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: K-drama Women's Office Wear

A Public Service Announcement

In case you aren't watching Joseon Gunman, you really should know that it features Lee Joon Ki in a variety of excellent bandit costumes.


You're welcome.

A Public Service Announcement

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: Trendy Tracksuits

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: Turtleneck Edition

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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Fashion Face-off Friday: Seasonal Fashion

Fashion Face-off Friday: Facial Hair

Well, folks, it's been about a million years since we had one of these fashion face-offs.  Our face-off of rich ladies went to Joo Won's mom in a landslide.  I heartily agree with that decision!

For this week's face-off, I have decided to break from the norm.  We usually cover trends that appear frequently in kdramas, but this time, I wanted to look at the lone wolves fighting against the pack.  And that's why I've chosen facial hair.

It wasn't until fairly recently that I noticed the consistent lack of facial hair on most kdrama leads.  Even in historical dramas (which I have excluded here for consistency), half of the men look like someone glued a few strands of fur to their chins and called it good.  I don't know if Korean men just tend to grow patchy facial hair or what, but I wanted to let those few guys who weren't clean-shaven have their moment in the spotlight.  I couldn't find any good full-on beards, so it's just goatees and shadow-staches for now!

Sorry, Yoochun.  You're not fooling anyone.

Now, I know that facial hair isn't everyone's cup of tea.  Personally, I can appreciate a decent amount of scruff.  In fact, I once based an entire Halloween costume--including sewing myself some neon green pleather pants--around my husband's innate talent for growing Wolverine-like sideburns.  I also tend to let mustaches slide because my husband thinks they are hilarious.  Exhibit A: His face in its currently mustachioed glory:

I know what you're all thinking.
How can so much awesome happen on one face?

In addition to spicing up boring family Christmas cards and making small children cry, facial hair can also make for some excellent jokes:

Source

Ok, ok, I'll stop now. If I have one weakness, it's mustache-related puns. Maybe it's because I share a birthday with Chuck Norris?

Let's meet our proud contenders!

Contender 1: Jo Guk (City Hall)

Cha Seung Won as Jo Guk was the one who reminded me that kdrama men can actually grow hair on their faces.  Maybe the drama writers only let it slide because of his status as a smarmy politician, but whatever the reason, he works that goatee for a full 20 episodes.

Contender 2: Tae Woong (The Snow Queen)

I haven't actually seen this drama, but I stumbled on a poster for it and decided it belonged in this battle.  I was genuinely surprised at how a little bit of stubble can transform ole baby-face Hyun Bin.

Contender 3: Han Yi Soo (Shark)

Shark pictures have been popping up all over Pinterest since the show started, and I swear that the characters are either crying or gazing into space in every. single. one.  Keeping in character, Kim Nam Gil rocks what I like to call the "sad stache."

Contender 4: Kim Hyun Jun (Iris)

Don't let the faintness of the facial hair fool you--a little bit can go a long way!  Lee Byung Hun actually has one of those faces that looks like it needs a mustache.  Even when he's clean shaven, I can see the ghosts of mustaches past dancing on his upper lip.  Besides, we all know that mustaches, when combined with a sweet pair of shades, have been scientifically proven to help you shoot people better.

So out of the few kdrama leads who actually grew their own scruff, who pulled it off the best?  Are there any of them who look better when they aren't clean-shaven?  Vote below!

Who Wore Facial Hair Best?
	Jo Guk (City Hall)
	Tae Woong (The Snow Queen)
	Han Yi Soo (Shark)
	Kim Hyun Jun (Iris)
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Fashion Face-off Friday: Facial Hair

Fashion Face-off Friday: Stuff Rich Ladies Wear

Our last Fashion Face-off Friday, Battle of the Guyliner, ended up being a decisive victory for Joo Byung-hee of Shut up Flower Boy Band, proving that a little makeup philosophy can go a long way.  I'm a little sad that my favorite vampire prosecutor came in last, but he had some stiff competition.
I tend to see a lot of kdrama jokes about rich chaebol styling, but today I'm taking a stand for gender equality and recognizing that women can wear absurd rich outfits, too. Think of it as Girl Power--just with more weird accessories.

Contender 1: Han Song-yi  (Queen of Reversals)

As far as I can tell, Han Song-yi only has two defining character traits: 1. She hates everyone and 2. She loves money. As far as I can tell, the costume designers of this show firmly believe that nothing says "I will crush you with the sheer weight of all my money" like wrapping yourself in dead animals. My all-time favorite rich lady outfit was one where she was wearing a gigantic fur arm warmer on each arm, but unfortunately, this series is 31 episodes long, and even after I spent two hours scrolling through every.single.episode (I couldn't help myself--those arm warmers were that outlandish), I couldn't find it again.  Sadly, this means that we have to settle for one of her many other fur-covered outfits.

Yes, yes she IS wearing a full suit under that polar bear cape.  I guess she thought it would add to her credibility as a businesswoman?  

Contender 2: Kim Joo-won's mom (Secret Garden)

I really, really want to make a your momma joke here, but I'm trying to keep it classy.  Whenever I see Joo-won's mom, I can't help but think that it's exactly how rich people would dress in real life--if my five-year-old niece dressed them.  Her wardrobe is an endless parade of lace, tutus, and tiaras, but she can afford them.

Who doesn't own a lace nightgown/dress for informal gatherings?
Poor people.  That's who.

Contender 3: Madam Kang (Boys over Flowers)

In all honesty, her clothing isn't as blatant as some of the males on the show.  She is here for one reason and one reason only: her collars look like they can (and have) stabbed people in the face.  

Randomly, there's this old hip hop song called "Wanna Be a Baller," and even though I know they aren't the actual lyrics, I always think the first line goes "Wanna be a baller, popped collar, 20-inch blades on the Impala" (The REAL lyrics are "shot caller," not "popped collar," in case you were wondering.).  I kid you not, EVERY time Madam Kang came on the screen to threaten people with her pointy face and her matching pointy collar, I got that song stuck in my head for a week.  And THAT, my friends, is what earned her a spot on this list. Okay, and also for wearing what appears to be a sash.

To be fair, Madam Kang IS pretty baller.

Contender 4: Kang Hye-na (My Fair Lady)

Not to be outdone by the older generation of fancy ladies, Kang Hye-na is out to prove that she can be just as ridiculous and rich as the best of 'em.  In Hye-na's world, the words "less is more" don't exist.  If you have money MORE is more.  The upside?  Since she doesn't dress herself, she is single-handedly supporting the Korean economy with the number of servants she hires to hold things like--metal suspenders?  Is that what those are?

In related news, I need a bejeweled scrunchy--ASAP

Out of these wealthy women, which one wore the craziest outfit?  Vote below!

Craziest Rich Lady Outfit
	Han Song-yi (Queen of Reversals)
	Joo-won's mom (Secret Garden)
	Madam Kang (Boys over Flowers)
	Kang Hye-na (My Fair Lady)
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Fashion Face-off Friday: Stuff Rich Ladies Wear

Fashion Face Off Friday (Tuesday): Kdrama Hotties in Suits

Note: Our poll froze and we had to replace it, so if you already voted and it isn't showing, you can vote again!

The winner of our last Fashion Face-off Friday: Terrible Kdrama Date Outfits is Park Gae In from Personal Preference! She barely beat out our equally strong contender, Jan Di from Boys Over Flowers. Let's hear it for the ladies for being good sports about poor wardrobe choices and for the men who love them anyway!

I realize it is not Friday, but who cares? Let's do another fashion poll anyway! Okay, so I know our last few Fashion Face-off Fridays have focused on some of the strange and less desirable fashion trends in Korean dramas, so today let's take a look at something a lot of kdramas do well: hotties in suits. I am totally a sucker for a man in a suit, and luckily there are plenty to choose from. Which kdrama man wears his suit the best?

Contender 1: Hyun Ki-joon from Lie To Me

Possibly one of the hottest kdrama males in kdrama history in all the suits he wears in this drama. Am I right, or am I right? Dang boy!

Contender 2: All Four Men from Gentleman's Dignity

I know it's not really fair to put all four men from A Gentleman's Dignity into one category, but I couldn't help myself. They all just look so good standing there in those suits. Whoo!

Photo Source

Contender 3: Park Hae-young from My Princess

Next up we have an equally strong contender, Park Hae-young from My Princess.

Photo Source

Oops! I mean:

Photo Source

I admit that it was difficult for me to tear myself away from the shirtless images to find this one of him in a suit, but luckily he is just as hot fully clothed. Hold me back!

Contender 4: Cha Ji-heon from Protect the Boss

For those of you who are actually not that turned on by men in suits (is that possible?), I present as the final contender, Cha Ji-heon from Protect the Boss. He totally rocks the "As a chaebol I am obligated to  wear a suit, but as a spoiled, lazy brat I will wear it half-assed over a t-shirt" look.

Photo Source

I know it might make more sense to have Cha Mu-Won as the contender from Protect the Boss,

Photo Source

but let's stick with Cha Ji-heon for the sake of variety.

So, which kdrama hottie wears a suit the best? Let your voices be heard by voting in the box below. If you are not satisfied with the options, write in your vote in the comments.

Which Kdrama Hottie Wore a Suit Best?
	Hyun Ki-joon in Lie to Me
	All four men in A Gentleman's Dignity
	Park Hae-young from My Princess
	Cha Ji-heon from Protect the Boss
pollcode.com free polls

Fashion Face Off Friday (Tuesday): Kdrama Hotties in Suits

Fashion Face-off Friday: Terrible Kdrama Date Outfits

The votes are officially in for our last Fashion Face-off Friday, and once again, we have a tie!  Gil Ra Im was winning by a landslide for a while, but Goo Jae Hee's feeble attempts at masculinity caught up in the end!  Let's see if we can make this next one a solid, clean victory...

As we all know, the makeover is a staple of k-drama-dom.  The dorky girl gets whisked away, and the man of her dreams gasps at her beauty as she walks into the room, transformed.  For many k-drama viewers, the makeover is a payoff for putting up with absurdly awkward costumes/hair for the first half of the series, but sometimes the payoff just isn't as satisfying as it should be.  For this week's Fashion Face-off Friday, I bring you supposedly awesome date outfits gone wrong!

Challenger 1: Park Gae In (Personal Taste)

Now, I know that I have mentioned this outfit before in my Personal Taste review, but I feel like it would be a travesty to leave such a worthy contender out of this particular fashion face-off.  I think what makes this date outfit most offensive is that it came several episodes after her "makeover."  There's no excuse! None, I say!

If you're going to seduce "gay" Lee Min Ho by dressing like a man,
maybe Charlie Chaplin isn't your best bet for a fashion role model.

Challenger 2: Gil Ra Im (Secret Garden)

I love Gil Ra Im as much as (okay, more than) the next person, which is why this makeover hurt me so much.  I know it isn't as blatantly offensive as the others, but it was still a huge letdown.  Maybe it's the crooked line of gigantic crystals that someone hot glue gunned between her boobs.  Maybe it's the "chic" slicked/poofed combo hairstyle that matches Lee Jong Hyuk's Lego hair from our first fashion face-off.  Maybe it's the awkward hemline that isn't quite asymmetrical. Whatever the case may be, she deserves better!

To quote a Gil Ra Im-ism, whoever chose this dress deserves to
have his or her fifth vertebrae turned into the sixth.

Challenger 3: Geum Jan Di (Boys over Flowers)

Poor Lee Min Ho is always getting stuck with fashion duds.  Jan Di had several "fairy godmother" makeovers throughout the course of the show, and I kept hoping they would really transform her.  In spite of the male cast members giving heroic attempts to do double takes at her "transformations," I was never convinced.

"When I saw her dressed like that giant cupcake,
I knew she was the woman for me!" said no non-kdrama man.  Ever.

Challenger 4: Ma Hye Ri (Prosecutor Princess)

I was baffled by the first few episodes of Prosecutor Princess when they kept emphasizing how much time and money Hye Ri spent on clothes and then she appeared on screen in these crazy monstrosities. This outfit was one of many possibilities, but it won out because she chose to don it for a major life event: attempting to purchase some fabulous (read: hideous) shoes.  From what I can tell, she is wearing a bib made of some combination of fur, lace, and glitter. She also gets bonus points for crazy hair.

I know, Hye Ri, I'm just as shocked as
you are at how bad it is...

So who wins your vote?  Any other major fashion disappointments? Vote in the little black box below!

Terrible Date Outfits
	Park Gae In
	Gil Ra Im
	Geum Jan Di
	Ma Hye Ri
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Fashion Face-off Friday: Terrible Kdrama Date Outfits