The Nerd Connection

High rise pants are often associated with nerds. IMO, being a kind nerd is an admirable role in its own right, but I still think it's important to examine the link. It was not always this way. Indeed, gentlemen of all kinds wore trousers with high waists until the last few decades. I don't know much about fashion history so I can't be much more specific, but simply search Google for "high waisted trousers men" and you'll see what I'm saying. Most of the results that come up are vintage trousers from the 19th century. Another popular option in the 1920's was the zoot suit. Also, workmen's trousers were often high waisted. In fact, the set of jeans I have with the higest rise are cargo jeans. I suppose pants that are meant to carry more stuff have higher waists to stay up better.

I'm really looking for readers' opinions on why wearing one's pants high is considered nerdy today. One factor, I suspect, is that high waisted trousers are practical. They are meant to stay fitted on someone who is sitting, standing, running, or kneeling. As society developed labor saving devices and industrialization progressed, more people took jobs that required very little movement. As a result, the value of the advantages that high waisted trousers provide diminished. Sedentary people today can pick clothes that are less practical (e.g. with lower waists, or with patches of fabric intentionally removed) and so styles don't feature high waists as prominently. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, but I do believe it accounts for some of the shift. What do you think? Do high waisted pants appeal to nerds more than other people? Why do people act as though they do?