It is often interesting to note the extremes of discomfort that people have, over the ages, voluntarily subjected themselves to, all in the name of fashion. For example, undergoing the torture of being trussed up in a tightly-bound corset, in Victorian times, with the aim of showing an hourglass figure - whether the flesh was willing, or not!

Here in Hong Kong, our younger generation must count as among the most fashion-conscious in the world. Having stylish attire readily available here - and at modest cost - in such stores as Giordano and Baleno is a great boon. Even those on modest incomes can, therefore, be stylishly-dressed; which is not something that can be said for all other parts of the world.

Hong Kong has recently undergone a much colder December than usual. Despite the cold winds and freezing rain, many of those disporting themselves on our city's streets do so dressed very inappropriately for the prevailing weather conditions. Having spent winters in some of the coldest spots on Earth, I've learnt how to dress to keep out the cold. Very cold conditions are rare in Hong Kong, so it seems that our youngsters are still learning what works best for them in exceptionally-chilly weather.

But how to keep out those chilling winds and stay warm? Many young female commuters here can be seen trussed up for the Arctic - but only above the waist! I refer to the wearing of a fur or wool hat, voluminous scarf, thick (but short) winter jacket, gloves, and even ear-warmers, for the torso and above; plus bulky fur or other winter boots at the bottom end. All this is sometimes set off with a really mini, mini-skirt, with bare legs or thin tights below. They are thereby losing much body heat from their unprotected long legs, which - despite all the rest of their cumbersome winter clobber - must make them really feel the cold. Are shivering knocking knees or goose pimples, caused by the cold, this season's must-have fashion items?

Their young brothers or boyfriends also often exhibit strange dress codes of their own. Again, short winter jackets, scarves and wooly hats keep them well wrapped-up above the waist. This ensemble is often set off with summer shorts, with their bare and freezing legs open to the worst of the cold winds. Perhaps displaying legs that are blue with the cold is a macho fashion statement, since it is so commonly seen here?

Getting cold is often a cause of succumbing to the prevalent winter strains of influenza; wearing warm clothes would help to protect against falling ill in that way.

Another new choice of winter attire to appear this season is the wearing of what look like thin Bermuda bathing shorts, with black tights - for boys, as well as for girls - stretching down below them. Their poor freezing ankles, before they disappear into fur-lined boots, are generally exposed in this latest-fashion gear.

Then there is last season's rolled-up trouser bottoms, which have at last caught on, with the body well-covered in appropriate winter attire, except for the lower part of the legs exposed for up to a foot or so. Doubtless this was at one time very fashionable, but this pass style also doubtless makes the wearer suffer, all in the name of fashion.

Turning to foot attire, we may only look askance at those who choose to dress warmly from head to ankle, but then to go sockless in flimsy plastic shoes or flip-flops. As I discovered long ago, if the feet are cold then the whole body gets cold.

I understand that it was recently the height of fashion in Japan to wear socks which are half falling-down, and some enterprising companies there even produced a special glue, to keep those socks at that important and stylish half-mast level!

Could some of our Hong Kong fashion entrepreneurs not invent a fashionable mode of attire for the next winter season that combines stylishness with all the commonsense features to keep our body warm?

The author is a Hong Kong-based commentator, who previously worked (over the winter) in Canada, Finland, Russia and Mongolia.

(HK Edition 01/01/2014 page9)