Korean Job Discussion Forums

MacLean · Joined: 14 Feb 2011

Honestly, just when you think Korean men's fashion (ahem) couldn't get worse. Last year it was the pink shirt, with a pink tie and pink cardigan. And occasionally a man purse to go with it (to carry their makeup.)

This year (at least on the telly) it's bow ties. They're ALL wearing them. And not just the regular absurd bowtie that your uncle Dexter wore in the 1930s. They're wearing the string ones too, you know the type your uncle Buck down in Alabama used to wear.

What's going on here exactly? I understand K-dudes copying Western clothing. But the friggin bow tie? Why? Why? Why?

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Wearing a bow tie and ghey pastel colors on Korean TV became a law about two years ago.

That, and having to take your turn to do a crazy, zany dance. That became law many years ago.

highstreet · Joined: 13 Nov 2010

these days, fashion starts in paris and tokyo, then moves to other countries...

so blame them

but can you really tell me Nick Wooster doesn't look like a badass in this pic?

http://www.mademonarchs.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Nick-Wooster-3.jpg

Menino80 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Location: Hodor?

That beard is way too meticulously groomed.

The bowtie is just another haphazard accoutrement in a society that seems to be made of nothing but.

normalperson · Joined: 06 Jan 2011

I love bustin out my bow tie.

dyc · Joined: 16 Dec 2010 Location: Vancouver

Right, because every single man should look like the Marlboro Man.

Menino80 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Location: Hodor?

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

movybuf · Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Location: Mokdong

Personally, I love bow ties. I don't wear them though as my work does t require me to wear a collared shirt.

Also, back when I got married I wanted to wear a standard black bow tie with my black tuxedo. The woman at the clothing rental store looked at me like I was crazy! At that time men were wearing ascots with their grey tuxedos. There was no way in hell I was going to wear a grey tuxedo, let alone an ascot! It took a while but she found what I wanted. Now I dont have to look at my wedding photos 20 years down the road and wonder what I was doing with an ascot around my neck.

DorkothyParker · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Location: Jeju

I think it's fun!
It makes everyone look a little nerdy which I find appealing.

MacLean · Joined: 14 Feb 2011

Dorothy, I get the feeling from your posts that you're rather new to Korea, and still in the "isn't this interesting" phase. The dudes in bowties look absurd. And what's worst, is it yet another manifestation of the "imitation culture" that abounds in this place. Let's despise the United States, but let's at the same time imitate it. It gets old fast.

highstreet · Joined: 13 Nov 2010

RMNC · Joined: 21 Jul 2010

Still better dressed than most western teachers.

Also, there's nothing wrong with a pink shirt. Real men know how to rock it.

Caffeinated · Joined: 11 Feb 2010

It's no worse than the bedazzled polyester tie phase.

mises · Joined: 05 Nov 2007 Location: retired

The NOI wears them well.

http://nicedeb.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/fruitofislam.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Noi.PNG

..

It's very difficult to pull off. The line between trying to hard and confidently avant-garde is extremely thin. As Homer says "awww I'm not popular enough to be different".