Circuit City Firedog Employees Defy Cargo Pants Rule

As we reported in the December issue of CE Pro Retailing, Circuit City has imposed strict requirements for subcontractors who want to participate in the new Firedog installation service.

Among them: No denim pants or cargo pants.

In the same issue, however, there are at least two Firedog personnel pictured at a Circuit City store wearing cargo pants. A third guy -- parked in front of a "customer's" house and carrying boxes may or may not be wearing cargo pants, depending on your definition.



At least one dealer discussing the discrepancy at RemoteCentral.com says that all of the Firedogs pictured in the magazine are wearing cargo pants.

How can we be sure?

Here's how Wikipedia defines cargo pants:

Cargo pants are much like regular khaki pants, but are baggier and have several additional "cargo" pockets. Cargo pockets generally have accordion folds in the sides for increased capacity, and often have large flaps secured with snaps or velcro. Cargo pockets were originally used on battle dress or sport hunting clothing for clearly functional purposes.

This type of pants is popular especially with younger people because of the useful side pockets in which personal items can be stored (e.g. cell phone, wallet, cigarettes, pocket knife, lighter, etc.) While cargo pockets were designed with functionality in mind, cargo pants are often worn for purely fashion or aesthetic reasons, with fashion often dictating that the pockets go underutilized. They became popular particularly among adolescents in the late 1990s.

(By the way, in case you're wondering -- I know I have been -- according to Wikipedia, "Denim jeans occasionally feature cargo pockets but this is generally considered unfashionable; the cargo pockets disrupt the smooth line and form most clothiers seek to attain in jean designs."



The two in-store Firedogettes in the magazine clearly are wearing khaki pants with accordion folds on the side. The pants, however, are not necessarily baggier than regular khaki pants. We can only surmise that the Firedog dudes behind the counter are similarly clad.

Consulting the most august source among the casual pantalia, we find that Old Navy most certainly sells "cargo pants" that look exactly like the ones worn by our Firedog models.

Wikipedia, on the other hand, provides only a single illustration of cargo pants: fatigues. Applying a literal interpretation of the attire in question -- as installers are wont to do -- we find no violation of the Circuit City dress code here.