Let's Talk Pants

The most unexpected side effect of skateboarding is caring what your pants look like. Who would've thought that when I was still pushing with my front foot, that pants would be all I would be thinking about years down the road. I've committed my own sin by skating in skinny pants, despite thinking (knowing) baggy pants looked so much cooler.

The latest fashion craze—baggy pants. With the resurgence of Y2K fashion, clothes have become a lot more loose and oversize fitting. Much more comfortable than the form fitting skinny pants, baggy pants also offer space for breathability, perfect with the impending doom of global warming.

First of, where did it all begin? In terms of skateboarding, the first young generation of skater rocking the baggy kit was John Shanahan. I can't remember exactly which video part or what year it was, but I do remember thinking "oh baggy pants are gonna come back." I kept telling my friends in high school that baggy pants were gonna come back. And sure enough, it came back. But boy did it come back strong.

Best way to watch this is in 480p

I like to categorize the silhouette of pants into four categories: skinny, slim, straight and baggy. Some may categorize skinny and slim pants into the same category. For me, slim pants offer a slightly roomier fit. This can best be differentiated when you sit down; do the hem of the pants hug your ankle or do they "hover" above your shoe. If it hugs, skinny; if it hovers, slim. Straight pants are much more roomier. What is most commonly described as a "relaxed fit" by pant manufacturers. Examples include the Dickies 874 and the "loose fit" by Carhartt, both pants that I have experience wearing.

A pair of Carhartt B151 Loose Fit (30x32)

Based on the categories above, the first three categories of pants can be worn to a nice dinner or date without much unwanted attention or embarrassing your parents.

Baggy pants, on the contrary, are much more about fashion and showing off an outfit. What is interesting is despite the looseness of the pants, many of the online photos I saw online feature the pant being worn at the waist.

The first few results from searching "baggy pants" on Google Images

To me, a pair of pants is not baggy unless it is sagged, at least the hips. Perhaps a fifth, new category called "wide/loose fit" can be created. But that isn't necessarily what makes baggy pants so unique.

A pair of skinny pants from any brand will fit the same. Whether you buy it from Levi's, H&M, Uniqlo or Zara, all of their skinny pants will fit the same. As the cut becomes wider, variances between brands start to appear, especially with baggy pants. Do the pants look best when going true to size on the waist, or should the wearer size up on the waist? How big should they size up? Do they taper? Will the pants become so huge the person wearing it begins to look like a Minecraft character?

The most notable brand to make the baggy silhouette is none other than Polar with their Big Boy pants. These pants have gained a cult following, resulting in a subreddit dedicated to Polar Big Boys. The Big Boys can definitely be a bit too much when worn overly baggy. With the right size, however, the pants look amazing.

Korahn Grain tastefully wearing Polar Big Boys via Followed: Korahn Gayle

The baggy pants aren't just for the new kids though. Older generations and skaters already established have changed their wardrobe as well. We love a good pants glow up!

Andrew Reynolds Stay Gold (2010) vs Baker 4 (2021)

Bobby de Keyzer Blue Tile Lounge Part (2014) vs Grand Prairie (2021)

But as all trends disappear, how long will the baggy pants stay? In Jenkem's Shop Talk at Huntington Beach, the host Larry Lanza asks "What's a trend in skating you want to see die out?" three of the interviewees answered the same thing: baggy pants.

"Can we wear pants that fit again?" said one interviewee. "I want the pants to get skinny again," another said.

Still, there are notable pros that have gone against the grain and don't wear baggy pants. Yaje Popson, for example, can still be seen wearing respectfully fitting pants as seen in his recent Belo Horizons part. Dashawn Jordan and Mason Silva wear what I consider straight fitting pants. Upcoming ams like Dylan Jaeb sport this fit as well.

Maybe this slightly roomier straight fit is the most timeless look: not too skinny, not too slim. If you aren't sure what fit to rock, look for inspiration on @WhatPantsAreThose and scroll through to see what you like. The account shows what pants the skaters are wearing, giving you an idea of how they fit and look.

Me personally, I think baggy pants look the best skating. But I also see the appeal in wearing a slimmer silhouette. Currently I'm rocking these "vintage skater pants" from this brand called WeGo in Japan. Super affordable, lightweight, great colors and most of all, fits amazing. Maybe when I'm older I'll start to have another pant crisis and slim down a bit. The last thing I want to look like is a dad trying reclaim his youth. Or worst of all... goofy boy.

WeGo Skate Pants (Large)