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Having lived in China for quite a while, I’ve seen a lot of unusual things. In fact, many Chinese and foreigners get so used to weird occurrences and weird Chinese fashion that people just generally ignore them.
On my Instagram page, I try to provide cultural context for why things in China happen the way they do, by explaining some of the history, the culture, or the language, and how these things influence behaviors or even a fashion sense.
The page is not all about street fashion though. It's anything that you can ask the question of ‘Why?’ or ‘How did that happen?’ to, with the general classic answer being ‘No why’ #nowhy (Chinese response) OR ‘because China’ #becausechina (foreigner in China response).
The general explanation for some of the fashion trends and choices below is that:
- Any English = educated, different and fashionable. (it could possibly be a famous brand, but if no one’s English is that great… then just by having it… no matter what it is, it’s already good)
- Anything ‘profound’ is considered good. If you as an observer don’t find it profound…that’s your fault. The wearer is making a statement, and that’s what’s important.
- The wearer doesn’t have to understand, because others most likely don’t understand…so who cares. Even vulgar, rude statements can be worn by kids… because no one knows any different.
- If the actual piece of clothing is functional and comfortable, who cares what’s written on it.
- A haircut should set you apart from everyone else. Many people have very similar or standardized hairstyles (Chinese people are aware of that too) If a haircut creates conversation then that’s awesome.
Here are a few examples I've caught in my street photography shots…quite a few of them, actually.
More info: Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Pink Freud
RELATED:
#3
Follow Dreams
#5
Danger
#6
I Just Don't
#7
I'm Batman
#10
Bear Attack And She Survived, Good For Her
Final score:
238points
#11
Got Life Figured Out
Final score:
230points
Luis Milian 5 years ago
This is like tattooing a Chinese symbol not knowing what it really says. you just wear it proudly
#12
If You Think
#13
A Bit Of Nationalism Coming Out There...
Final score:
207points
#14
Leave Me Alone
#15
China Fashion
#16
Make A Woman
#17
Hipster Triangle
#18
Shark Soup
#19
Asia
#20
How Old Are You? And Just How Drunk Are You?
Final score:
147points
#21
A Bit Morbid, But I Wonder If I Can Get It In Yellow... Would It Be Less So?
Final score:
145points
#22
Beep, Beep!
#23
Need To Stop Feeding The Cat Vegetarian Food
Final score:
140points
#25
Feline Good
#27
I Do Feel Happy Now
Final score:
128points
#28
I Needed That Today
Final score:
126points
#29
The Pig
#30
Hand Wash
#31
Pervert
#32
Am I French Yet
#33
No Carrots
#36
That's... Taking Things To Extreme
Final score:
103points
Symbole Simple 5 years ago
Does she realise she's been robbed? Someone literally 'picked her pocket'!
#37
Some Sweet China Style... So Fashion
Final score:
101points
#38
And He Knows It
Final score:
100points
#40
I'll Be A Plastic Toy
#43
Addicted To Black
#44
Good Advice, Rarely Taken
Final score:
87points
#45
I Ate A Rat
#46
If I Ask Where You're Going, Will You Be Confused?
Final score:
80points
#48
Does It?
Final score:
73points
#49
Beat
#50
Oh Good, Noing... That's What I Needed In My Life
Final score:
64points
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Kaisu Rei 5 years ago (edited)
Sometimes I want to be like "don't these people ever check what the stuff on their clothes might mean??" but I know there are an equal amount of western people who wear stuff with Chinese characters or even get tattooed without knowing what it means, or thinking they know what it means but not actually speaking the language.
Ms Phit 5 years ago
Yes- today there was a "news" article that said Ariana Grande tattooed a Japanese word for a "small tabletop bbq grill" instead of the title of her new album. Why anyone would tattoo in a different language/alphabet without triple checking is beyond me. maybe I'm too practical
Load More Replies...
Rose the Cook 5 years ago
Anything American is considered trendy, the English language is associated with America only by many Chinese. I had a small boy repeating the F word over and over until the whole class was doing it in tune. On asking the Chinese headmistress to help me stop it she replied in Chinese, "But Americans say it all the time so it has to be a good thing". She was very red faced when told what it meant and avoided me for ages after.
Brivid 5 years ago
I am very curious to know makes these t-shirts, etc. Is there some wanker somewhere laughing while he prints blowjob t-shirts and thinks how funny it will be to have non-english speakers whereing it?
Load More Replies...
Kaisu Rei 5 years ago (edited)
Sometimes I want to be like "don't these people ever check what the stuff on their clothes might mean??" but I know there are an equal amount of western people who wear stuff with Chinese characters or even get tattooed without knowing what it means, or thinking they know what it means but not actually speaking the language.
Ms Phit 5 years ago
Yes- today there was a "news" article that said Ariana Grande tattooed a Japanese word for a "small tabletop bbq grill" instead of the title of her new album. Why anyone would tattoo in a different language/alphabet without triple checking is beyond me. maybe I'm too practical
Load More Replies... Rose the Cook 5 years ago
Anything American is considered trendy, the English language is associated with America only by many Chinese. I had a small boy repeating the F word over and over until the whole class was doing it in tune. On asking the Chinese headmistress to help me stop it she replied in Chinese, "But Americans say it all the time so it has to be a good thing". She was very red faced when told what it meant and avoided me for ages after.
Brivid 5 years ago
I am very curious to know makes these t-shirts, etc. Is there some wanker somewhere laughing while he prints blowjob t-shirts and thinks how funny it will be to have non-english speakers whereing it?
Load More Replies... You May Like 40 Ugly Christmas Sweater Ideas That You May Need This Holiday Season “What I Ordered Versus What I Got”: 50 Hilarious Online Shopping Fails (New Pics)
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