Wildwood, New Jersey Imposes Ban on Overly Saggy Pants

I am highly sympathetic to the beach city of Wildwood, New Jersey, whose council has passed legislation to outlaw overly saggy pants, but in our free country, the law will surely be overturned by a  branch of the American Civil Liberties Union before it can be enforced.

We live in an era in which slovenliness and clothing which exposes portions of breasts and buttocks is not only accepted, but encouraged.   In another time, the individual that wore a white undershirt as outerwear or faded blue jeans with more holes than fabric would be regarded as a “bum” or a “hobo”.  Today, tasteless attire is considered by many to be chic and it is seen on individuals from all socio-economic classes.  If I were a parent with a child that wanted to leave the house in blue jeans with gaping holes which expose most of their legs and thighs, I would tell the child that he or she is not going out dressed that way.  The child could hate me if he or she wished.

I know of no restaurant that in 2013 insists on proper attire for the diner no matter how posh the establishment.  The closest I came to one with a dress code was Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Los Angeles, at which my wife and I dined on 4 April of this year.  The restaurant notes at its website the following, ”We recommend attire that is befitting a special occasion restaurant. We strongly request no tank tops, torn jeans, shorts, hats and casual gym wear”. On the evening that my wife and I were there,  some individuals dined in exercise clothing and hoodies.

The good people of Wildwood, New Jersey have made a statement, but that is all they will have accomplished when litigation over its ordinance concludes.  I am not advocating a law to force individuals to exert good taste, but it saddens me that good taste is a quaint relic of the past to so many today.