A few years ago, headlines on the Internet declared that the era of sagging was over. The youths were no longer waddling around with their pants at their thighs, clutching onto their waistbands to keep them up, for, unironically, aesthetic purposes. Sagging had always had a storied and troubled history, associated with incarceration before being adopted by rebellious subcultures and ‘90s hip-hop artists who considered it a form of self-expression; a sartorial middle finger to the system, if you will. But right when I thought I’d never see low-slung pants again, the trend unexpectedly returned to the high fashion runways this year, championed by a cohort of young Black designers. Is exposing our butts cool again?
This past fashion month, brands were no longer merely dabbling in the sag; they embraced it with an influx of low-slung waistbands and exposed boxers all over the runway. A styling choice that once unfairly criminalized its participants, mainly young Black men, sagging is now being remixed by Black designers for a new generation. Whether you decide to embrace the sagging agenda with open arms is entirely up to you, but if you’re down, we’ve compiled four of the most practical (as you can get) and tasteful ways to wear this trend, as showcased at both the men’s and women’s shows.
