Every week a different FADER staff member will pick a clothing item or accessory that he or she has lately been spending a lot of time with—or would like to—and write a little love letter to it. We would’ve done a column on who we’re dating but that seemed a little bit much. This week Hanly Banks talks about a pair of pants by Warriors of Radness.
New York's recent heat wave has done a number on my un-air-conditioned bedroom, accounting for quite a few sweaty, sleepless nights. Not sleeping has its benefits though—in just a matter of weeks I have learned to draw, photoshopped a bunch of pictures of my friends in compromising situations, and watched the entire NOVA series. This weekend felt different, though, less-heady and more hearty. A trip to the beach in these sick pants brought out the raucous, freewheeling ’80s California teen that I was surely supposed to be in another life. I ended up hopping a sandy ride back to the city with a bunch of strangers blasting Depeche Mode. Later that night, a browse through my Netflix queue fulfilled a deep spiritual need to watch all my favorite both-Corey movies. It started with The Lost Boys and ended with a secret (not anymore, I guess) viewing of A&E's reality show, The Two Coreys. Dream a Little Dream and License to Drive were sandwiched somewhere in the middle, but they are both pretty bad, so who cares. Completing the full ’80s-teenager routine, I ate pizza and slept through most of the next day.
There's something about these pants, man. Something that smells like haze and spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e. It must be the acid wash, or the flash of red drawstring. Or perhaps it's the freedom-loving elastic waistband, built for endless activity. But just like the Two Coreys learned after years of hard drugs and alcohol, I cannot afford to act like a Corey all the time, because I am actually an adult, I think. But you'll find me on weekends doing handstands and ninja kicks from the dunes and bumming rides back to the city. Nobody says no to these pants!