EVERY teenager fancies themselves at the cutting edge of current fads and trends. No matter how silly it makes them appear at the time.
Simply cast your mind back to your own salad days and I’m sure there’s a badly dressed skeleton lurking in the closet.
However, a teenager in Bedfordshire recently won a court case that proposed to stop him wearing low-slung trousers and a hooded top because it breached his ‘human rights’.
Ellis Drummond, 18, faced a ban on the clothing because he was considered to be wearing it in an ‘intimidatory manner’.
He was backed by civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, which claimed the original Asbo would have been completely unenforceable’.
Director Alex Deane told newspapers: “The proper punishment for the comically low-riding trousers favoured by some people is that we all think they look ridiculous.”
The current fashion for exposing your pants with a low-slung trouser is believed to originate from US prisons. As to what this style signifies, I’ll leave to your imagination.
A precedent for including clothing in the terms of an Asbo was set in 2005 when 16-year-old Dale Carroll from Cheetham, Manchester, became the first person in the country to be banned from wearing a hooded top.
Over the years Britain has seen numerous youth fashion statements and they all cause the same panic and moral indignation from ‘right-thinking’ polite society.
Finding your identity by adopting a radical look is nothing new, so let’s look back at the best. Perhaps you may have strutted down the local high street wearing some of this ‘ridiculous’ attire: * Teddy Boys (1950s) – Hooked on the brash new sound of rock and roll and a penchant for using far too much Brylcreem. They also enjoyed a tear-up with rival gangs and frightening people in teashops. Favouring drape jackets, high-waist drainpipe trousers and large crepe-soled shoes known as brothel creepers. Looking not unlike presenter Mark Lamarr or Paul Shane from TV sitcom Hi De Hi.
* Mods and Rockers (1960s) –The rockers favoured grubby leather jackets, where as the mods preferred bespoke Italian suits. The latter look is still favoured today through smartly dressed pop stars Paul Weller, The Arctic Monkeys and Oasis.
* Hippies (1960-70s) – More political than their predecessors with a fondness for peace, free love and soft drugs. The dress code was optional but did occasionally include flowers, tie-dye and bell bottom flares. Echoes of the bohemian couture can still be seen adorned on pop acts like Florence and the Machine, Bat for Lashes and Lily Allen.
* Punk (1970s) – Disillusioned with flower power, punk rockers wanted to rip it up and start again. Spiky hair, safety pins and spitting were the norm, as was pogoing in time to the music.
* New Romantics (1980s) – A short-lived phenomenon where men and women wore make-up and frilly shirts. In these times the local dancefloor was chock full of big hair and funny little dances. Key players today include TV dandy Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and comedian Noel Fielding.
* B-Boys (1980s) – Clad in tracksuits, big jewellery and body popping to the sound of American hip-hop. Picture the wardrobe of Ali G and Goldie Lookin Chain and you’ll get the look.
* Rave (1980-90s) – Evolving from disco music and the acid house club scene. “Cheesy quavers” enjoyed dancing all night with whistles and glowsticks in sweaty warehouses and fields. With a penchant for wearing garish, neon colours and face masks. These fashion victims can often still be seen dancing by themselves at music festival car parks.
* Present Day – The leading exponents of, ahem, unique dress sense include Dappy from N-Dubz, Lady Gaga and Rihanna.
What would we do without impressionable youth to give us all a good laugh?
