Since its something I noticed right away and still marvel at everyday when I'm walking, I thought I'd post about how people dress here. It could totally be just me, but it's completely fascinating! Like I mentioned in my previous post, it really catches my attention how different styles and things are acceptable here or not acceptable here, compared to back home in America. Style and fashion are EXTREMELY important in Korean society. How expensive or what brand your clothes are symbolize how wealthy/cool/impressive/fun/intelligent (and pretty much any other character traits you can imagine) you are.
MALES
Men: nearly always in nicely cut and tailored suits, polished dress shoes, briefcases
Young adults: usually cardigans, polos, windbreakers, or sweaters, with jeans or slim-fit khakis and colorful sneakers or sperrys, backpack or side slung bag
Kids: school uniform, or colorful windbreaker/sweater and skinny jeans wearing with brightly colored sneakers and sports shoes
Scarves are also common for men and women (although obviously in different colors and patterns lol).
MALES
Men: nearly always in nicely cut and tailored suits, polished dress shoes, briefcases
Young adults: usually cardigans, polos, windbreakers, or sweaters, with jeans or slim-fit khakis and colorful sneakers or sperrys, backpack or side slung bag
Kids: school uniform, or colorful windbreaker/sweater and skinny jeans wearing with brightly colored sneakers and sports shoes
Scarves are also common for men and women (although obviously in different colors and patterns lol).
FEMALES
It's tougher to distinguish between ages groups of women than with men. They all seem to dress the same regardless of age, with one notable exception. Schoolgirls (up until college) seem to dress more like the Asian fobby look we are used to. They have tights, baggy sweaters with skirts, loose jeans and running shoes, oversized polos and long khaki shorts. Their hair is short, in pigtails, or a ponytail. By contrast, once they hit university age the girls always wear heels, long coats, pencil skirts, tights, and blouses in pastel colors. They wear their hair in a bun or down.
It's tougher to distinguish between ages groups of women than with men. They all seem to dress the same regardless of age, with one notable exception. Schoolgirls (up until college) seem to dress more like the Asian fobby look we are used to. They have tights, baggy sweaters with skirts, loose jeans and running shoes, oversized polos and long khaki shorts. Their hair is short, in pigtails, or a ponytail. By contrast, once they hit university age the girls always wear heels, long coats, pencil skirts, tights, and blouses in pastel colors. They wear their hair in a bun or down.
The women here wear heels everyday and all the time. That or colorful sneakers. It's so strange... like polar opposites. They are either in scruffy flannels, sport sneaker, and jeans or tight pencil skirts, chiffon button up shirts, and shiny high heels. They also have a habit of wearing sheer tights or stockings with running shoes too... I was like ??? the first time I saw it lol. They will wear them with ballet flats and peep toe heels too (full foot-covered stockings). Compared to what I am used to, they wear the most interesting combinations of clothes here, seriously; the stockings and sneakers thing is just the tip of the iceberg :D I am still surprised daily.
I also have never once felt short here like I usually do back home, something I just noticed yesterday when I went to Itaewon (and was among people of other nationalities again -.-). I also don't feel like I'm being viewed as young, which I also do back home cuz I look like I'm 12. Here though, everyone does so they either are better at distinguishing ages and just accept it all as a lost cause and assume everyone's old. Maybe that's why they dress so differently once you hit college lol, to determine whether you are older or younger?
I also have never once felt short here like I usually do back home, something I just noticed yesterday when I went to Itaewon (and was among people of other nationalities again -.-). I also don't feel like I'm being viewed as young, which I also do back home cuz I look like I'm 12. Here though, everyone does so they either are better at distinguishing ages and just accept it all as a lost cause and assume everyone's old. Maybe that's why they dress so differently once you hit college lol, to determine whether you are older or younger?
What you almost never see however are sandals. Even their heels are usually closed toe. This is definitely my kind of society lol, except for the baggy jeans and strange fitting flannel look. I can and do wear wedges and heels almost everyday and all I get are curious or admiring glances not "who the hell does she think she is?" kind of looks like I'd get back home if I wore them out to coffee or the store lol. AWESOME. I could live like this (with another 4-5 inches to my height).