In a land full of bedazzled cell phones, metallic leggings, and fake eye lashes, it is not often I am shocked by the outfits I see on the streets. The fashion is Taiwan is a special thing, and often my Taiwanese co-teachers look more like they are ready to hit the clubs than teach young children. Basically if it is pink, animal print, metallic, or has rhinestones or fake fur they love it here. The most common outfit is as follows: SUPER short skirt, shorts, or t-shirt parading as a dress matched with leggings and boots. The boots come in many forms, from fake uggs lined with fake fur to motorcycle boots. The shoes also often have crazy heels, which I find pretty impressive especially when driving a scooter. On the other extreme is the outfit that looks meant for a 10 year old: frilly and pink with pictures of Hello Kitty or a teddy bear. Often the clothes are covered in broken English. Sometimes the sentences don't make sense, sometimes the words are out of order, and sometimes it is just a jumble of random letters arranged across the fabric. Really I have seen almost everything here, even stone washed jeans.
The guys also have a distinct look, and it is definitely more feminine than what is popular back home. A lot of the guys have a similar haircut, where most of the hair is directed forward with a bang in front and spike in the back. Here is a good example:
Yet today somehow, I was shocked. If Elvis had an asian sister, I saw her on the bus in Taoyuan. This woman walked on the bus decked out in a bright red pants suits matched with bright red stilettos. She also had a frilly red skirt to go over top of the pants. The skirt was lined with silver studs, and the pant legs and jacket sleeves were lined with silver sequins. She had giant shades, and looked like she meant business.
Over Chinese New Years I bought myself a pair of boots, but I think that is about as much as I will adapt to the fashion here. As I am larger than the average asian, shopping is also difficult. The boots I bought were over 50% off because they were the only pair left in the style...and in a size that almost no one in this country will fit in!
Shirt I saw at the night market. Example of the funny English. I also got Rosie a shirt that said "Raw Like Sushi", and one for Judy that I couldn't decipher.
Walking on College Ave today I saw 3 young women who seem to have popped right out of this blog entry - decked out in leggins, shorts, boots, funky looking puffy dress, and, finally (from a previous entry), an umbrella to block out the sun
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