Here’s why Chinese professionals are opting for ‘disgusting’ and ‘ugly’ work attire

Social media is often the vehicle that the youth use to communicate with the world. Hashtags, that seemingly range from innocuous keywords to those that power entire movements across the world are all prepared and handled by the youth themselves in order to feel in control of the narrative around them.

As a medium of expression, there is some or the other form trend that can fit every single category of youth in them. Introverts and extroverts, for example, are grouped in two different factions with trends like: things only introverts will understand or things only extroverts will understand. MBTI personality types have become a necessary part of introductions everywhere. Influencers have also locked down on certain themes like cottagecore, Y2K— which is a redefined style that pairs up retro 2000s with novel futurism— camp and indie-desi aesthetics. 

Some people start their mornings with Get Ready with Me (GRWM) videos, where a makeup or a fashion influencer talks about their morning routine and pairs up different kinds of outfits to prepare for the upcoming day. Others list their Outfit of the Day (OOTD) in reels or stories, describing the kind of look they’ve chosen for the upcoming day. 

However, a recent phenomena has taken the spectrum of internet dramatics by storm. Hashtags like #grossoutfitforwork and #uglyclotheshsouldbeforwork have been trending on Chinese microblogging platforms. Swathes of people have been branding their GRWMs and OOTDs with absolutely disgusting, ugly, gross or even informal combinations that aren’t even in harmony with each other for workplace wear aesthetics. On Douyin, some of these videos have amassed over millions of views. 

And all of this seems like a form of self-expression too. The origin of this trend is mysterious, with most of it left to speculation, but some social media users seem to think it began after an office worker in a restaurant back in September put her grievances on fire on social media, where her boss considered her warm clothes aggravating despite the chilly weather outside. It is said that this video and many people across the nation sharing similar experiences led to it becoming a moment, where people have been telling on their dissatisfaction with their work environments by refusing to dress up well for it. 

This can be considered a social phenomena, judging by the charge taken. These jobs are often too long, boring and underpaid— with some hours stretching from 8-8 and 8-9 working slots. This leaves little time for a person to hold for themselves and even though they’ve made that compromise with themselves, they are still subjected to ill-treatment by those that hire them.

Wearing such terrible clothes, then, that fall to a major annoyance of a significant corporate overlords is a form of protest. And somehow, it seems to be working judging by the testimonials presented on social media.

According to Wion, one person participating in the trend posed with a neon yellow vest and baggy knee-length shorts, proclaiming that her coworker called her dressing sense that of a wild man’s. Another said that her boss handed her 50 yuan (approximately Rs. 600) and told her to wash her clothes and never shake hands with clients again due to her choice of a dirty yellow and blue jacket. 

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