The Big Issues

Roller rinks puts in a controversial dress code straight from the 1950s: Don't you dare wear booty shorts!

A local roller rink is striking back at fashion trends that have long-baffled the American parent, low-riding pants and Daisy Dukes.

Let's begin with some history. The Humble Family Skate Center opened in the mid-1970s at the height of disco — a movement of skin-tight body suits and exposed male chests that held just as much sway over the dance floor as it did on the roller rink. To jog those memories, check out the outfit worn by Houston dance legend Patrick Swayze in the 1979 roller-disco classic Skatetown, U.S.A.

“It’s very hard to tell an adult how to dress."

But while revealing attire was part and parcel for the disco era, the Humble skate center says that today's scantily-clad patrons have no place inside its family-friendly atmosphere. Signs on the door now read "No Saggy Pants" and "NO Booty Shorts." The No on the booty shorts decree is underlined . . . just in case, anyone gets any idea this isn't serious.

Of course, the Saggy Pants ban gets even more specific. "Put on a belt or we will give U a shoe string!!!!" the not-so-small print underneath blares.

“It’s very hard to tell an adult how to dress," Rachel Tate-Study, daughter of the roller rink owners, tells KHOU Ch. 11.

"At the same time we’re trying to have a nice place and you get tired of having to do that."

KHOU reporter Tiffani Craig recent visited the rink to find a sea of fully-clothed skaters and smiling parents. That said, temperatures were in the high 40s that evening . . . and it was Family Christian Skate Night.

Though Humble skaters overwhelming support the new policy, enforcing dress codes often can be tricky terrain for businesses.

Similar "no saggy pants" policies in Houston have sparked numerous allegations of racism in recent years, particularly within the nightclub scene where bouncers assess each patron before allowing entry. The Houston Independent School District has also faced questions about how school uniform policies have been implemented throughout the city.

Watch the KHOU Ch. 11 report:

Humble roller rink no saggy pants no booty shorts sign January 2014

Photo courtesy of KHOU Houston Channel 11

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Stepping Up

RodeoHouston teams up with Texas bootmaker for limited edition collab

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Lane Boots

Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™

Each part of the boots ties back to the key elements of the HLSR.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) concert lineup has been announced, and concert tickets have gone on sale, which can only mean one thing – it is time to get rodeo ready. For 20 days in March, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is taking over the NRG Stadium complex, where Houstonians will display their best Western-inspired attire.

This year, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo collaborated with popular Texas-based brand Lane Boots on a one-of-a-kind limited edition collection. Muffy King, director of marketing for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, designed the boots with help from a team of experts at Lane Boots. Together, they looked at what is trending in existing boot designs and the fashion industry as a whole to come up with a unique look.

"It was important to us that the boot meant to celebrate the 2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo be representative of the 'Cowboy Core' aesthetic that is a major influence in fashion right now. These fundamental choices were a natural way for us to incorporate and represent our mission-driven pillar – Western Heritage," King tells CultureMap.

Each part of the boots ties back to the key elements of HLSR. The round braid on the sides represents the ropes used in competitions. The starburst effect around the star and the state of Texas symbolizes the lights on the RodeoHouston stage. The Texas on the back of the boot highlights HLSR's focus on supporting education in the Lone Star State. Departing from Lane's recognizable blue-soled boots, these feature a distinct orange sole with the HLSR logo stamped on the bottom, reflecting the branding seen across Texas ranches.

With designs for both men and women, the boots are exclusively available online. Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

"We wanted to showcase the unique feature Lane has become known for in Western fashion, but with our own Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo flare," said King. "For both the Rodeo and Lane Boots, this was a real testament to the partnership and collaboration that took place to make these boots a reality."

The boots were released online earlier this month, and according to King, they are "flying off the shelves quickly" and have been met with an overwhelmingly positive response. Lane Boots produced 2,025 pairs of boots at their factory in Leon, Mexico. Each pair has an individual stamp and a special message on the inside of the boot shaft.

"The story behind the boot naturally lends itself to being relatable to many individuals across all walks of life," King says. "It was a very seamless process that resulted in an aesthetic that allows whoever wearing them to incorporate their own story and personality into the boot."

With designs for both men and women, the boots are exclusively available online. If any inventory remains when the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo begins, they will be available at the Lane Boots location in NRG Center.

Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™

Each part of the boots ties back to the key elements of the HLSR.

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