ABSTRACT
Another way in which youth gangs forge distinct identities is manner of dress. This can refer to specific items of clothing, such as T-shirts, jackets, hats, or adornments such as earrings and hairstyle. While the particular styles vary over time and with passing trends, some highly stylized manners of dress have been identified in contemporary youth gangs. For Chicano youth gangs, this has included khaki slacks with a white sleeveless T-shirt, and British Knight athletic shoes worn untied. African American youth gangs often prefer Converse All Star sneakers and Pendleton shirts worn baggy and buttoned-up, while Vietnamese youth gangs have gone retro with the new wave look of black clothing and trench coats. Regardless of the specific style, the use of clothing by youth gangs serves as a group identifier and is yet another means for the gang as a whole to cement social status and gain street credibility. When youth gangs exist in close proximity to rival gangs and territorial boundaries are in place, the differences in dress may be subtler but of even greater significance. In the case of the rival Bloods and Crips gangs in Los Angeles, the color of the clothing is the main signifier-red for Bloods; blue for Crips. A member wandering into rival territory and wearing the wrong color is at serious risk.
