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No Pants? No Problem!
From Lady Gaga and Sienna Miller to Prada and Yves Saint Laurent, underwear is the new outerwear again. VIEW OUR GALLERY.
"There is a war going on, and it's against pants," Dodai Stewart, Jezebel.com's senior editor, wrote on the women’s site last week. And from what we’re seeing on the red carpets, it’s true: A seemingly unprecedented sartorial battle is being waged against traditional trousers, and international pop star Lady Gaga (best known for her platinum blond tresses and penchant for avant-garde fashion) is perhaps its most visible warrior. But, that's not to say the cause originated with the singer/songwriter. Stewart blames provocateur label American Apparel for providing the "paraphernalia" (think: leotards, shorts so short they're hot pants, and leggings—the ubiquitous, Lindsay Lohan-approved pant stand-in—in every shade and texture under the sun).
The conflict's roots actually date back decades. Warhol Factory fixture Edie Sedgwick famously favored tights over pants. (Fast forward to today: The look is one that Madonna sported recently in ads for Louis Vuitton, and which Big Love star Ginnifer Goodwin models on the cover of this month's W magazine.) Not to mention the fact that fashion icon Nan Kempner famously fought for her right to go pant-less in the ‘60s when, after arriving at La Cote Basque in NYC and being told she would not be admitted in pants, she took her trousers off and strutted in solely in a tunic. But, why the abundant proclivity toward going pantless this season in particular? It's hard not to tie the anti-trouser trend to (what else?) the economy. It's no coincidence that especially big on recent Fashion Week runways were thigh-high boots. While the styles in question ranged from fishing waders (from Miuccia Prada, of course) to luxe wrapped leather creations at Rodarte, the message was clear: Fashion is all about gams this season. Be they clad in over-the-knee boots or entirely bare, legs are the new black. And, right on trend, Taschen is releasing Dian Hanson's The Big Book of Legs. See our gallery for the best pant-less looks around.
Click Image Below to View Our Gallery
Alisa Gould-Simon is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer. She also covers fashion and culture for BlackBook, New York magazine, and PAPER among other publications.
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Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
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guiltybystander
war against pants? why has no one told me?
guiltybystander
whatever side Lady Gaga is on in this war, I'm on
tommytimp
Duh. It's summer.
PamAnn
That's not fashion, that's clearly crap. "Fashion" is just being led around by your nose to buy into whatever bizarre outifts someone famous says you should wear. Be a leader, not a follower. And, can you just see these get-ups in the workforce? True fashion is durable, not gullible.
Saphes
The clasic black siut, will never be gone from the work force, unless it's Christmas, then it's the red cashmire jacket with the black velvet colar ...and only a sexy red bra under that, toss in a strand of cultured pearls...hot or what !!!
scobyx
Ah, the one and only war our hard earned tax dollars won't have to fund.
exploora
And these are the types of [outfits If they can be called that if pants are missing)], if you look twice, you are glared like a potential sexual predator.
I think the fact that fashion is so close to the word fascist in the English dictionary should be a warning to us all.
Bender
interesting trend that doesn't always work on each lady.
now if only nude could be the new trend.... hmm
GREGORYABUTLER
Why do women care what other women wear?
If some other woman wants to wear leggings - LET HER!
Her body, her choice!
Mind your own business, and worry about your own outfits, no the next woman's!
teiger
i hate wearing pants. maybe something i developed with having a 37 inch inseam and this being an unpopular pants length? i shock people when i wear pants... coworkers cower in fright. mostly dresses. and have been supporting public leotard (and yes! tights!) wearing for some time. the only issue is when it comes to using the ladies room... not a convenient excursion. but leotards just feel right. oh so right. i asked a friend yesterday if it would be too formal to wear one to her wedding... lady gaga... i dunno. i wish she would wear a house- you know. stay in it.
darcusgrey
Been there, worn that.
darcusgrey
Been there, worn that.
Veronicaxy
Every generation gets has it's turn under the thrall of hormones and youth with its own version of fashionable over-exposure. Enjoy!
BaronSiegfried
War against pants? I'm in!!
exploora
I have a question. If you don't have pants, that means you don't have pockets, so where do you put your hands?
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