Figure 1.--When we assume that we see the absolutely most tacky item of clothing possible, we are constantly surprised with an even tackier item. We think we have now found perhaps the most offensive children's garments possible. One of the most egrgious aspects of hip-hop/rap fashion is Haloween costumes we have noted--pimp and "ho" costumes based on 1970s retro Black exploitation film fashions. |
When we assume that we see the absolutely most tacky item of clothing possible, we are constantly surprised with an even tackier item. We think we have now found perhaps the most offensive children's garments possible. One of the most egrgious aspects of hip-hop fashion is Haloween costumes we have noted--pimp and "ho" costumes. Rap music is full of references to "ho's". The costumes are being marketed by a California company which reports increasing sales. A typical pimp outfit is a pink velvet suit with a long jacket along with a wide-brimmed hat. The suit jacket and hat has faux-zebra trim. Not exactly what most of us recall wearing fro Trick-or-Treat. The costumes come in sizes beginning at age 4. The costumes are done in the styles seen in 1970s Black exploitation films like "Superfly". Notably, these costumes were not designed by Blacks or the hip-hop fashion companies.[Stepp] There were also prison costumes offered on the same website. One reader disagrees with our categirization of this as Hip-Hop styling and on reflection we are inclined to agree. He writes, "Amazing! I wouldn't describe it as hip-hop, however, but as 70s retro. The 1970s are now far enough in the past that it is now popular culture's favorite era to mock. They even came out with a Starsky and Hutch movie this year." The styling does seem to be 1970s-retro, as we mentioned the popular Black-exploitation films of the 70s. The emphasis in rap music on "ho's", however, does make a connection with hip-hop.
Stepp, Laura Sessions. "Costumes that raise the specter of the street, " The Washington Post (August 28, 2004), p. C1.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web look pages:
[Return to the Main Hip-hop style page]
[The Regency look]
[The Fauntleroy look]
[Double-breated look]
[The sailor look]
[Russian look]
[The Eton look]
[The preppy look]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Cloth and textiles]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Topics]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]