The Viral “Gross Outfit” Fashion Trend, And The Meaning Behind It
Some fashion trends take effort, money, and planning to take part in. This one doesn’t. In fact, you might already be part of the “gross outfit” movement without even realizing it!
It all started when a woman, who goes by the name Kendou S- on Douyin (China’s TikTok), posted a video of her wearing a frumpy but comfy work outfit. New York Times reports that Kendou S-‘s supervisor called her intentionally lazy outfits “gross” and repeatedly told her “to mind the image of the company.”
Kendou S-‘s video went viral, receiving over 735,000 likes and 1.4 million shares. The “gross outfit” trend then spread to other social media platforms, such as Xiaohongshu (a Chinese app comparable to Instagram). Young workers in China began to replace their typical office attire–pressed shirts, ironed slacks, etc–with cozy, mismatched outfits that scream, “I’m ready for bed!” The uglier and comfier, the better.
These so-called gross ‘fits include socks with sandals, pajamas, slippers, and sweatpants — clothing items that aren’t traditionally considered work-appropriate. But, that’s the whole point.
I just want to wear whatever I want. I just don’t think it’s worth spending money to dress up for work, since I’m just sitting there.
— Cindy Luo, interior designer
The gross outfits trend reflects a shift in China’s working culture. Rather than jumping aboard the “hustle life” train to climb the job ladder, some young people are choosing to rebel against it and voice their displeasure with the current economic climate (less job opportunities, more competition, etc), by choosing small comforts over ambitious lifestyles.
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