Highlight Cooking

Author: Li Caijiao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Unshackled from the constraints of the older generation's beliefs like "short-sleeved shirts cannot be worn over long clothes" or "thick sweaters cannot be paired with thin skirts," and free from the experiences of their parents' generation who endured a monochrome "green sea" of clothing across the nation, contemporary college students have gained autonomy and choice in their fashion. Even a simple, single-style agricultural uniform, as long as they have the courage to wear it from spring to winter (of course, requiring coordination with other clothing), no one would object. Pairing a thick woolen coat with a high collar and mink fur trim with a thin summer skirt and walking through the cool, brisk autumn scenery is undoubtedly inconceivable, yet it is also a humorous outfit, making one forget the existence of seasons. Wrapping a winter scarf made of hemp net thread around the neck of a short-haired girl dressed in a knee-length sleeveless outfit in a dark blue-gray color creates a and humorous contrast in the "winter-summer" dichotomy, unexpectedly making the campus scenery of early summer even more unique. Under the influence of the fashion trend of "wearing a thick inner shirt and a thin outer jacket," the concept of time and space is further broken. In early winter, one can also wear a T-shirt, large two-piece shorts, and a short outer jacket made of the same material as the shorts. However, it is only through the woolen scarf hanging from the chest, the thick socks, and the high boots that one can sense a hint of early winter. College students are the passionate and vibrant young generation. The creativity they display in their clothing combinations is beyond words. Just like ancient women who embroidered dragons, phoenixes, the "Five Poisons," peonies, and the "Eight Auspicious Symbols" on their clothing, it is a sudden flash of inspiration. Some embroidery on clothing items can only be found in one piece in a lifetime. Sometimes, boys and girls treat white T-shirts as "color palettes," with each design being unique to the wearer's changing emotions. Sometimes, those who are passionate about fashion will impulsively find scraps of cloth to practice batik and tie-dye, then turn them into skirts and shorts, walking boldly across the campus paths. Imagine wearing such a "creative" outfit—how could one not feel "forgotten by the seasons"!
When I was studying in university, at a school-level student calligraphy works seminar I attended (that was in November), a male student entered the venue wearing a white T-shirt underneath a short skirt that ended two centimeters above his knees, with a thick military-style overcoat draped over his shoulders, barefoot, and wearing slippers. Almost all the students attending the seminar noticed this boy's attire, and it deeply moved me. Although many years have passed, I still cannot forget this boy's unique outfit. The combination of the military overcoat and white T-shirt created a rebellious effect, perhaps another interpretation of how campus boys view clothing. If one can skillfully combine colors, accessories, and create to produce a visual effect of the cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter in clothing, then it is undoubtedly a successful outfit. A white agricultural uniform that can wear a hint of autumn's freshness, summer's coolness, and spring's crispness in a cold winter; a red agricultural uniform that can wear a touch of summer's calmness, autumn's boldness, and winter's passion in a vibrant spring—then the actors of this clothing performance—the boys and girls on campus—are those who understand the language of clothing in their adornment.
This year, a female student in her junior year told me about her "beauty tips." She said, "I love wearing black clothes. For each season, I have two to three sets of black agricultural uniforms. When wearing black clothes in spring, I use bright, uniquely shaped accessories to make it more lively, so as not to make the black too dull. When wearing black clothes in summer, since the uniform is directly against my skin, I prefer simple accessories to create a harmonious effect with my skin. Sometimes, I simply string a plain white silver pendant with black silk thread around my neck. When wearing black agricultural uniforms in autumn, I pay great attention to the color of the thin sweater, allowing the exposed color of the inner uniform to reflect a vibrant, passionate contrast. In winter, when wearing black agricultural uniforms, the use of accessories like hats, scarves, gloves, and leather boots are the perfect items to break the monotony of black."
Her effortless description made me imagine the "black spirits" fluttering across the campus—so beautiful, yet so dynamic.