Raver Pants - Classic or Dud?

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You know...pants where the legs are almost as wide as the waist, the cuffs are always dragging on the ground, and can sometimes look almost exactly like a maxiskirt. Still worn by the candyraver and skateboarder set, but in vanishing numbers, far as I can see.

I've suddenly developed a mad fascination for them, which I think may mean they're about to become the next trucker hat.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 27 July 2003 23:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I actually bought a pair when I was twenty-two which ALREADY was way too old. I only wore them once.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 27 July 2003 23:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a couple pairs you can have, one of them I never even wore. If you made a graph of the bagginess of my pants, it would've peaked in about 1997, when I could hide a family of 4 inside them and the pockets ended just below my knee.
I still wear most of my pants in a droopy manner so that the top of them is below the top of my boxers--purely for comfort reasons. Is that still cool among the kids?

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 27 July 2003 23:51 (twenty-two years ago)

i got fat and then my raver pants were just pants

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 27 July 2003 23:52 (twenty-two years ago)

that's what happens when you eat too many of them there spareribs

― Tad (llamasfur), Sunday, 27 July 2003 23:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a couple pairs you can have

Why, Chris! I knew I'd get in your pants eventually! HA HA HA! HA HA HA! HA HA oh my goiter.

Actually my fascination doesn't quite extend to wearing them in public. (Except in shorts form and that is not at all the same.) I'm just curious why they even came to be. Were they comfortable? Didn't people trip all over them? Why did it become acceptable (in some circles, I guess) to have the leg cuffs frayed and dirty? Weren't they kind of asexual-looking, since they completely hid what was underneath? Hell, didn't they almost look like maxiskirts once they got big enough?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Mary to thread, by the way.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:24 (twenty-two years ago)

three words: hide your stash

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes they are comfortable, esp if you're dancing and/or on E, ie overheating.
Of course they were asexual, as was the overall vibe of raves.
My liking for huge pants grew out of skateboarding rather than raves. 1) They're comfortable and allow for easier movement while skating, yet, unlike shorts, you won't get your legs all scraped up. 2) They looked cool and designated you as different.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

god, in college (1996-1999) we used to talk so much shit about bigpants raver hippie scum. I did the techno show at the radio station, too, so it was part of my Berlin Detroit London IDM ethos to despise people like this who only bought mix cds on Moonshine Records and didn't know who the fuck Carl Craig was.

― Millar (Millar), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't argue with the scraped-leg issue, but as for rave-use, wouldn't all that fabric (esp. when it's denim) trap heat, unlike say shorts?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:34 (twenty-two years ago)

wow, you could tell all that from someone's pants?
(xp)

― oops (Oops), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:35 (twenty-two years ago)

don't worry we hated you too, millar

(also, we won)

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:35 (twenty-two years ago)

My ex was a fucking ex-raver, his pants were ridiculous. He had the GREATEST ones (and of course by greatest I mean absolutely the most hideous) in which one leg was of normal size and the other was HUGE ASS RAVER ENORMOUS WTF IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE size. I mean, wtf?

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I keep thinking the title of this thread is "river pants."

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:42 (twenty-two years ago)

He was a great actor. RIP.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:44 (twenty-two years ago)

don't worry we hated you too, millar

no you didn't, you were all PLUR PLUR PLUR PLUR and disgusting.

― Millar (Millar), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:48 (twenty-two years ago)

they are no more about to be the next trucker hat than hammer pants are! these two items are both too ridiculous and the kind of indie ppl who wear trucker hats are not comfortable with looking ridiculous.

― minna (minna), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:49 (twenty-two years ago)

and the kind of indie ppl who wear trucker hats are not comfortable with looking ridiculous.

That's what they'd like to think. :)

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Evidence: handlebar moustaches.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:51 (twenty-two years ago)

OK, minna, dude, what you just said is a logical inconsistency being as trucker hats are inherently a bit ridiculous, I mean did you see gareth in his??

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha all indie kids ever!:

http://www.mtv-china.com/avzone/photo/video/7sabotage_.jpg

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 28 July 2003 00:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Is that Alessandro Alegre?

― oops (Oops), Monday, 28 July 2003 01:02 (twenty-two years ago)

It's Julian Casablancas.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 28 July 2003 01:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Trying to be Jarvis circa 1998.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 28 July 2003 01:11 (twenty-two years ago)

nice ass

― Tad (llamasfur), Monday, 28 July 2003 01:11 (twenty-two years ago)

what a dick
/necessary

― oops (Oops), Monday, 28 July 2003 01:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Jarvis: Where did it all go wrong for you?

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 28 July 2003 01:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Though I am a bit out of my depth here: I think they were classic around '90-'92 maybe? Probably just about the time you bought your pair, Michael. The cross-over at the time of the black urban baggy pants look and the newly minted white suburban baggy pants look caused me some confusion. I think they should come back next year, but in a designer-y fashion, Issey Miyake-sleek, tailored, long, and billowy. It will be perfect for the 30somethings who were just a bit too old to sport these the first time around.

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 28 July 2003 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

'94-7 was when they were really big for skaters, then they got bigger with funny designs on 'em for the candyraver set circa '98-'00.

The jeans were thicker than normal jeans in addition to having more material so they were quite a bit hotter, yeah. But you could stand still and not have any material touching you from the waste down, which was classic on a windy day.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Monday, 28 July 2003 02:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Mary has pegged mine. I have 2 pair, one black and one white as interpreted by Barbara Bui c. 2000. The most important feature of these are the cell phone pocket on the side of the left leg. The white ones were irredemably soiled at the bottoms from being dragged in the cesspool that was Luxx's restroom corridor area the night of the W.I.T. show so I had them hemmed. They have white stitching that GLOWS in black light.

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 28 July 2003 04:13 (twenty-two years ago)

you were all PLUR PLUR PLUR PLUR
yes but "plur" never applied to folk outside of the trendy/raver world (you).

the thing that, to me, makes raver pants the biggest dud is the ring of philth around the bottom of the legs.
even if you went just partying in normal width pants it wasn't nearly so bad because it meant less of a scum ring floating around your feet.

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 28 July 2003 05:48 (twenty-two years ago)

It's impractical clothing, 'nuff said. Impractical clothing can never last, and to the casual observer, even LOOKS like it can never last. Therefore, dud.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 05:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"Harrumph harrumph!"

― s1utsky (slutsky), Monday, 28 July 2003 05:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, come on. Those pants were ridiculous. They're as bad as wearing your pants backwards. I won't take the stupid trends away from the kids -- lord knows I was victim to plenty of them myself. But looking back years later, and years older, how can they be anything but ridiculous?

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 05:56 (twenty-two years ago)

fashion in being impractical shockah

― oops (Oops), Monday, 28 July 2003 05:59 (twenty-two years ago)

fashion in being ridiculous shokah

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Man, I haven't smoked out of a shokah for years.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:01 (twenty-two years ago)

ravers in looking like idiots shocka

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:01 (twenty-two years ago)

me in posting redundant anti-raver sentiment shocka

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not anti-raver, but DAMN is it ever over.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:03 (twenty-two years ago)

man, i remember my family laughing and telling me how ridiculous they looked. i was all like 'what-everr, you just don't know what's cool'. and they didn't. being impractical and looking ridiculous was kind of the point, and anyone who dismissed them on that basis just showed how lame they were.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, oops, at the time. But now? Classic or dud? Maybe it's neither, but it sure ain't classic.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:04 (twenty-two years ago)

i will forever be suffering in the knowledge that not dressing like an tasmanian's nightmare makes me lame

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:05 (twenty-two years ago)

now? dud of course. thank god there are no pictures.
i didn't say not wearing them made you lame--dismissing them for being impractical/ridiculous-looking did.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:09 (twenty-two years ago)

at the time.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:10 (twenty-two years ago)

That's why it's a trend, instead of, say, a nice grey pin-striped suit.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:11 (twenty-two years ago)

grey? fuck that shit. BLUE!!

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:12 (twenty-two years ago)

That too. They both come in acceptable and unacceptable shades.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:14 (twenty-two years ago)

But I still choose grey. This --

http://www.davidwood.com/images/greyPin.jpg

-- is a suit that would have looked good 50 years ago, and will still look good 50 years from now. THAT's classic.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:17 (twenty-two years ago)

shame about the tie.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:21 (twenty-two years ago)

double-breasted suits make the men wearing them look like uppity chefs

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:21 (twenty-two years ago)

A straight polka-dot would work better. Agreed.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Tracer -- depends on the suit, the cut, the color, and the person wearing it. Three-button suits are more timeless, sure, and double-breasted suits always run the risk of having that Dick Cavett look, and if you're like me and can't afford a lot of suits, you probably shouldn't own one. But there is a time and place for them. Like, in a dark dark blue, at a bar mitzvah.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:24 (twenty-two years ago)

If I lived in the 1700s, that suit would look pretty ridiculous.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:25 (twenty-two years ago)

not if you were a dandy

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:26 (twenty-two years ago)

oops brummel they woulda called you

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I wore raver jeans in '89. They were a symbol of my individuality and belief in personal freedom.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 28 July 2003 06:34 (twenty-two years ago)

boy oh boy did I love raver fashion--never completely candied out, but you know the drill. so it's impossible for me to entirely gainsay the pants. even if they do look silly. especially now.

― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 28 July 2003 07:31 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm sorry but trucker hats are not ridiculous! that might be why i don't like them very much.

― minna (minna), Monday, 28 July 2003 12:04 (twenty-two years ago)

we used to wear size 46 dickies with the bottoms cut off and the waist tied together with shoelaces.
why? i dunno, to make skating look even more absurd.

― kephm, Monday, 28 July 2003 12:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Last year I bought a pair of neo-raver jeans for $7 from Old Navy. They're my second-favorite pair of pants.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 28 July 2003 12:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I had huge OshKosh cutoff dungarees and several hoodie tops worn not with Kickers but with black steel-toe Doc Marten brogue-patterned sandals and a variety of stripey tights or op-art socks. I also had a black fishing hat with a HUGE fabric red rose pinned to it, a graduated bob with an undercut allowing me to have Pineapple Head hair whenever, tons of Haçienda/MCR-band shirts, a wallet chain, candy necklaces and bracelets. I could also do a Miss Keir flip to my hair.

― suzy (suzy), Monday, 28 July 2003 12:30 (twenty-two years ago)

What, am I the only person who refuses to wear raver pants? FYI they make your ass look huge, come on people.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 28 July 2003 12:32 (twenty-two years ago)

They're especially bad on girls. Especially tall girls. They make them look like some giant ass monster. I know this firsthand.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 28 July 2003 12:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I never did the nuisance flares thing but big, baggy painters' pants are great. And anyway, Ally, nobody sees your ass when you're swimming in an XXL And God Created Manchester shirt.

― suzy (suzy), Monday, 28 July 2003 12:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Perhaps we should all start dressing like this?

http://www.talking-heads.net/graphics/david/bigsuit.jpg

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 28 July 2003 12:54 (twenty-two years ago)

"You may ask yourself...why such BIG...pants! And you may ask yourself, didn't they have smaller sizes? And you may ask yourself, my god, ever heard of a tailor?" etc.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 28 July 2003 12:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I wore raver jeans in '89. They were a symbol of my individuality and belief in personal freedom.

I have a DOG, Spencer. < /Nance >

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 28 July 2003 13:50 (twenty-two years ago)

1. Is that a Swan pin on that double-breasted suit?
2. Raver pants are super cute on girls! (If the girls in question are already cute.) Even cuter though were matching Adidas track suits.

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 28 July 2003 15:45 (twenty-two years ago)

1. That is a pocket square, not a pocket swan. I do not think that suit would look good on anyone under 5'11" unless you are going for "Riff Raff" from Underdog cartoon look.
2. Pursuant to the Boot Cut Jean Principle, flared raver pants should make your behind look smaller, no?

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 28 July 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Flared raver pants must be so enormous on bottom that they swallow the world.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 28 July 2003 17:42 (twenty-two years ago)

We saw some nice goth raver kids skating around in their flares and backpacks at the NYC Ice Skating FAP. Almost as good as a Zambonie.

― felicity (felicity), Monday, 28 July 2003 17:45 (twenty-two years ago)

i am wearing my biggest pair of pants today in response to this thread

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 28 July 2003 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.ravelinksstore.com/ledvis1.gif

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 28 July 2003 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Tracer, some friends and I were discussing visors like that this weekend.

― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 28 July 2003 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Raver pants are great, I love watching the kids trying to run after buses in them. Same goes for jeans worn below the ass on the Wish I Was Ghetto Krew that hang around the Eaton's Center.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 28 July 2003 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

http://fnfinfo.20m.com/pics/raver.jpg

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 03:51 (twenty-two years ago)

my spiderman panties are way better

― luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 03:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Are those the ones you just threw in the air? They were a blur to me.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 03:54 (twenty-two years ago)

no, those were the ones with the punisher on them

― luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 03:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Ooh. And what are we punishing tonight?

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 03:57 (twenty-two years ago)

(sorry)

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 03:57 (twenty-two years ago)

sugar, if you have to ask...

― luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 03:57 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.morningsun.net/images/102302/overalls.jpg

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:00 (twenty-two years ago)

PHAT!

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm frankly amazed at how long it took people to start posting pictures of big pants.

― s1utsky (slutsky), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:04 (twenty-two years ago)

The first trump card has been played. Now it's open season.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:05 (twenty-two years ago)

too obvious for me

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:06 (twenty-two years ago)

B-b-but... I'm miss your awful jokes already!

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:07 (twenty-two years ago)

too late pal. i'm hurt.

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:09 (twenty-two years ago)

(shame)

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:09 (twenty-two years ago)

was it because i called you oops brummel?

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:10 (twenty-two years ago)

No. It's because I was being a dick to him on another thread.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:13 (twenty-two years ago)

s'ok. i still think you're the bee's knees

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:15 (twenty-two years ago)

redemption!

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:15 (twenty-two years ago)

However, I still have no idea what I did to Millar.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 04:16 (twenty-two years ago)

It's the pants.

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 29 July 2003 12:36 (twenty-two years ago)

five months pass...

i got sum big raver pants still. the wider the legs the better. i wish i could find more.

― Dave Taylor, Friday, 2 January 2004 00:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Then ebay is your friend, son.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Friday, 2 January 2004 00:05 (twenty-two years ago)

nine years pass...

Reviving this highly relevant discussion after this Facebook thread derail.

― Moodles, Monday, 15 July 2013 16:57 (twelve years ago)

Exhibit A:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R0ZQEKk7xgM/UIhvGh7kyTI/AAAAAAAAFE8/rFlK55pK2L0/s640/JNCO+H&M+Margiela+jeans.jpg

― Moodles, Monday, 15 July 2013 16:58 (twelve years ago)

Dark Times:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3633/3633127213_0967ed2499.jpg

― Moodles, Monday, 15 July 2013 17:03 (twelve years ago)

Look ridiculously hot on chicks and very much less so on dudes.

― how's life, Monday, 15 July 2013 17:05 (twelve years ago)

Look ridiculous~~ly hot~~ on chicks and very much ~~less~~ so on dudes.

^
Corrected for you

― Moodles, Monday, 15 July 2013 17:08 (twelve years ago)

haha so amazing to think there was a time when i thought these were so cool. i wanted a pair so bad when i was 13.

― marcos, Monday, 15 July 2013 17:43 (twelve years ago)

i borrowed a pair from a friend and was about to head out one night and my grandma was like "you're not going out in those, are you?" like they were the most ridiculous things she ever saw. my grandma was smart.

― marcos, Monday, 15 July 2013 17:44 (twelve years ago)

they were the corduroy-style jncos where the cords were like half an inch thick

― marcos, Monday, 15 July 2013 17:45 (twelve years ago)

lol they must have sounded hilarious walking around

VVVVT VVVVVT

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 15 July 2013 17:46 (twelve years ago)

yes!

― marcos, Monday, 15 July 2013 17:47 (twelve years ago)

^
Corrected for you
― Moodles, Monday, July 15, 2013 1:08 PM (40 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Sorry, I still think it is a real cool look on women. Maybe it's just whatever women were wearing when I was 19 is what I think makes women look hot for the rest of my life? Probably. With guys it looks like they're wearing a tent.

― how's life, Monday, 15 July 2013 17:51 (twelve years ago)

whatever women were wearing when I was 19 is what I think makes women look hot for the rest of my life

― ⚓ (elmo argonaut), Monday, 15 July 2013 18:09 (twelve years ago)

could just be a case of attractive women wearing goofy close and still managing to look attractive

― Moodles, Monday, 15 July 2013 18:18 (twelve years ago)

goofy clothes

― Moodles, Monday, 15 July 2013 18:18 (twelve years ago)

CLASSIC

― the late great, Monday, 15 July 2013 18:27 (twelve years ago)

bought a pair of orange jnco sneaker/shoe/foot-boat things when i was in my late 20s. they were comprehensively, blindingly, construction site orange. i loved them beyond reason, but they were terrible shoes. mauled my feet something awful.

― twerking for obvious reasons (contenderizer), Monday, 15 July 2013 21:08 (twelve years ago)

raver girls in giant jnco's with huge fuckoff platforms and tiny pigtails and teddybear backpacks...or the goth raver girls with those spiky rubber backpacks

silly giant pants are silly but I am still nostalgic for that look nonetheless

i also really loved giant furry boots and tiny skirts

I never wore these things but i enjoyed seeing ppl who did

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 15 July 2013 21:11 (twelve years ago)

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