::A Geek in Korea::

One of the worst things about going out shopping downtown in Korea is the whole feeling of being entirely too old for that scene. My wife and I went shopping for clothes for me today. We went because even I was tired of wearing the same thing every day.

Because I am not a diminutive Asian man, finding pants in my size in the city is something of a pain. We went downtown because that’s where it’s easiest to get nice, cheap pants that fit me. I’m lucky. I only fall slightly beyond the bell curve to the “large” Asian size. I’m about 5 cm too big in any direction you measure me for Asian clothes. Since sizes vary wildly even in the same measurements, I sometimes get lucky and find stuff that “fits”.  Eventually you get used to the snug fit. When I shop for clothes, jeans are only “just” to tight, and sleeves are only “just” so short.

We found some American brand clothes. Actual American stuff brought over from the States fits me fine just as it would if I shopped there. It’s just that it’s incredibly expensive. People pay a premium for wearing the same fashions as Americans. My wife happened upon a second hand shop that had some clothes the we decided to check out as a last ditch chance to save some money before we committed to an imported outfit in my size.

This was the first time I’ve ever been in a guchae (second hand) fashion store in Korea. I didn’t even know they existed. Everything led me to believe that people just tossed clothes outside in the apartment clothes bin when things became unfashionable.

These aren’t “Goodwill” style stores, despite everything being previously owned. This is more for upscale brands that might be a few seasons out of fashion that people don’t wear anymore. There was a lot of stuff that was still wearable for me, if it had been in my size.

We ended up getting pants, two shirts, and a nice, worn in leather bag me me (my wife calls it a purse) for the price of one pair of American imported jeans. It was actually me demanding the bag, despite the fact it cost as much as the rest of the clothes. She had spent four times the amount for a similar bag as a gift for her bother, and this wasn’t pre-worn and perfectly beat up. I love my man-purse. That’s me diving off the last vestige of American fashion and actually adopting Korean style. I’ll be wearing pink in no time.

What I won’t do, no matter what, is adopt the “Couple Fashion” we saw to a disturbing degree today. My wife and I were looking for a place to eat. We stopped outside a restaurant and looked in the window. As I was busy peering, my wife started to turn in a circle. She sort of elbowed me and said, “What’s going on? Why is everyone dressed like that?”

I stopped drooling in the window to realize she was right. Every single couple in a 20 meter radius was wearing matching clothing. Six or seven couples, all together with their “pair”, walking around hand in hand. Matching shirts, similar pants or bottoms. It’s like all the matching couples had come downtown together and were saying, “We’re the closest couple! Look at us! We even dress alike!” Way creepy.

Nothing screams, “We’re pathetic!” to me more than matching outfits. One couple set could have used a proof reader too. They had matching shirts varied by gender that said, “He (She) loves the Cock”. If only I had a picture! What a terrible outfit, particularly for the man, “loving Cock”.

Anyway, after a whole seven hours of shopping (!) we returned home via the subway. It was a very tiring day, but my wife said she was proud of me. She said this is the first time she ever remembers going shopping with me all day where I never complained and tried everything on. Even I get sick of my clothes eventually.