"Got Mocked for Dressing Up at Work... Now I Go to Work Looking Sloppy" [Beijing Diary]

# 'Shangban Eoshinchuanda'

Recently, this keyword has suddenly emerged on Chinese social networking services (SNS). Literally translated, it means 'nauseating' or 'disgusting' work attire, but to better capture the intent and feeling, it can be paraphrased as 'gross' work clothes. Like in Korea, where SNS is well-developed, specific memes (internet trends) quickly spread and evolve when they resonate with people in China. The outfits featured in photos and videos sweeping through SNS all look shabby, tacky, and dirty.

(Photo by Weibo)

The default style is clothes worn so carelessly they look insincere, paired with messy hairstyles. More extreme versions include going to work after just wiping off eye crust with a wet towel, wearing training pants under skirts, layering completely mismatched clothes from head to toe, or wearing garments that are hard to tell if they are underwear or outerwear. A video interpreted as 'getting scolded by a boss for disgusting work attire' attracted 8 million views, drawing significant attention.

This strange phenomenon is noteworthy because it reflects various social grievances and changes in consciousness among Chinese youth. The keyword is estimated to have first appeared in September 2023, when a blogger posted photos of themselves wearing multiple layers of velvet clothes because the caf? they worked at did not turn on heating even in winter. The blogger shared an online story about being reprimanded by their boss for this outfit, which resonated with many. It can be inferred that this expresses frustration with poor working conditions and the boss’s criticism.

The trend spread to posting contrasting images of oneself before and after work on SNS. At the company, people show up looking shabby and attract no attention, but after work, they transform into dazzling versions of themselves in their personal lives. This reveals a mindset of not wanting to expend energy on anything unrelated to work during office hours and a clear separation between work and life. Conversely, some posts stand out where people say they were mocked by their boss for 'wasting time dressing up instead of improving skills' after coming to work too well-groomed.

These days, the situation has become somewhat provocative. People are fiercely competing over 'who can look grosser.' The red flower quilted jacket from Northeast China, made famous when Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, wore it during his visit to China, as well as sleep pants, sleep socks, and dirty Ugg slippers, have all appeared. It seems there is a subtle enjoyment in ironically flaunting how gross one can look.

One netizen commented, "At first glance, it seems like a phenomenon enjoying humor, but in reality, it reflects the complex contradictions and problems of workplace culture," interpreting it as exposing formalism, high pressure, and unsatisfactory working environments within companies. Another netizen called it "a deep reflection on workplace culture," pointing out that "more attention should be paid to the actual situations and needs of members rather than superficial images and norms." They added, "The future workplace culture should be more humane and more inclusive."