China's Youth Embrace Bold Fashion Choices in the Workplace

A new trend in mainland China is the rise of "gross" work outfits in "get ready with me" videos.

Young people in China are showcasing their worst pajama bottoms and hairiest slippers as they humorously rebel against issues like bad bosses, poor work conditions, low pay, and long hours. They are proudly displaying their outfits online.

Chinese social media users have been participating in a trend where they share their #grossoutfitforwork and #uglyclothesshouldbeforwork under hashtags like #ootd (outfit of the day), sparking a competition to see who wore the worst outfit.

The hashtag “grossoutfitforwork” has gained over 140 million views and sparked tens of thousands of discussions on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. In late February, a post by Douyin user Kendou S went viral, claiming that her boss criticized her for wearing "gross" outfits to stay warm in cold weather.

In a popular video, Kendou S showcases one of her unique outfits that has garnered 752,000 likes and been shared over 1.4 million times. She layers mismatched pieces together, including a fluffy white hat, gray balaclava, tatty red gloves, puffer coat, pink quilted jacket, fleece sweater dress, plaid pajama bottoms, fur-lined slippers, and knee-high socks.

A woman embraces the trend at her workplace. In her video, she reveals the many layers of her look, including gray pajamas.

A woman embraces the trend at her workplace. In her video, she reveals the many layers of her look, including gray pajamas.

Douyin

One woman shared a photo of herself wearing a neon yellow vest and baggy knee-length shorts. She mentioned that her coworker jokingly commented that she dresses like a wild man.

Another person showed off a dirty yellow and blue jacket, revealing that their boss gave them 50 yuan (about 7 dollars) to wash their clothes and instructed them not to shake hands with clients anymore.

In another post, someone expressed frustration about their low salary and unattractive coworkers, implying that their outfit choices were a result of these circumstances.

Young Chinese people have started embracing the lifestyle philosophy of "tang ping" or "lying flat," which rejects the pressures of the rat race and consumerism in favor of a more relaxed life. As a result, some have even thrown "resignation parties" and are being paid to embrace a carefree lifestyle as "full-time children."

Amidst gloomy economic prospects and record high youth unemployment rates in the country, some disenchanted Gen Z individuals have taken to wearing "gross outfits" as a form of expression. This latest trend seems to be another way for young people to make a statement and push back against societal expectations.

Young people in China are facing challenges in finding jobs, as the government reported a jobless rate of 14.9% among 16- to 24-year-olds in December 2023. This figure excludes 62 million full-time students and had previously reached a high of 21.3% in June.

Bohan Qiu, a 29-year-old entrepreneur and founder of the Boh Project, a creative consultancy in Shanghai and Seoul, shared insights on the current job market situation. He mentioned that many young individuals are feeling demotivated as they see limited opportunities for a bright future. Previously, work was seen as a way to pursue dreams and companies encouraged competition for success. However, now there is a sense of skepticism among people, questioning the existence of equal economic opportunities.

Kendou S (left) paired a quilted pink jacket with a beige dress, flannel pajama pants and fur-lined boots. Another participant of the trend shows where he stores his earphones.

Kendou S (on the left) rocked a stylish look by combining a quilted pink jacket with a beige dress, flannel pajama pants, and fur-lined boots. Meanwhile, another trendsetter demonstrated a clever way to store his earphones.

Qiu believes that casual dressing for work has always been popular in China, a trend that will continue according to him. This is especially true in workplaces where overtime and long hours in front of a computer are common, as well as among the younger generation who got used to working remotely during the pandemic.

Qiu mentioned that his staff may not dress as flashy as the people in the viral videos, but they often opt for casual attire. He stated that employees have been seen wearing sweatpants, shorts, slippers, and similar clothing, and it has been widely accepted as long as they maintain a stylish appearance.

Even individuals who share photos of their unattractive outfits on social media still prioritize looking good outside of work. Many have expressed that they simply do not want the "banwei" or "stench of work" to affect their favorite clothing choices.

China’s state-run media have criticized the trend of “lying flat” or “letting it rot,” but People’s Daily has a different perspective. It called the phenomenon of dressing ugly at work a form of “self-deprecation” and stated that as long as employees dress appropriately, maintain a correct work attitude, do not affect others, and do not involve important issues, there should be no problem.

Qiu, who works in the fashion industry, has also experienced a change in his wardrobe since moving to Shanghai. He mentioned that many of the stylish suits he used to wear in Hong Kong are now tucked away in the back of his closet.

As the weather gets warmer, people are beginning to show off their questionable spring fashion choices.

One user on Douyin shared a photo of a questionable outfit combination: dirty mustard toe socks paired with worn-out black sandals adorned with tacky plastic decorations.

Editor's P/S:

The rise of "gross" work outfits in China is a creative and humorous way for young people to express their frustrations with work-related issues. It's a form of rebellion against societal expectations and a way to cope with the challenges of finding jobs in a competitive market. The trend reflects the "tang ping" lifestyle philosophy, which prioritizes relaxation and a carefree life over the pressures of consumerism and success.

Furthermore, the trend highlights the changing attitudes towards work attire in China. Casual dressing is becoming more acceptable, especially in workplaces where long hours and overtime are common. This shift reflects the changing priorities of young people who value comfort and flexibility over formal dressing. The trend also suggests that employees are seeking ways to express their individuality and creativity at work.