Fashion Face-off Friday: K-drama Women's Office Wear

I know you've probably forgotten all about the tracksuit fashion face-off we had because it's been so long, buuuuuut in case you've been dying of curiosity this entire time, Secret Garden's Joo Won won in an absolute slaughter in the battle of trendy tracksuits. I can't say that I'm surprised, but I thought having FOUR tracksuits in Rooftop Prince might put up a better fight.

This time around, I want to talk about women's office wear. K-drama styling often drives me insane. Okay, so I get that the hardworking poor girls have to dress like they picked up an eight-year-old boy's hand-me-downs because it will make the inevitable makeover that much more effective, but there are women in dramaland who have real, actual jobs, and their styling often goes to extremes.


In my observations, the styling for female leads in the professional world tends to fall into a few categories:

1. The Dorky Slobs. Their shirts are never tucked in, they have weird mullet-y ponytails going on, and they wear the largest glasses humanly possible just in case anyone missed the memo that THEY AREN'T COOL. We get it.

Prime examples: King of High School, Scent of a Woman


2. The Serious Girls.  Next, you have the girls who just want to be taken seriously. This, in the drama world, means wearing dark suits. And only dark suits. Then they get androgynous bowl cuts to go with said black suits. Because bowl cuts = respect.

Prime examples: Pride and Prejudice, Prosecutor Princess (the second female lead)


3. Power-hungry Monsters. Powerful women are scary! And can't control their need to accessorize! It seems like the more competitive the female lead becomes in the business world, the more over-the-top her outfits get. Fur trim, sequins, rhinestones--you name it. If she can buy it, she will wear it.

Prime examples: History of a Salaryman, Queen of Reversals

What strikes me as odd in all of this is that it's not like there are no normal, classy, professional outfits in K-dramas. In fact, they're all over the place, but for some reason, office-appropriate clothing is usually reserved for the villains. Want to wear a tailored pantsuit? Well, you'd better get ready to murder some people because that's second female lead territory right there.

But there's hope! Recently, some female leads have actually been allowed to look--gasp--stylish and professional as they go to work! Let's celebrate these fashion-forward females with a face-off:

Contender 1: Yoo In Na as Nam Sang Hyo in My Secret Hotel

I gasped when she first came on the screen. It's something people might actually wear to work in real life! It probably doesn't hurt that Yoo In Na hosts a beauty show, so she had a reputation to maintain.

Contender 2: Yoo In Na in My Secret Hotel

This white-on-white ensemble is gorgeous. Given my own habits of dropping half of my food on my lap, I would never dare to wear white pants, but she's a fancy lady at a fancy hotel, so she does what she wants!

Contender 3: Yoo In Na in My Secret Hotel

It's shockingly normal. Pants and a blouse. Who knew that was so hard?

Contender 4: Yoo In Na in My Secret Hotel

If I owned this lace skirt, I might never take it off. Seriously.

Now that you've seen the worthy challengers, it's time to vote! Who do you choose as the queen of work wear?

Best K-drama Women's Office Wear

Yoo In Na in My Secret Hotel

Yoo In Na in My Secret Hotel

I feel like this poll might be rigged.

I prefer working women in bowl cuts.

  

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Okay, okay, I know that My Secret Hotel wasn't the only drama with normal female office clothing, but it was the first and only one where I have literally clapped at my screen upon seeing an outfit, so that's got to count for something.

Sadly, as much as I enjoyed the styling and the first few episodes of this series, I dropped it around episode 10. As I said when I started watching the show, I appreciated that it was a reconciliation drama where they had regret and longing, but they weren't complete jerks to each other. Unfortunately, I felt like Hae Young gradually got worse and worse in this regard until almost all of his scenes involved him shouting "Nam Sang Hyo!" and dragging her around. The whole thing just got sluggish after a while, and when I went out of town and missed a couple of episodes, I didn't have the energy to keep watching.

Did you enjoy the series? Did you enjoy her outfits? Let me know!

Fashion Face-off Friday: Trendy Tracksuits

In our last Fashion Face-off, Kim Tan and his Cookie Monster turtleneck were able to hold off some stiff competition from the Yzma lookalike on Miss Korea.

This time around, we're going to look at Kdrama tracksuits, which I secretly love. I mean, it's like wearing pajamas, but outside of the house. What's not to like? My only complaint is that Kdramas rarely allow women to take off their absurdly high heels and lounge around in comfy sportswear. I call sexism! Kdrama women, unite and demand your right to wear zip-up polyester from head to toe!

There are a few standouts in the arena of Kdrama tracksuits, so let's look at the challengers, shall we?

Contender 1: Kim Joo Won, Secret Garden

Source

Obviously. I mean, by the end of the show, I felt like his custom-made jogging suits were a character all on their own. They certainly did catch the eye, but on the downside, I can't imagine wearing those things to do any actual exercise. I have a strict no-running-in-sequins policy.

Contender 2: The Joseon Entourage, Rooftop Prince

It's like a couple's outfit, but for best friends! Suddenly, Lee Gak's entourage was transformed into the Joseon Power Rangers with the use of matching suits.

Contender 3: Kim Kwang Soo, Emergency Couple

This tracksuit inspired this post. Look at that camouflage magnificence! This guy knows what he likes, and he wears it like a boss.

Contender 4: Jo Gook, City Hall

I guess we can toss in a serious tracksuit for good measure. Don't be fooled by the fact that he actually plays sports in this thing--it's all a political statement in the end. But a handsome political statement, I must admit.

In the realm of Kdrama tracksuits, there can only be one champion. Vote below!

Best Kdrama Tracksuit
	Joo Won, Secret Garden
	Joseon entourage, Rooftop Prince
	Kim Kwan Soo, Emergency Couple
	Jo Gook, City Hall
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Fashion Face-off Friday: Turtleneck Edition

It's been a while since we featured a solid Fashion Face-off around here.  In our last competition, The Master's Sun representing fall, won in a landslide.  I think people might have been swayed by their love of the series, though, so I'm not sure it was a fair fight.

Given that it's the Christmas season and all, I figured that we could celebrate some cold-weather wear and do a battle of the kdrama turtlenecks.

But why turtlenecks?   Why not fur coats or absurd hats or some other wintery clothing item?  To answer that question, I bring you a story:

Once upon a time, Vivi was four years old, and her mother lovingly sewed a dress for her.  This dress had a ruffled collar on it that stood up like a turtleneck.  When four-year-old Vivi saw this dress, she hated it.  HATED IT.  But, being the sensitive little whippersnapper she was, she didn't want to hurt her mother's feelings and pretended to like it.

I'm pretty sure I wasn't fooling anyone.

Her family members always wanted her to wear that dress because it was "so cute," but Vivi knew better.  Every time she put on that stupid pink dress with its stupid ruffly turtleneck, she was absolutely positive that she looked absurd, so she made up excuses to get out of wearing that dress.  Fortunately for her, she eventually outgrew it and was no longer forced to choose between the shame of wearing the dress and the guilt of hurting her mother's feelings.  The end.

Ever since I owned that dress, I've had this unreasonable hatred of all turtlenecks.  There's something about all that unbroken fabric rubbing up against your chin that I find both unnerving and unflattering, so it drives me absolutely crazy that they're so common in kdramas these days.  So, in honor of four-year-old Vivi and her wounded pride, let's look at some of the worst kdrama turtlenecks, shall we?

Contender 1: Park Hae Young, My Princess

YOU.  You were the offender.

Look, I totally get the impulse to cover up that turtleneck (with a velvet coat???), but the thing about turtlenecks is that there's always more fabric.  This cream number is kind of form-fitting, too, which makes me wonder if they were just trying to show off Abs McGillicuddy over here in a subtle way.  Sorry, Song Seung Heon, but even you can't pull it off.  

Contender 2: Kim Tan, Heirs

This one's pretty self-explanatory, right?  I mean, the sweater is eating his face.  I know, I know, I've made fun of Kim Tan a lot lately, but it's kind of like a scab I keep picking.  I just can't stop!

Contender 3: Kim Shin, Marry Him If You Dare

If there's one thing I hate more than turtlenecks, it's brown turtlenecks.  I don't want to be gross, but the tightness combined with the color really looks like a fresh turd (Turd-leneck--get it?).  

Contender 4: Ma Ae Ri, Miss Korea

Not a full-fledged turtleneck like the others, but it reminds me so much of my childhood nemesis dress that I had to include it.  Also, this:

Every time I see this character on Miss Korea, I won't be able to get Yzma out of my head.

Which turtleneck takes the cake?  If you love turtlenecks and hate me for hating them, which one is your least favorite of the bunch?

Which Kdrama Had the Worst Turtleneck?
	My Princess
	Heirs
	Marry Him If You Dare
	Miss Korea
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Fashion Face-off Friday: Seasonal Fashion

It's official: fall is in the air.  I can tell because I suddenly have uncontrollable urges to eat ALL of the things made out of pumpkin and sip hot apple cider out of cute mugs.  And not that apple juice nonsense that my local grocery store tries to label as "cider," either.  I'm a New Englander at heart--I know real cider when I drink it!

The change in the seasons also means that I peek out of my window each morning, patiently waiting for the moment when I can reasonably get away with busting out my boots, scarves, and cardigans.  That's why I'm devoting this week's Fashion Face-off to seasonal clothing.  

Many kdramas cycle through a full range of seasonal outfits, so instead of going with normal, safe choices, I tried to choose outfits that were over-the-top in their celebration of the chosen season.  
     

Note: In case you're wondering, King 2 Hearts easily won our last face-off, with Richard Armitage swooping in as the dark horse to get second place.  I have to say that I applaud these results all around.

On to the new contenders!

Contender 1: Winter (Baek Yeo Chi, History of a Salaryman)

The advantage to cold weather is that you can layer on the accessories without feeling like you're boiling your innards for the sake of fashion.  The advantage to being immensely wealthy is that you can purchase as many accessories as your body can carry without hurting your bank account.  I like to think that the combination of weather and wealth is partly to blame for Baek Yeo Chi's winter ensemble.  The faux fur coat is a given considering that she's a rich lady in a Korean drama, but Yeo Chi went the extra mile with the leather wrist straps (?), bedazzled headband, and cheetah print purse.  Because if you're going to fake kill one animal for fashion, you should just go ahead and fake kill all of the animals.

Contender 2: Spring (Kim Ji Soo, Nail Shop Paris)

I wouldn't normally post a picture from behind like this because it feels objectifying and a little creepy, but I really needed to make it clear that Ji Soo is wearing peplum shorts here.  I didn't even know that was possible, but, as you can see, it is.  If this pastel/floral combo doesn't just scream "springtime!" to you, the fact that her butt looks like it is blossoming into a beautiful rose probably should.

Contender 3: Summer (Geum Jan Di, Boys over Flowers)

Jan Di's expression says it all.  When I think of summer, I think of vacation, and when I think of vacation, I think of the beach.  Nowhere in the history of resort wear is there an outfit that goes all in like Jan Di's does.  The patterned straw hat, the bright, flowing dress--it's all geared towards fun in the sun, regardless of what anyone else says or thinks.  Someone on Pinterest once said that Jan Di's dress looks like a salad, and now that's all I can see when I look at her.  

Contender 4: Fall (Tae Gong Sil, The Master's Sun)

Walking around wearing a poncho and rain boots? Definitely a spring activity.  Walking around a cemetery in a poncho and rain boots?  Now we're suited for fall!  Halloween is my favorite holiday, and Gong Sil's ghostly poncho seems perfect for the occasion.

Which seasonal ensemble wins out?  Vote below!

Which Seasonal Outfit Was Best?
	Winter (History of a Salaryman)
	Spring (Nail Shop Paris)
	Summer (Boys over Flowers)
	Fall (The Master's Sun)
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(Not Really) Fashion Face-Off Friday: Kdrama Proposals

I think that our last Fashion Face-Off, the Battle of the Facial Hair, might have been the closest contest we've ever had.  As of this minute, Hyun Bin wins for his character in The Snow Queen, but it's been pretty back-and-forth between him and Cha Seung Won in City Hall this entire time. Can I take this as a sign that we wouldn't mind a little more scruff on our leading men every now and again?

I spent last weekend at my little brother's wedding (I can't believe he's married! Awww, but also weird?), and it put me in the mood to write about kdrama nuptials.  Now, most wedding fashion that appears in these shows doesn't actually make it to the altar.  I feel like the prettiest gowns and suits are usually wasted in those dramatic "Omo, he's marrying the wrong person!" or "We're gonna get married, but in a terrible twist of fate, we need to wait five more episodes!" kinds of scenes.  So instead of writing about wedding fashion, I want to devote this week's face-off to something that isn't clothing, but still requires a lot of style: kdrama proposals.  

Many kdramas leave us with the couple staring off into the sunset and allow us to assume that they will live lives of blissful commitment.  Other dramas fast forward to show us wonderful snippets of future married life.  Other dramas are terrible, stingy buttfaces and don't really give us much romantic closure at all.  But every once in a while, we get to see the actual engagement unfold, and the proposals are usually tailored to match the characters.  This week's contenders might not all be the best kdrama proposals (at least in my opinion), but they are a diverse selection that will hopefully meet everyone's unique tastes.

Obviously, there will be some spoilers here.

Contender 1: The "It's the Thought that Counts" Proposal (Protect the Boss)

I'm terribly biased in favor of this show, and Noh Eun Seol and Cha Ji Heon are one of my favorite kdrama couples.  So when Eun Seol shows up to a romantic candlelit dinner and Ji Heon croons a cheesy ballad to her by way of expressing his feelings, you would think it would be heart-melting swoon material, right?

You know that feeling when you're watching a singing show and one of the contestants has a hilarious personality, so you're really rooting for them to win, but then they open their mouths and it's so painful that you have to change the channel?  That's kind of what happens here.  My reaction went from "Awww, he put 'I love you' inside of a fortune cookie!" to "Why is this happening????" in about 0.2 seconds.  Poor Ji Sung has kind of a cringe-worthy voice, but at least he has a nice heart!

If you're someone who values effort over execution and secretly applauds the William Hungs of the world, this proposal is for you.

Contender 2: The Big Gesture Proposal (A Gentleman's Dignity)

I never really understood the allure of proposals that happen in front of gigantic groups of people.  Making me come down to the field in a baseball stadium? Blech. Putting my face on a Jumbotron for the whole world to see?  No, thanks.  

I have to admit, though, that I'm a huuuuuuuuuuge sucker for anything that involves a massive choreographed dance number.  Maybe it's my childhood dream that my life would transform into the movie Newsies: