By Staff
Arthur McLean
Well, this country has officially become obsessed with the derriere.
According to wire service reports, big-bottomed mannequins are showing up in clothing stores all over the country.
Thanks to music stars like J. Lo, who've been um, gifted in certain ways, and the popularity of low-rise jeans, mannequins, have a new shape in some stores.
The trend has gotten so, ahem, big, that even stores like Macy's and Guess are getting the new, roomier models.
Of course, we Americans would like to think this is something new, that this is a generational/cultural type shift.
It's not.
Just before Sir Mix-a-lot served up his 1992 homage to the fuller backside, musicians around the globe have sung the praises of the tushy.
Taj Mahal sang in 1991 about how the "big leg woman" was back in style. I guess sir mix was just picking up on the trend set by a lesser-known artist.
But long before either of those two penned their tributes to the backside, we have more musical references to the – scientifically speaking – dorsal area.
Britain's rock band Queen sang of "fat bottom girls," who "make the rockin' world go 'round," in the late 1970s.
Probably before Queen's band members even picked up a guitar and eyeliner, legendary American blues man Muddy Water sang the praises of the "big leg women." Taj obviously picked up an idea from his predecessors.
There's really nothing new.
What will the next "big" trend bring? Maybe the bombshells of the 40s and 50s – where all the curves were big – and of course, missile cones.
Of course, we'll put our own modern twist on it, call it new and pat ourselves on the back for our cleverness.
I guess everything really does come "back" around.
Arthur McLean is the editor of the Atmore Advance.