In our last Fashion Face-off, Kim Tan and his Cookie Monster turtleneck were able to hold off some stiff competition from the Yzma lookalike on Miss Korea.
This time around, we're going to look at Kdrama tracksuits, which I secretly love. I mean, it's like wearing pajamas, but outside of the house. What's not to like? My only complaint is that Kdramas rarely allow women to take off their absurdly high heels and lounge around in comfy sportswear. I call sexism! Kdrama women, unite and demand your right to wear zip-up polyester from head to toe!
There are a few standouts in the arena of Kdrama tracksuits, so let's look at the challengers, shall we?
Obviously. I mean, by the end of the show, I felt like his custom-made jogging suits were a character all on their own. They certainly did catch the eye, but on the downside, I can't imagine wearing those things to do any actual exercise. I have a strict no-running-in-sequins policy.
Contender 2: The Joseon Entourage, Rooftop Prince
It's like a couple's outfit, but for best friends! Suddenly, Lee Gak's entourage was transformed into the Joseon Power Rangers with the use of matching suits.
Contender 3: Kim Kwang Soo, Emergency Couple
This tracksuit inspired this post. Look at that camouflage magnificence! This guy knows what he likes, and he wears it like a boss.
Contender 4: Jo Gook, City Hall
I guess we can toss in a serious tracksuit for good measure. Don't be fooled by the fact that he actually plays sports in this thing--it's all a political statement in the end. But a handsome political statement, I must admit.
In the realm of Kdrama tracksuits, there can only be one champion. Vote below!
I think that our last Fashion Face-Off, the Battle of the Facial Hair, might have been the closest contest we've ever had. As of this minute, Hyun Bin wins for his character in The Snow Queen, but it's been pretty back-and-forth between him and Cha Seung Won in City Hall this entire time. Can I take this as a sign that we wouldn't mind a little more scruff on our leading men every now and again?
I spent last weekend at my little brother's wedding (I can't believe he's married! Awww, but also weird?), and it put me in the mood to write about kdrama nuptials. Now, most wedding fashion that appears in these shows doesn't actually make it to the altar. I feel like the prettiest gowns and suits are usually wasted in those dramatic "Omo, he's marrying the wrong person!" or "We're gonna get married, but in a terrible twist of fate, we need to wait five more episodes!" kinds of scenes. So instead of writing about wedding fashion, I want to devote this week's face-off to something that isn't clothing, but still requires a lot of style: kdrama proposals.
Many kdramas leave us with the couple staring off into the sunset and allow us to assume that they will live lives of blissful commitment. Other dramas fast forward to show us wonderful snippets of future married life. Other dramas are terrible, stingy buttfaces and don't really give us much romantic closure at all. But every once in a while, we get to see the actual engagement unfold, and the proposals are usually tailored to match the characters. This week's contenders might not all be the best kdrama proposals (at least in my opinion), but they are a diverse selection that will hopefully meet everyone's unique tastes.
Obviously, there will be some spoilers here.
Contender 1: The "It's the Thought that Counts" Proposal (Protect the Boss)
I'm terribly biased in favor of this show, and Noh Eun Seol and Cha Ji Heon are one of my favorite kdrama couples. So when Eun Seol shows up to a romantic candlelit dinner and Ji Heon croons a cheesy ballad to her by way of expressing his feelings, you would think it would be heart-melting swoon material, right?
You know that feeling when you're watching a singing show and one of the contestants has a hilarious personality, so you're really rooting for them to win, but then they open their mouths and it's so painful that you have to change the channel? That's kind of what happens here. My reaction went from "Awww, he put 'I love you' inside of a fortune cookie!" to "Why is this happening????" in about 0.2 seconds. Poor Ji Sung has kind of a cringe-worthy voice, but at least he has a nice heart!
If you're someone who values effort over execution and secretly applauds the William Hungs of the world, this proposal is for you.
Contender 2: The Big Gesture Proposal (A Gentleman's Dignity)
I never really understood the allure of proposals that happen in front of gigantic groups of people. Making me come down to the field in a baseball stadium? Blech. Putting my face on a Jumbotron for the whole world to see? No, thanks.
I have to admit, though, that I'm a huuuuuuuuuuge sucker for anything that involves a massive choreographed dance number. Maybe it's my childhood dream that my life would transform into the movie Newsies:
Why yes, that is 17-year-old Christian Bale belting his lungs out. And be-eyepatched Trey Parker, before he became old and gross. And the guy from The Mighty Ducks. Okay, okay, his name is Aaron Lohr, and yes, I do remember that from eight-year-old Vivi's mild obsession with this film.
Choreographed dance numbers have become an increasingly trendy way to propose in recent years, so it's no surprise that A Gentleman's Dignity matched Yi Soo's highly stylish outfits with an equally stylish proposal. No matter how you feel about Kim Do Jin as a character, you gotta give the guy mad props for planning this whole thing and then tacking on a throwback to episode 1, as well.
Aside from Newsies aficionados, this proposal also suits those people who enjoy announcing their love to the world.
Contender 3: The Heartfelt Speech Proposal (King 2 Hearts)
Poor Hang Ah had two big-gesture proposals early on in this series, and both of them ended up being hoaxes. It's only fitting, then, that the real deal would come without any fuss as they stand next to some military vehicles. It might not be the fanciest proposal in the world, but who needs balloons when you get lines like "I'm going to shower you with kisses every morning"?
We're focusing on substance over style here, but those conveniently falling blossoms don't hurt the mood, either.
Contender 4: The Lazy--I Mean, "Low Maintenance"--Proposal (Secret Garden)
Gil Ra Im is a pretty low-maintenance kind of girl. She usually prefers comfort, practicality, and kicking butt to anything frilly, so bringing her to city hall and announcing immediate marriage might be the best bet for her personality. After all, she has already declared her disdain for chocolates, wine, and all other romantic fluff.
On the other hand, "Because I said so" isn't the most compelling reasoning I've ever heard to get married, and I simply can't bring myself to believe that anyone--Gil Ra Im included--actually hates a good box of Lindt truffles. Impossible!
Estonians have this phrase, "laiskvorst," which directly translates to "lazy sausage." I personally feel like this is kind of a laiskvorst proposal, but hey, maybe it works for some people. If you've got a no-nonsense attitude and prefer to circumvent all of the obnoxious wedding planning in favor of getting right to the honeymoon, then you've found your dream proposal right here!
Contender 5: The Classic Fairytale Proposal (City Hall)
Roses? Check. Candles? Check. Waltzing? Check. FREAKING TWINKLE LIGHTS? Check. It might not be new or exciting, but sometimes they're classics for a reason.
Yes, she WILL dance with you through life. She's not a crazy person!
I just noticed that 3/5 proposals here come courtesy of Kim Eun Soook. Does this give us a hint for the future of Heirs?
And, just because you all read through this so nicely, I will share what might just be my favorite ending love scene of anything ever created:
Okay, so Richard Armitage doesn't technically say the words "Let's get married" with his voice, but I don't even care because he SAYS IT WITH HIS EYES.
So which proposal scene best matches your style? Did we miss one of your favorites? Vote and comment below!
It’s time for another round of K-drama texts to a bestie! Sometimes we wish we were best friends with heroines from the Korean dramas we watch on Viki. Maybe their lives are a little ridiculous, but at least we would never have boring text conversations.
One of the reasons we wrote some of our recommendationsposts is that it can be really difficult to sift through all of the dramas out there to find one you really love. While I usually rely on reviews from bloggers who seem to match my tastes to help direct me to new dramas, I have to admit that I'm also really heavily swayed by advertising. A great drama poster can push a show to the front of the line, while a ridiculous one can sometimes prevent me from starting something I might otherwise really enjoy. Sometimes, the posters are so random or poorly planned that I have to wonder what advertising executive signed off on it in the first place.
With that in mind, here are some of my favorite random kdrama posters:
What it should be about: A man with some sort of brain injury is very sad, so a nice lady lets him drool on her breasts for comfort. Then she is also sad. They are both very, very sad.
I have seen this picture popping up all over Pinterest, but I just can't get past this poster to give it a real chance.
What it's actually about: (from Wikipedia): "Han Yi-soo (Kim Nam-gil) narrowly escapes death and loses his father because of the owners of Gaya Hotel Group, the family of Jo Hae-woo (Son Ye-jin), his first love... 12 years later he returns to Korea with a new identity and carefully plots to avenge his family."
So at least I was right about the sad part. Good job, advertisers!
What it should be about:With the help of a gigantic book/magic carpet, Cupid helps a sassy Korean girl discover the wonderful world of reading!
According to the movie poster, this show should be something like Wishbone, just more Korean. And maybe with a love story. Now that I mention it, that sounds like an awesome premise for a show! And probably better than the actual premise, which I quit after one episode. What it's actually about: (from Dramawiki): "Na Miru, a twenty-nine old woman, starts a dating column and dates twelve men for each astrological sign in the calendar."
What it should be about: A cross-dressing Golden Girlsimpersonator is torn between his split personalities: a nice college student named "Danny" and a rich, permed playboy named "Alfonso."
Whatit's actually about: (from Drama wiki) "This series pivots around a hapkido teacher Jang Man-ok (Hwang Jung Eum) becoming a stylist of top idol group TAKE ONE, composed of the perfectionist Lee Tae Ik (No Min Woo) and a free yet kind guy named Won Kang Hwi (Park Ki Woong) and getting into a romantic relationship with them."
Sooooooooo, that lady in the middle gets to be the stylist? Somehow, that doesn't sell me on the show.
What it should be about: A Korean businessman almost dies and wakes up as Mary Poppins. He falls in love with his "charge," and they use his new powers to fly to Bavaria!
What it's actually about: (from Wikipedia) "The drama tells the story of love story between Gil Ra-im (Ha Ji-won) and Kim Joo-won (Hyun Bin). Gil Ra-im is a poor but proud stunt woman who has supported herself since her father's death. Joo-won is an arrogant and eccentric CEO who maintains the image of seeming perfection. . . . A strange sequence of events results in them swapping bodies."
What it should be about: A ragtag gang of angels kidnap a grumpy man. They teach him all kinds of useful things, like how to shoot lasers out of his hands and that he shouldn't wear tunics over suits. He returns to earth a better man.
What it's actually about: (from Wikipedia) "Go Mi Nyu (Park Shin-hye) is a sister-in-training. Her twin brother, Go Mi Nam successfully auditions for the musical band A.N.JELL but is forced to leave for the United States to correct a botched plastic surgery. Mi Nyu is approached by Mi Nam's manager to pose as Mi Nam while he recovers. . . . Mi Nyu enters the group A.N.JELL and meets its members: Hwang Tae Kyung (Jang Keun-suk), Kang Shin Woo (Jung Yong-hwa) and Jeremy (Lee Hongki)."
This is another case of a series that would have been better off just following the poster instead.
Which K-drama advertisements have left you scratching your head?
Our last Fashion Face-off Friday, Battle of the Guyliner, ended up being a decisive victory for Joo Byung-hee of Shut up Flower Boy Band, proving that a little makeup philosophy can go a long way. I'm a little sad that my favorite vampire prosecutor came in last, but he had some stiff competition. I tend to see a lot of kdrama jokes about rich chaebol styling, but today I'm taking a stand for gender equality and recognizing that women can wear absurd rich outfits, too. Think of it as Girl Power--just with more weird accessories.
As far as I can tell, Han Song-yi only has two defining character traits: 1. She hates everyone and 2. She loves money. As far as I can tell, the costume designers of this show firmly believe that nothing says "I will crush you with the sheer weight of all my money" like wrapping yourself in dead animals. My all-time favorite rich lady outfit was one where she was wearing a gigantic fur arm warmer on each arm, but unfortunately, this series is 31 episodes long, and even after I spent two hours scrolling through every.single.episode (I couldn't help myself--those arm warmers were that outlandish), I couldn't find it again. Sadly, this means that we have to settle for one of her many other fur-covered outfits.
Yes, yes she IS wearing a full suit under that polar bear cape. I guess she thought it would add to her credibility as a businesswoman?
Contender 2: Kim Joo-won's mom (Secret Garden)
I really, really want to make a your momma joke here, but I'm trying to keep it classy. Whenever I see Joo-won's mom, I can't help but think that it's exactly how rich people would dress in real life--if my five-year-old niece dressed them. Her wardrobe is an endless parade of lace, tutus, and tiaras, but she can afford them.
Who doesn't own a lace nightgown/dress for informal gatherings? Poor people. That's who.
Contender 3: Madam Kang (Boys over Flowers)
In all honesty, her clothing isn't as blatant as some of the males on the show. She is here for one reason and one reason only: her collars look like they can (and have) stabbed people in the face.
Randomly, there's this old hip hop song called "Wanna Be a Baller," and even though I know they aren't the actual lyrics, I always think the first line goes "Wanna be a baller, popped collar, 20-inch blades on the Impala" (The REAL lyrics are "shot caller," not "popped collar," in case you were wondering.). I kid you not, EVERY time Madam Kang came on the screen to threaten people with her pointy face and her matching pointy collar, I got that song stuck in my head for a week. And THAT, my friends, is what earned her a spot on this list. Okay, and also for wearing what appears to be a sash.
To be fair, Madam Kang IS pretty baller.
Contender 4: Kang Hye-na (My Fair Lady)
Not to be outdone by the older generation of fancy ladies, Kang Hye-na is out to prove that she can be just as ridiculous and rich as the best of 'em. In Hye-na's world, the words "less is more" don't exist. If you have money MORE is more. The upside? Since she doesn't dress herself, she is single-handedly supporting the Korean economy with the number of servants she hires to hold things like--metal suspenders? Is that what those are?
In related news, I need a bejeweled scrunchy--ASAP
Out of these wealthy women, which one wore the craziest outfit? Vote below!
The votes are officially in for our last Fashion Face-off Friday, and once again, we have a tie! Gil Ra Im was winning by a landslide for a while, but Goo Jae Hee's feeble attempts at masculinity caught up in the end! Let's see if we can make this next one a solid, clean victory...
As we all know, the makeover is a staple of k-drama-dom. The dorky girl gets whisked away, and the man of her dreams gasps at her beauty as she walks into the room, transformed. For many k-drama viewers, the makeover is a payoff for putting up with absurdly awkward costumes/hair for the first half of the series, but sometimes the payoff just isn't as satisfying as it should be. For this week's Fashion Face-off Friday, I bring you supposedly awesome date outfits gone wrong!
Challenger 1: Park Gae In (Personal Taste)
Now, I know that I have mentioned this outfit before in my Personal Taste review, but I feel like it would be a travesty to leave such a worthy contender out of this particular fashion face-off. I think what makes this date outfit most offensive is that it came several episodes after her "makeover." There's no excuse! None, I say!
If you're going to seduce "gay" Lee Min Ho by dressing like a man, maybe Charlie Chaplin isn't your best bet for a fashion role model.
Challenger 2: Gil Ra Im (Secret Garden)
I love Gil Ra Im as much as (okay, more than) the next person, which is why this makeover hurt me so much. I know it isn't as blatantly offensive as the others, but it was still a huge letdown. Maybe it's the crooked line of gigantic crystals that someone hot glue gunned between her boobs. Maybe it's the "chic" slicked/poofed combo hairstyle that matches Lee Jong Hyuk's Lego hair from our first fashion face-off. Maybe it's the awkward hemline that isn't quite asymmetrical. Whatever the case may be, she deserves better!
To quote a Gil Ra Im-ism, whoever chose this dress deserves to have his or her fifth vertebrae turned into the sixth.
Challenger 3: Geum Jan Di (Boys over Flowers)
Poor Lee Min Ho is always getting stuck with fashion duds. Jan Di had several "fairy godmother" makeovers throughout the course of the show, and I kept hoping they would really transform her. In spite of the male cast members giving heroic attempts to do double takes at her "transformations," I was never convinced.
"When I saw her dressed like that giant cupcake, I knew she was the woman for me!" said no non-kdrama man. Ever.
Challenger 4: Ma Hye Ri (Prosecutor Princess)
I was baffled by the first few episodes of Prosecutor Princess when they kept emphasizing how much time and money Hye Ri spent on clothes and then she appeared on screen in these crazy monstrosities. This outfit was one of many possibilities, but it won out because she chose to don it for a major life event: attempting to purchase some fabulous (read: hideous) shoes. From what I can tell, she is wearing a bib made of some combination of fur, lace, and glitter. She also gets bonus points for crazy hair.
I know, Hye Ri, I'm just as shocked as you are at how bad it is...
So who wins your vote? Any other major fashion disappointments? Vote in the little black box below!
Results are in for our first Fashion Face-Off Friday: Crazy Man Hair poll, and it's a tie between Lee Min Ho in Boys Over Flowers and Jang Guen Suk in You Are Beautiful! Here is the conversation where ViVi and I discussed the close race. ViVi thought Lee Min Ho won.
Let this be a warning to you when texting your kdrama fangirl bestie that auto correct just does not get it.
For our second Fashion Face-Off Friday, where we celebrate bizarre kdrama styling choices, we examine female bowl cuts. Who ever said bowl cuts never look good on women? Everyone...except kdrama stylists. But let's be positive about this. Some leading ladies pull it off better than others and are a little easier to imagine as desirable to men. Let's vote on, as far as bowl and extended bowl cuts go, who wore it best!
Competitor #1
Goo Jae Hee from To the Beautiful You is a female lead who got a bowl cut to try to pass as a boy. I find it hard to believe that anyone actually fell for it because she is still so pretty. Makes me jealous that she can be that pretty with a bowl cut. I would look absolutely ridiculous.
Competitor #2 While this might be considered more of an extended bowl cut, it is still a strong contender. I have to admit that I was really bothered by Jan Di's hair for the first half of Boys Over Flowers, but a combination of her hair growing out a little and me growing to love her more allowed me to look past it and even consider it kind of cute.
Competitor #3 Gil Ra Im sports a whispy, side-swept bowl cut. She is not trying to pass for a boy, but she might be sporting this look to fit into her male dominated field of stunt doubling for action films. She pulls it off in a sassy way.
Competitor #4 It was never made clear whether Eun Chan from Coffee Prince cut her hair into a bowl cut to try to look androgynous, or if she just cut it that way to keep it out of her way as she worked one of her many physically taxing jobs to support her family. When I first started watching Coffee Prince I asked my friend who had already seen it whether her hair ever changes. I was so impatient for her to be pretty. She told me that it wouldn't happen until the last episode and I thought I would die. But gradually, just like Jan Di, I came to love Eun Chan so her hair didn't matter.
So who pulled off the bowl cut best? These female leads all did their darndest in a difficult style situation and pulled it off way better than I ever could. Vote below now!
