Latino Fashion
reprinted with permission by the author
Latinos and style. Arguably, Latinos have been the unspoken trendsetters of many fashion statements that have become popular nationwide - even worldwide. We pioneered the baggy pants and t-shirt look. The grunge look was stolen from the cholos - flannel shirts and all. The only difference was that the grungers modified the look to make it seem as if they hadn't bathed in several days. The recent popularities of goatees and shaven heads are longtime Latino traditions. But do we shaved our heads for economical reasons or to look "cool?"
So do Latinos fall into one specific style? Not at all! That's what makes us such a rich and diverse group of people. I've heard it put this way: clothes are a carrier of who you are. Today, more than ever, we have the choice to wear whatever we feel represents our moods or our roles. Basically, we dress a certain way when we feel like it. For example, at home I am very happy wearing a comfortable t-shirt and a pair of shorts. When I work, I put on a nice shirt, maybe a tie, and a pair of khaki pants. When I go out, I reach into the closet and pull out whatever I feel like portraying myself as for the night: maybe I'll wear my baggiest pair of pants and a football jersey, or maybe I'll try the rebel look tonight. Should I keep my fade, or should I just shave my head? Oh the hell with it, I'll just throw on a cap and not worry about it!
Certainly, there are looks that are purely Latino in their representation. Let's take a look and investigate ourselves in some of our more distinguished styles and flavas.
The Cholo/Homeboy/B-boy.
Let's start with the Latino you always see on those Fox-11 Undercover reports about gangbangers. Of course, this is a stereotype of who we are, but the fashion definitely exists. Keep in mind, that just because someone dresses like a cholo, does not necessarily make him a gangsta - especially when we're talkin' about our gay Latino cholos! Khaki or black colored Dickie pants about ten sizes too big and pressed with creases sharp enough to outslice even a Ginsu knife. A "wife-beater" t-shirt underneath a well-ironed plain white t-shirt is also necessary. A large football jersey (usually black) or a flannel shirt, and a baseball cap (remember to always bend the bill of the cap) are optional items. Shaved head, moustache, goatee, tatoos: these are all characteristics of this style. But what makes this look real is the attitude - that "don't fuck with me" attitude, that is such a turn-on for many of us!
The Rebel.
With sort of a modified cholo look crossed with a party raver, rebels have taken the baggy pants look and added a few extra nifty features. Body piercings and jewelry (chains, rings, etc.) are much more common among rebels along with the Doc Martin shoes. Rebels tend to favor fades over shaved heads, and they often fall into the "plucked eyebrow" craze that has exploded over the last couple of years here in LA.
The Label Hog.
Many of our gay selves fall into this category. These are the people who won't wear anything unless it was designed by Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and the such. Often times, the Label Hog spends a fortune purchasing clothes most people really can't afford. But who cares? They look sharp. And that's what's important!
The College Student.
I can most relate to this one after having spent five years of my life as a starving student at USC. Most of my wardrobe, at the time, consisted of anything with a university logo or design element. Given the Los Angeles warm weather, t-shirts and shorts suited me fine for the spring, summer and fall; sweatshirts and shorts for the winter. There wasn't much else necessary to wear unless you had a job interview to go to!
The Professional.
There's nothing like seeing un hombre all dressed up in a nicely tailored suit and tie - Ay Papi! There is certainly something extremely sexy about a tanned Latino sporting this look. Could it be the money-hungry and passionate look in his eye? Or maybe it's the attractive way of how suits tend to accentuate a man's body. Whatever the case, this intelligent look brings thoughts of a man with high career aspirations and goals that go viturally unmatched. His style is strong, powerful, and very attractive.
The Quebradita/Vaquero.
This style is rooted primarily in the Mexican and Mexican-American culture. This is a throwback to the look of the wild wild west. Cowboy hats and boots, tight-fitting Wrangler jeans and brown belts with rather large belt buckles are all characteristics of this look. You know these guys - the ones that go to Tempo in LA to listen and dance to banda music and drink their cervezas. It's definitely a unique style that is yet another contribution into the larger Latino flava.
The Drag Queen/Transgender.
Though Drag Queens and Transgenders are two different groups of people, I have placed them here together for the basic reason that their style is, of course, to dress up in women's clothes. Drag Queens (usually, but not necessarily as a rule) are more attention-getters in that they want everyone to look at them. The more outrageous they are, the better. Each queen has her own style that contributes to an overall look that must be FIERCE and becoming of a true diva. Transgenders, on the other hand, can be fierce, but usually are more subtle and conservative in their style of dress.
The Chameleon.
Honestly, almost every single one of us can be put into this category. This is just what you think it might be. It's when you dress up like a cholo on Friday night to go to Circus. Then, at the Sunday Beer Bust at Tempo, you put on your Ranchero outfit. A rebel look may be your costume of choice for Escándalo on Wednesday. At work, you put on your casual dress outfit, and the rest of the time, you hang out in your t-shirt and jeans. To some extent (some have more extreme variations than others), we all do this. It gives us a chance to dress how we feel. Fashion and style are about having fun and suiting how we feel. As human beings, we don't like to limit ourselves to one style - we want to taste it all (Gee...am I talking about clothes or about men?).
The lesson to learn about style is that it is an extension of who we are. It helps us convey emotions in subtle and not so subtle ways. Latinos are gifted with the ability to wear and create new and exciting fashions, and it is our different styles that make us a uniquely diverse familia.
