Dressing up to fit in as a woman in Korea is a trying challenge for all of my non-Korean friends.   The fact is, to dress as the "Korean Girl" is no easy feat, even for a native, like me.   

So why do we put ourselves through this struggle with makeup and shoes every day?  In a city like Seoul, a girl has to continually keep up with the Joneses.  Seoul can sometimes foster an atmosphere where everyone is constantly measured up against each other, making it just easier to play along and look the part.  You really want to know what goes into all of that hot/cute Korean girl 'tude you see around town? 

Hair work:  The ritual begins every morning as soon as I step out of the shower.   To give my hair the volume and "oomph" it deserves, I take time to blow dry my roots to perfection.  Then comes the curling iron or straightening iron -- which can be used, with the right skill, to create bouncy, wavy hair (if needed on that particular day or with my morning clothing).   I struggle in front of the mirror for 30 minutes, trying to tame my coarse black mane of locks, and create the kind of curls that do not look like they were...uhm , yeah, created.  Once I'm satisfied, I apply curling cream to lock my hair down.  

Photo:  Kim Tae owns the au naturel.

Face time:   I then whirl and face my dresser and start to ponder a variety of options.  Colors, shades and tones galore. I decide to go for the au au naturel look, which is very in right now. The ssang-ul (쌩얼) look, when done right, gives the illusion of a completely unadulterated, natural, no-product-applied look, which basically means a ton of sneakily applied products.   I first apply sunscreen, spf 85, to protect my delicate face from the vicious summer Korean sun.   I hear the ‘Amore Pacific sun protector’, and the ‘Etude House sunguard’ are good.  With all the whitening products I use at night, I can’t afford to get sunkissed.   I then strain to apply foundation as thinly and evenly as possible – of course, the whole point is to create an illusion so that people don't think I spend 30minutes on makeup every morning.   My foundation gives me a slightly dewy sheen, as the trend is the mul-gwang (물광) look, which gives one a youthful watery glow.    Check out ‘Laneige Snow Crystal Dual Foundation’ and ‘Kohgendo Aqua Foundation’, which you can pick up at stores like Aritaum or Todacosa.

Next, I hit the eyes.  I apply eyeliner as thinly as possible, curl my lashes to perfection, briefly consider putting false lashes on, decide against it, then apply mascara as cautiously as possible so it doesn’t look overdone.  Remember, the secret is subtle scintillation, not blowup doll blasting.  

Photo:  Wait!  I'd recognize those signs anywhere...since they're everywhere...

Clothe Yo' Bod!  I then mull over what to wear.  For the "natural" look, I like to go with tighter, darker clothes.  For example, a tight, black skirt and top that adequately covers my top half.   You want to fit in the Korean fashion scene?  Then know that no self respecting Korean girl will wear a cleavage-bearing top.   A variety of reasons for that, but it just don't happen.  

Foot Fetish.   I am then faced with the option of footwear.  Flip flops are nice, but in case you haven’t noticed, “killer heels” are very IN right now.  Yes, they kill your feet as much as make you look classy/tall, but the pain is worth it.   Seems like as a Korean, my feet were born conditioned and toughened at the soles, so the killer 5-inch heels are not a problem.   The art of wearing heels comes naturally when you’ve been wearing them since high school.  Once you start wearing those babies you can never go back, as they actually become not-so-painful, especially after your feet start to adapt and develop calluses in all the right spots.   Be wary, as I have a friend who developed a slipped disk at the tender age of 21 from wearing heels every single day, everywhere, except the gym-I’m not kidding, she doesn’t own flip flops and owns one pair of sneakers. For now, I will continue wearing my beautiful shoes. You'll notice that shoes make the gal in Korea, and I recommend browsing around Edae, Gangnam and Jamsil Subway Stations.  Yes, they do have "big foreign girl" sizes.

Photo:  Damn!  Looking good in the power heels.  Thanks, ShoesOne.co.kr -- I think.

Accessorize or DIE:  Should I take my big “Louis Vuitton” bag or my small “Chanel” bag?  I decide on the Louis Vuitton.  Here's a tip:  it doesn't matter what she or her husband earns in salary, or her background, hometown, class or creed--every Korean woman must have the “it bag."  It’s her bag, the bag that she uses for the around town, the 1st/2nd/3rd/Nth date, the night out with the girls.  It’s her standby, and although it doesn't need to crush the competition, its gotta keep up.  For me, well, I do have to pack some books.  Almost all of my bags are, of course, purchased in the deep alleys of Itaewon.  Shhhhhhh...

Photo: Bags, bags & more bags. Let them be everywhere but under my eyes. (Yonhap news)

Work It.  Looking good doesn't mean anything if you don't "look good."   Like almost all Korean women, I should graciously flutter down the never-ending stairs that lead to the subway.   After an hour of standing in my heels on the train, I am a tad tired, but hey, anything to look the part.  When I finally get off the station, I again, flutter up out of the long staircase that leads to me back to the upper world.  I’m in a rush, but now that big Louis Vuitton bag starts to come into action, as you'll notice us Korean gals use it to cover our miniskirts as we hurl out of the subway stairs and to keep the ajussis and foreign dudes from staring at our behinds.   

Life as a Korean gal in Seoul?  Climbing countless hills and staircases, myriad instances of checking makeup, chronic oil-blotting.  I challenge any man, Korean or otherwise, to try a day in the life of a prim and proper Seoul girl.  You'll find out that comfort is sacrificed, but it’s really a small price to pay to blend in.   

And where am I headed to, you ask, all dolled up?  Of course, nowhere special, just another weekday at school.

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