The Sunday News
Peter Matika
THIS week fashion TV and magazines were awash with pictures of “fools” running around train subways and tube trains half-naked all in celebration of something called No Pants Subway Ride!Characterised by hairy legs, thick voluptuous, cellulite-filled thighs and posteriors, pale calves, skinny legs, superhero and polka dot underwear; most European citizens celebrated one of the silliest events.
There was no shame for thousands of commuters in most European countries, who travelled without trousers for the 14th No Pants Subway Ride last Sunday.
According to a UK online magazine, what began as a small stunt by seven New York subway riders in 2002 has over the years turned into a global event, although I am not sure whether there are any African states that have or are following the craze.
This was a concept incepted by a group of pranksters, who formed the group Improv Everywhere, arguing that pants were dropped and legs bared in 60 cities, including London, Hong Kong and Johannesburg. The reason for this has, however, not been mentioned.
I am told that the event has somehow grown so popular and is fast becoming something of a global phenomenon is now marked on major cities’ subway systems across the world.
This is one of the weirdest events I have ever heard of, no pun intended, but this will surely see our youngsters growing into sick, twisted perverts who have nothing better to look forward to but nude people prancing around the city subways practically naked.
I am happy that Zimbabwe has no tolerance to such nonsensical behaviour and trends. Call it fashion but there are just some trends that deserve no attention at all.
Who in their normal senses would waltz around in a public domain in their underwear? The reason it is called underwear is to keep it out of the view of other people. How shameless. When I heard about No Pants Day my first thought was who in the Lord’s name is going to disinfect those seats the next day?
With such sizzling summer temperatures giving us more than enough chance to see too much of way too many people’s unattractive bodies, this had to be on the calendar. I feel pity for all those who witnessed all the unkempt bodies, not to mention un-bathed ones . . .
Nudity is not fashion, just because you want to show it doesn’t mean anybody else wants to see it.
Those bulges look better covered up, people’s diet failures are none of anyone’s business.
Why not keep your underwear for your significant other. I know you might think this is insignificant in Zimbabwe but once this is adopted just beyond the Limpopo, then trust me when I say this, we will be seeing naked people in kombis and other public modes of transport.
A summer event, in January that urges people to leave home without their pants leaves many people feeling cheated out of a few months’ worth of weather-induced modesty.
If this was a way to challenge people’s conceptions by the organisers or rather let me call them hoodlums they got it wrong but right in the sense that they managed to fool a lot of people into walking around naked.
Anyway away from nudity to better developmental issues, Zimbabwe for the first time ever will see the phenomenal Zimbabwe Fashion Week (ZFW) spreading its wings to international capitals and will this year launch its London edition. Incepted by the organisation’s founder and director, Priscilla Chigariro-Gessen, a former model-cum-entrepreneur, she sees it fit to network these events so as to meet the demands of Zimbabwean couture by the Zimbabwean community outside of Zimbabwe and Africa.
“Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2014 was a stupendous success and the buzz from our series of events so far is being felt by the fashion world beyond our borders. And so we feel that now’s the right time to launch our global brand — Zimbabwe Fashion International, which will premiere in London later this year,” Chigariro-Gessen told an online paper.
I understand there are sponsors already seeking to partner with the project, which I hope will see Zimbabwe being noticed as one of Africa’s strongholds in fashion.
ZFW is held every year and attracts an assortment of fashion enthusiasts, designers, models, buyers, corporate investors, entertainers, exhibitors and of course fashionistas from across.
Feedback:
Hi Matika, if indeed we dress to cover our nakedness why do we cry foul when one out of a mini-dress gets condemned for doing the exact opposite? — 0772848329.
Thank you very much for everything now I can wear blonde hair, I am dark in complexion and the father of my child visits me almost everyday now I think I am looking beautiful. Do black colours of make-up suit me, for example a black lip liner or black mascara? — 0777423468.
Till next week keep styling. For feedback please sms or WhatsApp ONLY 0772337433.
