah, once she was completely free and naked at the end of the video. It's art, people. The video is loaded with meaning.


It fits with the lyrics of the song as she sings that she is searching for a "place to fly, a place to cry" alone with "no one next to" her. I get that concept. I always take the Window Seat on planes for that reason. To be in my head, free from distractions and opinions and judgments, and to just be at peace with me. It is an empowering, peaceful place, alone, staring into the sky---and it's all the more commendable that Erykah was able to find that place of individualism and emotional nakedness surrounded by people. I wish I could be that free (figuratively, not literally. So don't worry, no naked strolls down Times Square in my future).


Of course, that concept, which is substantiated by Erykah's recent tweets (@fatbellybella), flies above people's heads. But she could care less. And of course, most people are harboring over the fact that she has a great butt. Which flatters her (she's retweeted several comments about it) but they're also missing the point. And again, she could care less.


The booty scene isn't merely powerful because she's got amazing curves, but because it marks the first time she is truly defying social decorum, by walking down the street in her undies. The power isn't just in her shape, but in her body language. She's not ashamed, or sexualized, which are the two ways women appear when they are nude in public. She's confident, brave and at peace. She's in her world, strutting proudly and freely like a Queen, while in regular black panties and in the midst of everyday folk who scream that she's insane.


I don't plan on disrobing down a Dallas street, but I live for artistic expression and commend Erykah's. While points about traumatized children are valid, I think criticism that she's "stripping" to sell records reduce her beautiful video and profound concept. Erykah is, and always has been, much more than sex.


What do you think? How did you interpret the video? Do you commend Erykah or believe it was in poor taste? Discuss.


Kisses,


Coutura