“The Fashion Diaries”는 진정한 패션을 아는 진짜 사람들에 의해 제작되는 칼럼이에요. 우리 패션 작가들은 그저 최신 유행을 따르는 것이 아니라 여러 트렌드를 통합해서 그저 패션을 뒤쫓는 자가 아닌 스타일 리더로써 자신만의 독특한 스타일을 연출해요. 그들은 매일 입는 옷, 그 옷들을 어디서 샀는지, 자신의 룩에 있는 변화 등까지 모두 기록하죠. 그들의 지갑, 옷장, 그리고 자신감 모두 우리한테 연 셈이죠. 흔히 볼 수 없는 진정한 패션을 우리가 친숙하고 솔직한 눈으로 바라볼 수 있게 말이에요. 만약 패션 힌트가 필요하거나 트렌드를 쫓고 있다면, 아니면 그저 다른 패션 라이프스타일을 경험해 보고 싶다면 잘 찾아 왔어요. 그러니 의견 내주시고, 댓글 달아주시고, 우리 한번 스타일 대화를 시작해봐요!
“The Fashion Diaries” are columns produced by real people wearing real fashions. Our fashion diarists don’t merely follow current trends, but also integrate them into their own particular styles as not mere fashion followers, but style leaders. They record what they wear every day, as well as what they buy, or any changes they make to their look. They have opened their purses, closets, and vanities to us, allowing us an intimate and transparent look into real fashion that we rarely get to see. If you need fashion hints, or are tracking trends, or just want to vicariously experience another fashion lifestyle, you have come to the right place. So, make suggestions, write comments, and let’s start a style conversation!
안녕, 기이한 욕망의 나라에 사는 암컷, 나는 정새난슬이야. 새로 태어난 슬기로운 아이,란 뜻의 이름을 가지고 있어. 인디언 같지? 그냥 SENAN이라고 해두자. 내 이름 너무 길잖아. Strange+desire(이게 뭐든간에!)를 가진 28살.허벅지에 뱀을 기르고 등짝엔 여전사까지 살아.(타투 말이지)
Greetings, from a She-who-lives in the land of eccentric desires and curious cravings — my name is Jeong Senan-seul. My name means “one born with sagacity.” It seems Indian, no? But let’s just have you call me Senan, since that name is far too long. I’m a 28-year-old woman possessed of both “strangeness and desire” (and everything in between!), raising a snake on my thigh with a woman warrior living on my back. (I’m talking about the tattoos, of course.)
내가 생각하는 옷 입기, 패션이란 너무 위태로운거야. 때때로 불온하고 또 때때로 불안한 것. 가끔씩은 벗기 위해 옷을 입고, 또 옷 입기 하나만을 위해 옷 입기도 하지. 하지만 많은 시간 나는 아주 게으르고 상투적이기도 하고. 그러나 타투는 나에게 있어서 궁극의 패션.(진부한가?)
What I think about wearing clothes or so-called fashion is that its gotta be very risky. It should be at times, disquieting; at times, uncomfortable. Sometimes I wear clothes to take them off, or to wear something singularly special. But a lot of the time, I’m lazy and my clothes are trite and conventional. Still, my tattoos define my true and ultimate “fashion.” (Or is this trite, too?)
타투를 하던 당시의 내 마음과 정체성의 문제야. 타투의 퀄리티를 떠나서 내가 선택한 도안과 의미는 언제나 마음의 문제. 다른 사람의 마음에 들려고 애쓰기 보다, 나는 내 마음에 꼭 드는 사람이 되고 싶어. 절박하고도 재밌는 내 인생의 이슈.
When I got tattooed, my mind and identity were troubled. Without talking about the quality of the tattoo itself, the design and its meaning that I chose is always a function of my mind. Rather than being pressured by others and constantly worried about what they are thinking, I want to become someone I myself like. This is an issue that is constantly growing more acute for me.
5-30얼마전부터 회사원이 되었다. 나 같은 녀석을 받아주다니 놀라운 회사! (하지만 언제 잘릴지 모른다) 나름대로 진보적인 회사 분위기.
Not too long ago, I became an office worker. I was surprised that a company would take someone like me! (Still, they might fire me yet!) Needless to say, my company has a pretty progressive vibe.
바(bar)가 있어서 나의 환타지를 실현해 보려 올라갔는데 천장이 너무 낮아서 기어다니지 못했다. 코요태 어글리에서처럼 한번 섹시하게 기어보려는 꿈 무산.
Because there’s a bar here, I decided to live out one of my fantasies by going up on it, but because the ceiling was too low, I couldn’t crawl around. My dream of crawling around like in “Coyote Ugly” have been forever vanquished.
일본에서 구입한 원피스에 이태원에서 산 황금색 부츠 사람들이 전부 코스프레 하냐고 놀렸지만, 맞다. 코스프레. 대신, 주인공은 나의 알터에고(alter ego),그녀를 온몸으로 체험하고 있어. 나만의 롤 플레잉 (role playing)
When people look at the dress I bought in Japan and the gold boots I picked up in Itaewon, everyone always teases me by asking if I’m doing cosplay (“costume play”). Yeah, that’s it. Exactly. So I guess the main character is my alter ego having an adventure with my body. I guess that means I’m just role playing. All by myself. Right.
5-31
태닝 중이어서 비비드한 탑으로 피부색을 강조하고 싶었는데 메이크업은 여전히 밝아. 고민 중…
Because I’m in the middle of tanning, I wanted to wear something vivid to highlight my skin tones, but I noticed that my makeup is really bright. What to do…
오늘의 주제는 푸쉬업 브라. 볼륨 업이고 뭐건간에 왠지 갑갑하단 느낌 때문에 불편했다. 왠지 살쪄보이는 것 같기도 하고. 이런땐 정말 의문이 든다.’얼마나 말라야 마른거지?’
Today’s topic is the push-up bra. It increases volume but because it also gives a pinched-in feeling, it was uncomfortable. It also kinda makes you look like you’ve gained weight. It’s times like this that I begin to have doubt.How skinny do you have to get to be thought of as skinny?
난 정말 스키니 비치가 되고 싶은걸까? 왜 여자들은 있는 그대로의 자신을 사랑하기 힘든걸까? 그 탓은 마른 걸 강요하는 여성 잡지들이며 대중매채 때문이야. 결국엔 건강한 것이, 아름다운 거잖아. 맞지?
Do I really want to become a “skinny bitch?” Why is it so hard for women to love themselves as they are? People who end up skinny that way do so because of women’s magazines and the mass media. In the end, being healthy is beautiful, right?
쥬얼리 디자이너 친구와 함께 사진 찍기. 언젠가 유명해질 친구.(꼭!)
I took this picture with my friend, who’s a jewelry designer. She’ll be famous someday, for sure!
6-01집에서 탈색한 바지. 스포이드와 락스만 있으면 되. 원래는 검은색이었음.
These are the pants I dyed at home. All you need is a dropper and bleach. These were originally black.
회사에서 준 컴퓨터, 내가 만든 배경 화면. 역시 나의 알터에고를 등장 시킨 그래픽, 그리고 내 반지들. 박력이 최고!
This is the screen background I made on my work computer. Of course, this is the graphic that best conveys my alter ego, as well as a shot of my rings. Intense!
6-06
금속공예 시간에 만들었던 목걸이. LA 스럽군요. 아닌가?
This is the necklace I made during metalworking class. It’s very “LA,” don’t you think?
남자친구랑 술 마시러 간 날.
The day I went out drinking with my boyfriend.
너무 타투를 노골적으로 쳐다보는 사람 때문에 싸움 날 뻔 했다. 동물원 동물 쳐다보듯이 쳐다보니까 기분 나빴지. 근데 동물은 맞지.
We almost fought because so many people were openly staring at my tattoo. It was hurtful because they were staring at me like an animal at the zoo. But I guess that makes sense.
뱀이니까. 하하.
Because it’s a snake. Hehe.
웃어 넘기는 여유. 모든 것들은 내 선택이었으니까 결과도 받아들여야지. 어서 다양한 문화를 받아들이는 한국이 되어야 나도 편히 사는데…
That’s the reason I just have to laugh. Because this is all my choice, I have to accept the consequences. When Korea can finally accept diversity in the culture, I can live a comfortable life.
남자친구 가슴의 타투 도안은 내가 그린 것. 역시 도안의 참신함이나 완성도보단 의미를 더 중요하게 여긴다. 못 그렸단 말은 아님.;;; 자기 정당화인가? 타투 도안 그리기는 어려워. 핫팬츠가 너무 짧아. 뭐 약간 민망하지만. 이것도 내 선택.ㅎ
I designed the tattoo on my boyfriend’s chest. The meaning is definitely more important than the novelty or perfection of the design. I’m not saying it wasn’t drawn well — or is this a rationalization? It is hard to draw a tattoo. And my hot pants are too short. Even though I’m a little embarrassed by this, it IS my choice.
촛불시위 날.
회사에서 촛불 시위 나간다고해서 신은 운동화 2003년에 밑창부분의 망사 때문에 샀다가 잘 신지도 않았다. 운동화면서 왜 구두 신은거 보다 발이 아픈거냐!
Day of the beef demonstrations.
Because everyone in the office was planning to go to the beef protests, I brought the sneakers I bought back in 2003. But because the bottoms got messed up, I didn’t wear them often. Ironic that wearing these sneakers was more painful than heels!
티셔츠는 촛불 시위에 맞는 문구가 들어갔지. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHUT THE FUCK UP! DOWN WITH M.B야 요즘.. 경찰에게 잡혀가지 않도록 큰 뱅글을 찼다.(방어 무기로서) 플라스틱 STUD가 박힌. 근데 완전 평화시위여서 아무 일 없었음.
I wore a t-shirt with a message that seemed apropos for the demonstration: “Please feel free to shut the fuck up!” Everything’s about “Down with Lee Myung Bak” these days. I wore big bangles so as not to be able to be arrested by the police (defensive weapons) — earrings with plastic studs. But because the demonstration was peaceful, nothing happened.
워커힐.워커힐 파티에 간 날 내 방 살짝 공개. 눈화장에 전력을 기울였으나 파티가서 다 지워짐. 드레스 코드는 블루… 그래서 파란색 브래지어를 선택했지. 나머지는 전부 금색과 살색.
Walker Hill.Here’s a public shot of my room the day I went to the Walker Hill party. Even though I spent all my energy on getting my eye makeup right, it would just came off at the party. The dress code was blue…so I wore a blue bra. Everything else was gold and skin tones.
쥬얼리 디자이너인 친구와 북아트를 하는 친구. 시체놀이 하자니까 정말 시체처럼 누워버린…
This is a shot together with my book art and jewelry designer friends. They wanted to do “corpse play” (a Korean kids game in which one lies completely still, like a corpse, for as long as possible, similar to American “staring contests” –FMS) so we did it right there, on the spot.
취했지만 유쾌했던 날.
의도치 않게 베스트 댄서로 뽑히기도 해서 약간 민망. (사람들이 다 속으로 WHAT!?!!!? 그러면서 의아했을거야)
A drunken but refreshing day.
Although it wasn’t my intention at all, I was picked as “best dancer.” I was somewhat embarrassed. (I’m sure people were all thinking to themselves, “WHAT?!?!”)
참! 얼마전에 랩댄서가 신을 법한 구두를 샀다. 얼른 신고 또 나만의 알터에고 창조 놀이를 해야지. 위태로운 상상의 여지를 만들면서 즐기는 것도 패션이잖아.
Right! Not too long ago, I bought some shoes most likely made for lap dancers. I have to hurry up and make a good reason to wear them for play as my alter ego. Fashion is also about making room for and enjoying dangerous imaginings.
new trend?
But yeah. Another “Oh, Korea” moment. ><
I really enjoyed reading this! It was quite refreshing. Everyday on the streets, you see Korean girls that are all wearing the same safe clothes, always giving each other invisible pressure and staring whenever someone decides to be unconventional and stand out a little. It was great to take a peek into the mind of a person that is obviously well ahead of her society’s time!
SENAN씨 멋있네! 너무 솔직히 쓰시는것 같아서 좋아요. SENAN씨 style도 맟안가지요. “이거 바로 나야. 싫어하든지 좋아하든지 그거 너 문제”의뜻으로 패션으로 표현 하시는 것 같아요. 정말 좋아요. 알터에고라는 개념도 마음이 들어요. 남들한테 모든 사람들이 어너정도 알터에고를 보여주는거죠? 그렇다면서 재미있는 알터에고 보여주면 낫겠다고 생각 해요. ^^
I also enjoyed this article quite a lot! Senan, you’re really cool! I like how you express yourself so honestly in the article and with your look. It’s like you’re saying “This is me. Whether you like it or not, that’s your problem.” Awesome. I like the idea of projecting an alter ego as well. Everybody takes on a persona consciously or unconsciously anyhow, might as well make it be one that is fun and interesting. ^^
This was great, a really exciting post.
I look at Korean fashion as this: The outer influences: the fast-forward nature of Korean society and it’s shallow, ephemeral, buzzword-based fashion trends that come about after a game of telephone, where longevity has no place, which Koreans seem to have engrained into them before they leave high school and start dressing themselves…. Then the inner, personal input side; the fact that Korean society has so many taboos that preclude the general population from having the kind of subcultural leanings that we from the west tend to have, a Confucian society where ‘dabbling’ is frowned upon, etc… combine the two, and I find the effect is that Korean kids sometimes look halfway in, as if they’re afraid or even embarrassed to fully commit any deep personal thought or swagger to their baseline trendoid aesthetic, because they simply fear the clock will run out on a popular trend or something.
But this – needless to say, this girl has a self-concept and personal style that is STRONG. Without the Korean social context, where here in the west, tattoos have become workaday things that many people get, you lose the impact of how great this is. Factor in the local context and it becomes something huge – the tattoos as a personal statement address various things at once – they fly in the face of outdated societal conventions, they create this cool distance between the individual and the rest of the herd, the general populace who fear permanence for no particular reason. As ‘accessories,’ they definitely mesh with her dress philosophy. Someone who takes their style to a different level. Just great.
I am looking forward to more from this poster.
Great post…
its great to see Korean women out there just being themselves instead of following the flavour of the month.
Dig the tatts…
nice work
I liked reading the part where you talk about having to take the whole package and accepting the consequences that come with actions…. And that’s so admirable…. But have you guys ever thought of how it’s hard being normal, and a lot easier to be “weird” and “nonconformist”?
You go girl! Awsome style, few people would pull it off. Great colours and cuts. Elagant, fab and fun. I’ll try to be more brave in my clothing from today, ’cause you reminded me that I wear clothes for my sake, not for others…! Love the tattoos as well!
Thanks — but what do you mean by the difficulty of being normal? I’m not being flip, but just asking since I don’t really understand the question. Do you mean the pressure to stay within the lines of “normal?”
As for my opinion about “normal” versus “alternative” — in Korea, having visible tattoos, piercings, and wearing risque clothing is much harder than wearing whatever’s in fashion and conforming. Someone like Senan would be stared at constantly, it would be hard to get many jobs, family would be an issue for most people, etc.
There are more “alternative” styles in Korea these days, but non of them strike me as having mainstreamed enough to be easy, like being “punk” in London or hardcore “gangsta” hip hop in NYC with one’s pants pulled down — both have mainstreamed enough to not even be called “weird,” yet they once were.
I think that even to hardcore mimick a style popular in music videos here would draw great social attention and cause social friction, so someone actually defining a style unique unto oneself would be even harder.
I once saw a woman with a nose and lip ring with orange hair with her boyfriend in my local neighborhood kimpap place. I was surprised to see such a flamboyant couple in my little ‘hood, which I thought was cool. None of the other customers did, and after the cool couple left, they all snickered, guffawed, and talked smack about them the moment they walked out the door. It was pretty mean. Imagine dealing with that everywhere you go, all day long. I don’t know if I’d call that an “easier” way to live.
Ahh I really like this post. If I didn’t know that Senan was from Korea I would think another American girl dressing for the night out or day out. Good to see that she is not a follower and actually likes taking chances with her style, even if she gets weird or negative feedback.
Loving your stripper boots and rings.
Girl if you got it; you better work it. *two snaps*
I agree with everyone’s admiring your self-expression and such, but what I really want to say is:
I AM SO JEALOUS OF YOUR BODY
언니 몸 너무멋저!!!!참 부럽다. its cool that your not overly skinny, if you were you’d lose the sense of sexiness. And i say that ina purely admiring sense.
I’m also incredibly jealous of your boots-the gold ones
Gorgeous! Go right on with your bad ass self girl =).
happy to see a story with those pics…
comments..
1. dont be a “skinny bitch”..just be a “sexy bitch”
2. can an un-ordinary looking girl be happy with an ordinary looking guy? that opposites attack thing never worked out for me.
3. ” We almost fought because so many people were openly staring at my tattoo. It was hurtful because they were staring at me like an animal at the zoo.”
-well interesting pictures are always more interesting when they are in a beautiful frame.
4. Hot pants can never be too short!!!!
Yeah! Someone truly unique and who gets “fashion” is not looking like everyone else. At the most, looking like everyone else is trendy.
I can’t wait to see more!
Wow, it’s really awesome to see someone who is thinking about the politics of their look/aesthetic. Fierce, girl, fierce~ Tho I definitely think her look is out of the mainstream, I’m positive that a 화사원 in the US would get fired if they showed up to work dressed like her. I think things are weirdly acceptable in Korean companies that would just not fly in the US. (Short skirts for one, srsly~) I mean I wear my knee high, stiletto patent leather boots to family court, which has a v. low standard, and people totally make comments to me. And trust me, my boots are totally tame compared to those gold boots of awesome.
Anyways~ SENAN씨는 진짜 멋있네요~ SENAN씨의 칼럼을 기대할게요~ <3~~
(fms, keep recruiting these awesome peeps and spread the word <3)
@Hajee! “I AM SO JEALOUS OF YOUR BODY”
I was going to say the same thing, but I remember that the last time I said something about someone’s body I almost got in a “Booty War”. HAHAHAHA
OMG I LOVE HER. She is so fierce!
Really, you’re quite admirable. And your fashion sense is absolutely killa. (Please, remind me never to use the term “killa” again. I’m really not cool enough.)
And yes, I take beef with push-up bras. I mean, I love them because with them, I appear to have boobs, but dayaaaamn, are they ever uncomfortable at times. I find myself pushing them up, or pulling them down, or covering myself up because my shirt’s too low and my boobs look too big, etc, etc.
“Do I really want to become a “skinny bitch?” Why is it so hard for women to love themselves as they are? People who end up skinny that way do so because of women’s magazines and the mass media. In the end, being healthy is beautiful, right?”
Preach on, girl! Now, if only every girl could be as self-assured as you are.
Loved your post btw! Was a very refreshing read, you’ve great fashion sense, and I’m now thinking of getting a tattoo.
… In a more obscure place probably, because I’m not brave enough to flaunt it like you do. Which makes you all the MORE admirable, in my opinion.
this question really doens’t have anything to do with fashion, but is related to this “corpse play” that Korean children play. why do Koreans bite each other on the arm as a sign of affection? i’ve seen this in korean soaps (played here in the U.S. with English subtitles), where a mother does this with her son. the other day, i saw a korean girl do it to her boyfriend. is it like a “you’re so cute, i just want to eat you up type of thing??”
I kind of can see her fitting in at a trendy Chicago club or any young social scene really. But I do find it odd to see the same style of dress at her office job. She does say that it is quite progressive, but it’s still an odd composition (the photo).
Hmm…don’t know about the biting thing. Anyone?
As for the at-work photos, I think she took them after work — I don’t think she wears the boots to the office, but then again, perhaps she does? But they would seem to get uncomfortable, no? After all, them boots was made for walking and getting people gawking — not so much for sitting at a desk, hehe.
I like her facial features
amazing, what a beautiful women, and showing herself through her clothing without worrying what anyone thinks. I don’t have a style myself, but I like to dress the way I feel. Sometimes, it doesn’t make people feel good and stare. That’s okay, because dressing is for me, not for anyonelse. Though alot of people can call my styles, outdated or weird, or that I just can’t dress. It’s nice to see someone go against the norm, and be comfortable with the consequences, as myself.
Great post. Not only is she beautiful and daring, her answers are thoughtful and well spoken. Love it. From one woman to another.. you give me inspiration.
Sorry – but about your friend, the jewlery designer. I did some some myself but have never found out where to buy materials in Korea or a jewerly kiln. Where does she do her work?
[...] If anyone is wondering here is my favorite Korean tattoo. [...]