An X-ecrable Trend
The Big Lychee is already deluged with numerous Japanese influences, but I've noticed another making strong inroads among Hong Kong's impressionable teenaged girls.
No, it's not Hello Kitty; that mouthless cat has been around forever.
No, it's not taking a Japanese first name; we have plenty of Yukis, Sukis and Yumikos.
No, it's not "Gothic Lolita", or as I like to call it, dressing as a flamboyant and sometimes lewd version of Little Bo Peep.
The execrable affectation to which I'm referring is known in Japan as X-kyaku: standing knock-kneed with heels splayed and feet pigeon-toed. There is an ongoing and raging Internet debate about why young girls stand this way, but the reason is unimportant. What matters is that Hong Kong girls are picking up the habit, a childish and awkward stance that makes them appear ungainly when standing and silly when walking. Add any heel higher than one inch and you have a recipe for a broken ankle.
Granted, while seated it does have the advantage of preventing perverts from peeking up their skirts, but the same thing can be accomplished with their ankles together and toes pointed straight. An added bonus is that the guy sitting next to you won't step on your foot when he stands up.
Standing pigeon-toed may have been cute when they were two years old and had pudgy little knees, but not so much at 16. Thank goodness most girls will shake off this mannerism when they get past their teens.
But if not, there is one sure thing that will break them of the habit: pregnancy.
Image courtesy Shiro Ang
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