Fashion can be a funny thing here in China. Some have it, some don’t. But the beautiful thing about it is that anything goes. Well, almost anything. China and many Western countries share a fashion gap of sorts. Wearing something that is perfectly acceptable in your home country could get you ostracized or frowned upon here, whereas wearing something that’s popular in China back in the West may have your friends asking if you’ve looked in the mirror lately. So how do you steer clear of any potential faux pas? The list below reveals styles that should be handled with extreme care.

China loves it, the West… not so much:

1) Legs that go on… and on… and on
Now don’t get me wrong, we foreigners love a nice set of gams as much as the next country, but the Chinese tend to take it a bit far. Going out for a night on the town? The ladies don’t mind letting a bit of butt cheek hang out. Going to the office on a Tuesday morning? This calls for a bit more modesty, so the skirts always (usually?) come directly underneath the butt cheek. Two degrees Celsius outside? See “Going out for a night on the town.” The point is, legs apparently aren’t seen quite as sexually provocative as they are in the West. If I showed up in a US-based office with a skirt five inches above my knee, I would promptly be taken to Human Resources and told to cover up. So while you’re here, enjoy the freedom that bearing (almost) all from the waist down gives you – but don’t attempt it when you’re job searching back home.

2) Two peas in a pod
Have you ever walked down the street and seen a couple dressed identically? Same shirt, sometimes even the same pants, but always the same matching look of misty-eyed adoration? Of course you have, because it happens all the time in China. This is what I like to call the matchymatchy effect. I’m assuming it’s always the woman’s idea (“Oh look, honey! They have that panda sweatshirt in my size AND in your size! Let’s put them on now so everyone will know we’re together!”), but perhaps I’m not being fair. Perhaps men also like to walk around looking completely whipped. Regardless of who came up with idea, if you attempt to dress the same as your significant other in Western countries, you will be stared at (at best) and mercilessly mocked (at worst). Did I mention mercilessly?

3) You say pyjamas, I say… evening wear
Word is that authorities in Shanghai cracked down on people wearing pyjamas in public during the 2010 Expo. This indicates to me that somewhere in the back of people’s minds, they know that wearing an outfit meant strictly for bed while wandering the streets on an evening stroll is somehow not socially acceptable in any other place except China. While I admit that some of the pyjamas sold here are quite cute (I especially love the striped ones – I like to pretend the people wearing those have just escaped from a mental hospital and are on the run), the fact is that pyjamas, by definition, are meant to be worn inside the house and in bed. If you try this in your home country, be prepared to be stopped by policemen or good Samaritans, who will ask if you’ve lost your way and have any relatives you’d like them to call.

The West loves it, China… not so much

1) Say “Hi!” to the girls
Cleavage, that age old favourite since women could tie up corsets, has become something of an anti-climax in Western culture. Mimicking China’s “So what?” attitude towards legs, the West has largely become immune to the twins’ affect – which some would blame on television and other media. Be that as it may, cleavage is still a novel and somewhat shocking sight here in China, evidenced by the open mouths and prolonged staring (I’m talking more staring than normal) that occurs. And I’m not even talking Marilyn Monroe cleavage here, people – anything that even hints at a line separating tweedledee and tweedledum will be fodder for unabashed gawking. So a tip to my fellow ladies: Keep those other ladies covered, and try not to cringe at the double standard.

2) What a bunch of punks
Remember back in the 1980’s when the ultimate way to shock and horrify your parents was to get highly visible tattoos and piercings? Well, the 80’s remain here in China, where those who like to indulge in full body art and/or pierce various facial orifices are still looked upon as the fringe of society. While it’s not uncommon to see bankers with sleeve tattoos or shop clerks with eyebrow piercings in the West, these sorts of things will often bar you from any “serious” career here in China. And since sending a picture with your CV when applying for a job is mandatory, it makes it even easier to discriminate against such individuals. Of course this attitude will surely fade as the older generation gives way to the new, but as of right now, unless you want to star in a rock band or work as a tattoo artist, you might want to restrain yourself from getting more ink.

3) Itty bitty, teeny weeny, yellow Polka Dot…
Bikini! The staple of Western beach fashion since the 1960’s, bikinis are still considered too risqué for polite company in much of China. In fact, Chinese beauty pageant contestants were recently quoted as saying Shanghai was the only place in the country where they felt comfortable wearing bikinis during the swimsuit portion of their competitions. Like the aforementioned tattoos and piercings, chances are this no-no will become much less scandalous as the younger generation becomes more exposed to Western notions of beauty and sexuality through movies, television, and other media outlets. But until that happens, it’s best to stick to a one-piece suit when lounging on the shores of China’s various beaches. And while it’s unlikely anyone will say anything to you if you do wear one, the stares you get may not make it worth it.

Fashion can be a lot of fun to play around with, especially if you’re coming from another country. But just be aware that some things you may find acceptable still make people from other cultures uncomfortable. Simply remain aware and take your cues from those around you, and you can’t go wrong!
 

Related links
You’re Wearing What? Chinese, um, Fashion in Shanghai
Making a Fashion Statement in China
What to Wear? Deciding China’s “National Dress”

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Keywords: fashion differences China and West what not to wear in China strange things Chinese wear cultural fashion differences in China