Mind the pants.

Hundreds of Londoners headed down to the Underground on Sunday afternoon, stripped down to their underwear and travelled around a bit, trying to look as though nothing unusual was going on.

As if.

This was the Official No Trousers Tube Ride, an annual event with no point other than injecting a little levity into the bleak midwinter. No deep meaning, no bigger motive. The only goal was to be silly, if but for one afternoon.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so much bad, so much not fun going on,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said ringleader Dave Selkirk, a 40-year-old personal trainer. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice to do something just for the sake of it.B次元官网网址�

After gathering at the entrance to Chinatown, dozens of clothing anarchists trooped through the icy streets to the Piccadilly Circus Underground station in central London where they boarded their first train. The only hiccup was that the cars were so crowded some people couldnB次元官网网址檛 shed their trousers.

Selfies were taken. Grins were exchanged. Tourists looked puzzled.

The first stunt in this vein was held in New York in 2002, the brainchild of local comedian Charlie Todd. His idea was this: WouldnB次元官网网址檛 it be funny if someone walked onto a subway train in the middle of winter wearing hat, gloves, scarf B次元官网网址� everything but pants? Or trousers as theyB次元官网网址檙e known in London, pants being synonymous with underpants in Britain.

B次元官网网址淚t would be unusual in New York, although you can see anything on our subway system, but what would really be funny is if at the next stop, a couple of minutes later, when the doors open and additional persons got on, not wearing trousers as well,B次元官网网址� Todd told the BBC. B次元官网网址淎nd they act like they donB次元官网网址檛 know each other, and they act like B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 no big deal and they just forgot their trousers.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

The idea took off, and no pants days have been held all over: in Berlin, Prague, Jerusalem, Warsaw and Washington, D.C., among other cities.

London hosted its first big reveal in 2009.

B次元官网网址淵ou know, itB次元官网网址檚 meant to be a bit of harmless fun,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Todd said. B次元官网网址淐ertainly we are living in a climate where, you know, people like to have culture war fights. My rule in New York was always the goal of this event is to amuse other people, to give people a laugh. ItB次元官网网址檚 not to be provocative, itB次元官网网址檚 not to irritate someone. So hopefully the spirit of that continues.B次元官网网址�

Basil Long, a lawyer, showed up at the meeting point in a down coat and hat on a freezing winter afternoon. But after his journey underground in the warm tunnels of the Tube, he had been transformed, wearing only a white shirt with bold rainbow stripes, pink underwear and Underground-themed socks.

B次元官网网址淚 just saw it online and I just thought, why not? ItB次元官网网址檚 always a question, isnB次元官网网址檛 it?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hen someone is asked why they climbed Everest, they were just like, why not?B次元官网网址�

But Miriam Correa had a purpose. The 43-year-old chef wanted to come because she had seen pictures of previous no trouser rides that featured lots of thin, scantily clad women.

B次元官网网址淚 am a real woman,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said, adding that there was no reason to be ashamed of her shape. B次元官网网址淎ll bodies are perfect.B次元官网网址�