Cultural understanding; it’s a lot of what this fine multi-authored blog is all about. So, in my latest missive for Lost Laowai, I’ll get straight to the point in trying to help you understand the sociological signage and semiology of contemporary Chinese male fashion.

All right, I’ll come clean, that’s just an excuse for a new cartoon. The subject is the thought-process behind a middle-income, middle-aged Chinese male – yes, men only – choosing clothes. Just remember, peeps, this is to be filed under ‘cultural understanding’, not ‘satire’. Ithangyou. The cartoon is one image, which will load below:

Discussion

7
  1. I know putting in an explanation for those of us who are just starting to learn about this fascinating country would be painful to regular readers, but could you sneak in a little explanation in the comment section? What is the significance of a store with a name in pinyin? And doesn’t Hu where western style suits all the time?

  2. @Luke, a brief explanation: a lot of chinese guys with a bit of money buy clothes that look exactly like farmer’s clothes, but cost a small fortune – as much as Ralph Lauren, for instance – and have brand names like “XuJinWaiZuMiaoMinPai”, sometimes printed proudly on the lapel as if it was a famous brand name, like Calvin Klien, Burberry or YSL, or something. It’s just something that amuses me as I walk along the street.

    As for the dear leader, Mr Hu usually does wear western style suits, but more often wears those very Chinese ‘sports casual’ jackets over the top of a shirt and tie – which, again, sort of looks like a farmer’s but is actually really expensive.

    Thanks for your comments, Luke & John.

  3. Yeah, the sports-casual jacket over the polo shirt tucked into black slacks with holey leather shoes. What I would give to see a farmer with overalls and a flannel shirt!

  4. @Meg, well… I think the ladies are doing a better job of the whole modern fashion lark, by and large, so i’ll let them off for the time being :-p

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