Fashion Statements

No exposing your undies. No James Dean look-alikes. And heaven forbid, don’t show your midriff.

That’s what a number of Orange County schools are telling teenagers this year after several districts toughened dress policies to ban gang garb and enforce “proper” attire.

Dress codes emerged as a major issue in the 1980s, when gang clothing became a way for members to identify themselves on campus. Now, school officials say, they are also fed up with low-riding pants, sheer apparel and other “provocative and revealing display.”

Whether gang-related or not, scanty or baggy dress is inappropriate, disrupts the learning environment and should be prohibited, administrators said.

“I don’t want to see your underwear,” said Kay Rager, principal of Dana Hills High in Dana Point. “Ten years ago, there was a lot of talk about dress codes for safety reasons. Now it’s also a decency issue.”

Capistrano Unified, which includes Dana Hills, is among school districts stepping up enforcement of dress codes when tiny tank tops and sheer blouses are in vogue for young women. Some girls have been sent home for wearing stylish spaghetti-strap tops that show their bras, as well as extremely baggy pants, Doc Marten boots, short shorts, steeled-toes shoes and overalls.

In Irvine Unified, administrators said they no longer tolerate clothes that are too big, too tight, too high-cut, too low-cut, or anything that fits poorly or bares too much flesh.