Tuesday 8 April 2008

Beijing Fashion and Trends

I got caught in Xidan again last weekend. That flat peaked baseball hat thing that was hitting London when I left may not have arrived full-on in Beijing yet, but I do like the perched and slightly tilted action going on below with subverted logos .



These guys really made me think I'd lost my antenna for what's going on because their piercings and punk goth look had in my opinion overstepped what Beijing tolerates as acceptable. Its one thing to be rebellious but in my estimation their look (even though its ace) would surely lead to some kind of 'social alienation' in this part of China. I think Vivienne Westwood collector and fashion lecturer Robert De Niet in London would be particularly pleased with those bondage trousers which, like the rocking shoes she designed, are somewhat impractical but look insanely good. Clothes for heroes indeed.



I bumped into them later in that cheap clothes mall I've been raving about and had a chance to ask them a few more questions where they told me in quite good English that they were of Canadian/Korean descent and here to learn Chinese. This kind of pleased me because I couldn't believe how much attitude their style had, although I will always be slightly disappointed in a city that doesn't have room for a few Punk Goths. I understand that Worcester wasn't the sort of place to wear this stuff in 76/77 either!



Here are some examples of those insane T Shirts I've been going on about.



Does Linda know?



Thus adding another dimension to the uncanny valley.



I have no idea what Beverdially Sweetbones Brondnated Beveriseeds means but its the sort of thing I'm beginning to enjoy and expect from Xidan. One of the things I like about the cheap shops is the resourcefulness they put into making them hip, and here in the Jing it seems that using magazine photography covered in glass on the floor is one way the young can inexpensively add some attitude. A lot of the shops also take pride in having rare trend curiosities to attract people in. Although that is a post for another day that I'm keen capture.

8 comments:

  1. Some of those folk look very much in the Japanese manga-goth style.

    Good to see people rebelling in a place where its very much discouraged.

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  2. Well observed Rob. There is a bit of Astro boy/Manga style going on there.

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  3. Gosh I hope no-one yanks that Goth's chain.

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  4. It was the chains that first made me think they couldn't be Beijing Mark. I mean it wasn't articulated but an alarm bell was going off. Looking at it later I can see the chains only need to be in place for the weekend but the lip rings are still quite subversive for Beijing.

    Anyway..who yanked your chain mister?
    ;)

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  5. I once went to our local rock club with some of my friends, several of whom were 'goths'.

    I had great fun watching the look on some people's faces as I led my friend Laura in on a chain.

    You rarely see subersive elements of China, frankly it gives me more hope for the place than the olympics ever will.

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  6. Just re-read it, bugger; they werent chinese...

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  7. Bloody Hell Rob. I read that as submissive and suddenly had a very uncomfortable picture in my head of your leeezure pursuits! ;)

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