No Pants Day

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No Pants [lower-alpha 1] Day is an annual event in various countries that became more widely celebrated in the 2000s. It is most often observed on the first Friday in May and involves publicly wearing only undergarments on the lower part of the body, not nudity. Except for making people laugh, the holiday typically serves no other purpose or agenda, [1] but some organizers later used it to raise social issues. [2]

Contents

History

Participants (with no pants) in 2004 No Pants Day in Austin, Texas Nopantsday 2004 Austin.jpg
Participants (with no pants) in 2004 No Pants Day in Austin, Texas

No Pants Day originated as an informal, end of semester, celebration for students at the University of Texas at Austin. After about 15 years of being celebrated every May, the Knighthood of Buh, a small campus comedy club, declared it a student holiday in 2000. After the 2003 celebration, The Austin Chronicle called it the city's "best local holiday". [3] The event gained traction in other states and several parts of Canada as well as France, Sweden, Australia, Finland, and Britain from their promotion. [4] [5]

Columnist Brian Shea, in 2004, reported that the official website for No Pants Day promised, "(w)hen large groups of people parade around in public without their pants, amazing things are about to happen. At the very least, you'll take your drab, wretched life a little less seriously, at least for one day" and that songs had been written to commemorate No Pants Day. [1] [6]

In 2014, local radio station The Planet 106.7 sponsored Billings, Montana's 5th annual No Pants Day on January 23. [7] The inaugural event in 2010 was scheduled when 28-degree weather and snow showers were predicted. Organizers encouraged people walk around town and do whatever they would otherwise normally do, just without the pants. [2]

In 2021, footwear company Reebok used No Pants Day to launch its EasyTone line of shoes by hiring fitness models to walk around the Taiwan subway during peak commute hours wearing formal business attire on top but without pants. The brief campaign generated nearly a hundred broadcast media clippings, and was covered by all Taiwanese news channels. [8]

Permitted apparel

In May 2008, the Idaho Statesman clarified that in Boise's first celebration of the event that the absence of "pants" (also known as trousers) include all garments typically worn below the waist, such as shorts, kilts, and skirts, but participants should wear "appropriately modest" undergarments. "I hope that no one uses this to be overly sexual or otherwise improper", said the event's organizer. [9] Local principals discouraged students from participating during the school day, saying that any showing of undergarments would violate dress codes. [10]

Usage for social awareness

"I don’t know if they’re expecting like some rock of sorts
But I’m just tearing up the mic here in my boxer shorts
It’s No Pants Day, and there’s no hate"

— Canadian musician Andrew Huang in 2004 [11]

In 2004, Canadian music producer Andrew Huang recorded the song No Pants!, rapping as "MC Underwear" to celebrate the humor of No Pants Day, and launched the "Songs To Wear Pants To" website. [11]

Although "the main thing is, just to have fun", organizers of the May 2008 inaugural event in Boise, Idaho focused attention on bus riding to raise awareness of public transit issues, similar to New York's annual No Pants Subway Ride, [9] an event which the Associated Press called a "winter spinoff" of No Pants Day. [12]

More than 25 cartoonists observed No Pants Day in 2021 as part of a coordinated effort by King Features Syndicate to support clothing charities like Dress for Success and community thrift shops disaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic. [13] “Just the idea of No Pants Day, I think, is something that everybody can feel a little bit closer to this year than in previous years”, said King Features comics editor Tea Fougner. [12] Newspaper readers found on May 7, 2021, that many characters had been drawn with their pants removed in popular comic strips. Dennis the Menace made a brief appeal to contribute to children's clothing charity Room to Grow, while a Rae the Doe character was depicted making a donation of clothing. Blondie, Rhymes with Orange, and Zippy the Pinhead were also among the participating strips. [12] [13]

Notes

  1. In American English, "pants" are what trousers are in British English

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leotard</span> One-piece garment that covers the torso

A leotard is a unisex skin-tight one-piece garment that covers the torso from the crotch to the shoulder. The garment was made famous by the French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard (1838–1870). There are sleeveless, short-sleeved, and long-sleeved leotards. A variation is the unitard, which also covers the legs. It provides a degree of modesty and style, while allowing for freedom of movement.

Underpants are underwear worn on the lower body generally extending no higher than the navel. In British English they are often called simply pants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skirt</span> Clothing worn from the waist or hips

A skirt is the lower part of a dress or a separate outer garment that covers a person from the waist downwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panties</span> Womens underwear

Panties are women's underwear. Panties can be form-fitting or loose. Typical components include an elastic waistband, a crotch panel to cover the genitalia, and a pair of leg openings that, like the waistband, are often made of elastomer. Various materials are used, but are usually chosen to be breathable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folk costume</span> Expression of identity through clothing, usually associated with a geographic area

A folk costume expresses a national identity through clothing or costume, which is usually associated with a specific region or period of time in history. It can also indicate social, marital, or religious status. If the costume is used to represent the culture or identity of a specific ethnic group, it is usually known as ethnic costume. Such costumes often come in two forms: one for everyday occasions, the other for traditional festivals and formal wear. The word "costume" in this context is sometimes considered pejorative due to the multiple senses of the word, and in such cases "clothing", "garments" or "regalia" can be substituted without offense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boxer shorts</span> Mens loose-fitting underpants

Boxer shorts are a type of undergarment typically worn by men. The term has been used in English since 1944 for all-around-elastic shorts, so named after the shorts worn by boxers, for whom unhindered leg movement ("footwork") is very important. Boxers come in a variety of styles and design but are characterized by their loose fit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic school uniform</span>

A Catholic school uniform in North America typically consists of a pleated and tartan skirt or jumper dress, Mary Jane or saddle shoes, a button-down shirt, and a sweater for girls, while boys' uniforms consist of a button-down shirt, a necktie, and dark pants. Actual school uniforms vary widely by location and individual school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slip (clothing)</span> Womans undergarment worn beneath a dress or skirt

A slip is a woman's undergarment worn beneath a dress or skirt. A full slip hangs from the shoulders, usually by means of narrow straps, and extends from the breast to the fashionable skirt length. A half slip hangs from the waist. The word petticoat may also be used for half slips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waistband</span> Clothing component that encircles the waist, especially of a skirt or trousers

A waistband is a strip of material that is either elastic or some other confining fabric that encircles the waist, usually as a component of clothing such as skirts, trousers, shorts, swimsuits, and undergarments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Briefs</span> Type of undergarment and swimwear

Briefs are a type of short, form-fitting underwear and swimwear, as opposed to styles where material extends down the thighs. Briefs have various different styles, usually with a waistband attached to fabric that runs along the pelvis to the crotch and buttocks, and are worn by both men and women. Swim briefs are a variation used as swimwear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothing fetish</span> Sexual fetish relating to particular type of clothing

Clothing fetishism or garment fetishism is a sexual fetish that revolves around a fixation upon a particular article or type of clothing, a particular fashion or uniform, or a person dressed in such a style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Men's skirts</span> Skirt-like garments worn by men and boys

Outside Western cultures, men's clothing commonly includes skirts and skirt-like garments; however, in the Americas and much of Europe, skirts are usually seen as feminine clothing and socially stigmatized for men and boys to wear, despite having done so for centuries. While there are exceptions, most notably the cassock and the kilt, these are not really considered 'skirts' in the typical sense of fashion wear; rather they are worn as cultural and vocational garments. People have variously attempted to promote the fashionable wearing of skirts by men in Western culture and to do away with this gender distinction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gym shorts</span> Clothing worn by people when exercising

Gym shorts are an article of clothing typically worn by people when exercising. They are typically made out of fabrics that allow for maximum comfort and ease, such as nylon. Brands such as Nike, Under Armour, Gymshark, Adidas, and Reebok all make gym shorts. Cotton gym shorts were made popular by a cheerleading brand called Soffe. Gym shorts or sweatpants are required for many junior high and high school physical education courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">True Scotsman</span> State of not wearing undergarments under kilts

"True Scotsman" is a humorous term used in Scotland for a man wearing a kilt without undergarments. Though the tradition originated in the military, it has entered Scottish lore as a rite, an expression of light-hearted curiosity about the custom, and even as a subversive gesture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trousers</span> Clothing for the legs and lower body

Trousers, slacks, or pants are an item of clothing worn from the waist to anywhere between the knees and the ankles, covering both legs separately. In the United Kingdom, the word pants generally means underwear and not trousers. Shorts are similar to trousers, but with legs that come down only to around the area of the knee, higher or lower depending on the style of the garment. To distinguish them from shorts, trousers may be called "long trousers" in certain contexts such as school uniform, where tailored shorts may be called "short trousers" in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Underwear</span> Clothes worn under other clothes

Underwear, underclothing, or undergarments are items of clothing worn beneath outer clothes, usually in direct contact with the skin, although they may comprise more than a single layer. They serve to keep outer clothing from being soiled or damaged by bodily excretions, to lessen the friction of outerwear against the skin, to shape the body, and to provide concealment or support for parts of it. In cold weather, long underwear is sometimes worn to provide additional warmth. Special types of undergarments have religious significance. Some items of clothing are designed as undergarments, while others, such as T-shirts and certain types of shorts, are appropriate both as underwear and outerwear. If made of suitable material or textile, some underwear can serve as nightwear or swimwear, and some undergarments are intended for sexual attraction or visual appeal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Pants Subway Ride</span> Annual event

The No Pants Subway Ride is an annual event where people ride rapid transit or subway while they are not wearing pants. Beginning in New York in 2002, the event spread to as many as sixty cities as of 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basketball uniform</span> Type of uniform worn by basketball players

A basketball uniform is a type of uniform worn by basketball players. Basketball uniforms consist of a jersey that features the number and typically the last name of the player on the back, as well as shorts and athletic shoes. Within teams, players wear uniforms representing the team colors; the home team usually wears a lighter-colored uniform, while the visiting team wears a darker-colored uniform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charro outfit</span> Mexican style of dress

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020s in fashion</span> Fashion-related events during the 2020s

The fashions of the 2020s represent a departure from 2010s fashion and feature a nostalgia for older aesthetics. They have been largely inspired by styles of the late 1990s to mid-2000s, 1980s, and late 1960s to early 1970s. Early in the decade, several publications noted the shortened trend and nostalgia cycle in 2020s fashion. Fashion was also shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a major impact on the fashion industry, and led to shifting retail and consumer trends.

References

  1. 1 2 Rand, Erin J. (October 26, 2007). "Revolutionary Pants: Identity, Play, and Collective Action". Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies. 4 (4): 430–434. doi:10.1080/14791420701644746. ISSN   1479-1420. S2CID   145297437.
  2. 1 2 Ulrich, Cathy (January 22, 2010). "Pants on the ground? Leave 'em, organizers say". Newspapers.com. The Billings Gazette. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  3. "Best Local Holiday: No Pants Day". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  4. "Pants? Who needs pants!". Regina Leader Post . 5 May 2006. Archived from the original on 2014-04-25. Retrieved 2013-04-11. Celebrations have since spread across the U.S., Sweden, Australia, Finland, the United Kingdom and even Iraq. In Canada, pants-free festivities are known to have been held in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario.
  5. "No pants, no problem" . The Chronicle of Higher Education . 4 June 2004. Archived from the original on 2014-01-13. Retrieved 2013-04-11. ...a self-described "humor-oriented organization," started promoting the stunt four years ago in an effort to relieve students' end-of-semester stress.
  6. Shea, Brian (May 9, 2004). "This time of year, the fever is apt to strike". Newspapers.com. The Evening Sun. p. 18. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  7. Maust, Tabby (January 23, 2014). "No Pants Day: Places Participants Against the Elements". Newspapers.com. The Retort. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  8. Rubio, Rhandell (June 24, 2011). "CASE STUDY: Reebok's 'No pants day' deploys models to showcase EasyTone shoes | Marketing". Campaign Asia. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  9. 1 2 Dryden, Chad (May 1, 2008). "On Friday, Celebrate No Pants Day". Newspapers.com. The Idaho Statesman. p. Life1, Life4. Retrieved 2023-11-30. First things first: Friday's No Pants Day is not an excuse to run naked through downtown Boise. What is is, quite literally, is an excuse to go pantsless while otherwise going about your day as if your were wearing pants. And in case you were wondering - or thinking about skirting around the rules - the definition of 'pants,' in this case, includes shorts, skirts, kilts - essentially any outer garment normally worn on the bottom half of your body. But that doesn't mean Boise will be showing its collective bottom on Friday. No Pants Day participants are urged to wear "appropriately modest" boxer shorts, briefs, boxer-briefs, bloomers, and slips. They are specifically not encouraged to walk around Boise in the buff.
  10. Runkle, Christin (2008-03-20). "Canyon County schools wary of 'No Pants Day' in May". Idaho Press. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  11. 1 2 Andrew Huang – No Pants! , retrieved 2023-12-01
  12. 1 2 3 Kennedy, Mark (2021-05-05). "Comic Strip Artists Celebrate 'No Pants Day' On May 7". HuffPost. Associated Press. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  13. 1 2 Balter, Emma (May 7, 2021). "'No Pants Day' is today and comics characters observe the holiday for charity". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved May 7, 2021.