Wearing pajamas and flip-flops in public is a fashion faux pas according to an etiquette book released by Beijing officials.
For Beijing, Etiquette Isn’t a Game By LORETTA CHAO, August 1, 2008; Page A7
BEIJING — From pollution to terrorism, the list of worries Beijing officials have to contend with is substantial, with fashion now apparently one of them.
Beijing officials have distributed 4.3 million copies of an etiquette book outlining rules on good manners and foreign customs, including rules about what not to wear. The guide is part of an effort by various departments within China’s government to clean the city up in preparation for the at least 400,000 foreign visitors who are expected to descend on its capital for the Olympic Games, which start Aug. 8.
Among the no-no’s: more than three color shades in an outfit, white socks with black shoes, and pajamas and slippers in public.
“No matter what, never wear too many colors…especially during formal occasions,” the book said. “When you wear [formal shoes], be sure to wear socks in good condition…socks should be a dark color — never match black leather shoes with white socks.”
“Older women should choose shoes with heels that aren’t too high,” it said.
The book, published by the Beijing Municipal Government’s Capital Ethic Development Office, is part of the department’s effort to make Beijing more “civilized,” officials said.
Along the same lines, Beijing authorities announced earlier this year that they would step up efforts to fine people who spit in public as much as 50 yuan ($7.33).
Stuart Noble in The Agonist, one of my favorite blogs, did a post last week that I only became aware of this morning (I usually visit daily but . . .). It’s on the LeBron James Vogue magazine cover that I first blogged about a couple of weeks ago. It is very well done. He drew on more sources and wrote a very good post.
Feministe and Jezebel have posted thought-provoking pieces. And Bag News Notes, another one of my absolute favorite blogs, unbeknownst to me, had also already weighed in.
I am not sure if this changes anything, but it is available at Vogue. Here is the Vogue story. Other images in the package:
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and model Caroline Trentini.
Rollerboarder Shaun White and model Daria Werbowy.
Model Raquel Zimmermann and Olympic discuss thrower Jared Rome.
Model Doutzen Kroes and Olympic speed skater Apollo Anton Ohno
The image below came from the comments section on the post.
Here’s how the commenter, Zuma, described how the image came about:
when lisa and i first got together, she told me about a book by john tigges that she liked, ‘monster’, so i drew an illo of it for her. the monster’s love for the female protagonist was about providing, hence i named the drawing provide. it was one of extremely few such files i did not color. god knows why. i just knew there was an unusual amount of factors at play in the piece.
Noble had this to say about that image:
Thanks for the observation
It’s an interesting sketch but I don’t think the emotion of your image resembles at all the negative cultural heritage which I argue the LeBron image represents.
stuart noble April 2, 2008 – 2:27am