In an Elle Magazine article posted today, an A to Z column by Joe Zee depicting "All The Trends That Fit" named the letter "N" top fall 2013 fashion trend as "North Korea Chic."
According to the article, which has mysteriously disappeared from the magazine's website but was thankfully snap-shotted by a Washington Post writer, "North Korea Chic" translates to: "Some iteration of the military trend stomps the runways every few seasons. This time it's edgier, even dangerous, with sharp buckles and clasps and take-no-prisoners tailoring."
OK, I get that whole fashion world competes to be the edgiest and most daring, but does Zee even know what happens in North Korea? Granted, almost everyone knows that the country and the U.S. don't have a great relationship ... Um, nuclear weapons ... Kim Jong Il ... But come on Elle, Google that sh-t.
When I think of "North Korea Chic" I do not imagine an "edgy," "sharp" and "dangerous" combination of military jackets and combat boots, I think: "How could anyone with a brain think that 'North Korea chic' could pull off as edgy without the possibility of sounding like an insensitive, air-headed fashionista?"
Like most people, I haven't ever been to North Korea — I'm pretty sure I don't want to make a visit either — but I have a pretty good feeling there's not a lot of chic going on.
For those who aren't aware, North Korea has insanely strict laws about basically everything. Therefore, North Korean citizens have literally no idea about what is really going on in the world, because all of their news is almost always made up or altered in some way by the government. Definitely not chic.
In a Nov. 18 article from the Washington Post, apparently the Korean Central News Agency is depicting the book "Double Down" (which provides in-depth coverage of the US's 2012 presidential campaign) as evidence that the U.S. is the cause of everything evil: "The U.S. is the root cause of all sorts of evils and misfortunes in the world and disturber of peace and cancer-like existence."
Possession of foreign books is illegal in the country, so how are citizens supposed to know, contrary to KCNA belief, that President Obama doesn't actually openly admit that he's "really good at killing people?"
Moral of this story: There are some things that just shouldn't be tossed around so lightly. Throwing a "But it's just for the sake of fashion" label on it doesn't excuse the fact that the current situation in North Korea is serious, even deadly.
Yes, Joe Zee, the country is dangerous and often times it "takes no prisoners" — because, instead, those prisoners are murdered.
Is that edgy enough?
Reach the reporter at kgumpert@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @cat2bekittenmee
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