You know who once paired eyeliner, lots of hair products and a perm with a pair of pants that had the pieces of fabric that cover butt cheeks missing? If you said Prince, you are correct. But if you said “someone minding their own business,” then you are also correct...and you are ready to consider the latest fashion moves from Jaden Smith.

Last week at Coachella, Will and Jada’s son was spotted in a floral print t-shirt dress, which he had on over black shorts, and then accessorized it all with a crown of red roses.

It was matchy-matchy (red roses on his head and frock) in a way that was awesome to behold. After all, most famous men these days are fashion yawns — save for when Kanye throws on a skirt. To see a young celeb dancing in the desert bedecked in roses was refreshing — to some. To others it was a horror show.

Some out in the Twitterverse called him “weird” and “full retard” and other phrases that no one should be using ever — not in private conversations and definitely not on the World Wide Web. Bloggers questioned what “gender-bending” social statement he was trying to make. And others put down his parents for being in support of his dress.

To spend time upset about Jaden’s Coachella outfit — and the other dresses he wore recently — would be to forget that he wore a white Batman suit to a wedding. And not just any wedding, but Kim and Kanye’s wedding in Italy. Yes, a Batman costume without any sense of irony or explanation. Nothing says daring like a superhero getup at a black-tie affair at an Italian villa.

Jaden has already expressed how he feels about clothes. Just last month he told Billboard that “Einstein didn't really like to change clothes because he had too much other stuff to worry about, and I'm the same.” Get it — Jaden is too busy thinking about what really matters to him than to obsess about fashion. He also told Billboard, “If somebody is just wearing something for the blogs, that's really sad, because they're not living for themselves, versus someone wearing a kimono who's having an awesome time." 

Jaden does seem to be having an awesome time. You don’t agree? Look how happy he seemed dancing around at Coachella. See how effortlessly he can poke fun at himself with his recent tweet that said, “That Moment When Your Wearing A Dress With No Pants And You Swerve Way Too Hard.”

For everyone who is criticizing Jaden for what he is wearing, know that you are calling out a child. He is all of 16 years old. Aside from the inappropriateness of publicly chiding children, being a teenager is the best time to do all of the things that you probably will not do as an adult. It’s called being young and having a good ol' time.

Willow’s brother has done other things that many argue are outrageous — including quotes he’s given about time and the planets and spirituality. But to add his decision to wear dresses onto the list of unacceptable things he has done would be to say that what he is doing is wrong. Actually what he is doing is expressing himself the way that he, an artist, wants to — and that’s not bizarre, it is inspiring.

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of BET Networks.


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(Photo: PacificCoastNews)