There is no doubt that Incheon airport, Seoul's international airport, is the best place in Korea to spot love match couples (although Busan comes close). Couples heading off on holidays, perhaps even honeymoons, wander happily hand in hand through the airport wearing matching sneakers, sweat pants, sweaters, jackets, beanies or, if you are extra lucky, all of those items altogether. And because they are getting away and, presumably, are even happier to be heading away together (husband and I even managed to be happy at the airport although our happiness did not last long when we were told that, no, we could not check our kids in with the luggage and that, yes, we do actually have to sit with them on the plane) they are super happy to be photographed together. Christmas time makes for even better pictures too because love is expressed so accurately by matching reindeer/snowflake red sweaters. A lot of those sweater wearing couples in love came through security and immigration with us and some even boarded the same flight which was awesome for my growing photo collection. Sadly though, due to some technical difficulties, the photos no longer exist (although I do have a new iPhone 6 plus now). What was even sadder though was that the love matching seemed to end when we got off the plane. This meant that I was forced to survive three weeks without love match encounters. I felt a little lost without it. The only thing that helped my forced detoxification was that friends at home were very eager to quiz me about the trend: some thought that I had been making the whole thing up; some thought I was a little obsessed; some had their own very definite views on the pros and cons of wearing the same thing as your partner; and there was a lot of questions as to how far I was going to take this pre-occupation (a picture book is coming and I am available to discuss the matter on a YouTube channel, television and/or any radio program). Most pressing of all though, was the need to know just how couples agree on the particular item of clothing that they decide to love match with. So, because I like my friends back home, I have returned to Seoul (coming back through Incheon airport, observing couples putting on their matching sweaters and jackets before leaving the terminal) determined to find answers.
This morning, I watched this couple find each other.
This morning, I watched this couple find each other.
I found the man first because he got on the same bus as me. We got off at the same stop too but we were clearly not destined for bus love as he speedily exited the bus, ran across the road and into the arms of his "special friend" without even a second glance back at me. I think this is why: I was wearing cheetah print jeans, red converse and a black puffer jacket (a particularly special look that I am rolling with at the moment). I was not wearing black pants, red puffer or black nikes with a yellow swoosh. Question is, if I was wearing this particular outfit would he have run to me instead? Do you automatically fall in love with someone who is wearing the
the same clothes as you?
the same clothes as you?
In this case, it did look like he might have already known his mate - that the meeting was not serendipitous - but the familiarity they expressed could have just been overwhelming joy at their realisation that they had found their soulmate, in clothes at least. I continued to watch them for a little bit, seeing her willingly walking beside him to wherever it was they were going. I did not find that where it was they were going though as I thought it best to stop stalking at that point (it was getting weird, even for me). Nor did I interrupt their encounter to ask about their love - i.e. was it spontaneous and instantaneous (it was cold and I needed coffee). I like to imagine it was love simply because of their outfits. But, if that really was the case, then why did love not happen for me last Sunday when I met my matching puffer man? (For the sake of the story here I am conveniently forgetting that I am married.)
Jackets are a big thing here in Korea. Mainly because it is cold so jackets are a necessity rather than an optional fashion extra. I have never been great with jacket wearing and/or jacket owning. Before coming to Korea, I owned one black trench coat that was forced to also work as a warm jacket when husband refused to let me steal his for the day. My Dad is well aware of my jacket stealing tendencies. I spent the winters of my university years wearing Dad's duffle coat (affectionally called Bluey) that he wore to building sites around town. Admittedly, this was perhaps not the most stylish of jacket choices as pointed out to me by my love interest at the time at a fancy nightclub in Melbourne. I am pretty sure that when boy said to me that my fashion choice was rather "novel" he did not mean it as a compliment.
The first thing we purchased when we arrived in Seoul were puffer jackets (jackets that have loads of down inside of them) from UNIQLO. Both have been wonderful discoveries. UNIQLO because it is just awesome. Puffers because who does not want to dress, or at least feel, like a marshmallow in winter? UNIQLO (and other places) sell puffer jackets in all shapes, sizes and colours and they are incredibly affordable and just so warming to wear. I started my Korean adventure with a simple black puffer and have added to it with a bright green, a sleeveless grey number and am currently on the hunt for a brown one with faux fur lining. I am also considering rolling a mum at school who is wears a hot pink puffer with matching hot pink faux fur (I think) lining. Amazing. Anyway, a while ago I needed a lighter jacket for the not so cold days and a shorter version then the long one (it is a need, not a want). So I went to UNIQLO (obviously) and purchased a perfect navy blue jacket (I was at UNIQLO so, of course, everything was perfect (apart from the cream and light pink puffers which were so very clearly not perfect on me as noted by the helpful sales staff who stifled giggles of horror behind me). I left with my navy blue puffer (and maybe a few other things as well) and this, finally, brings me to the pointy end of my story: last Sunday morning.
It was early for a Sunday (generally anytime before 9am is early so on Sundays, 830am is really, really early). It was also a little chilly and the sky was rather dark because the sun was still not sure whether or not she felt like making an appearance. There was, therefore, an aura of romance in the misty conclave of Yonhui-dong. Dressed in my navy blue puffer, I was walking purposefully down the road to the bus, heading to my local cafe for some much needed rest from my (lovely) family. In my head I was thinking about: what to cook for dinner; what to pick up from the supermarket on my way back home (which was dependent on what I had decided to cook for dinner); whether it was time to admit to the inevitable and write a job application; or if it was time to advertise my services around town as a professional stylist (red canvas sneakers, cheetah print jeans and stealing Dad's work jacket obviously being glamour looks worth replicating), dance instructor or a karaoke tutor (the fact that I cannot do either should not impede my ability to inspire others). As I continued to walk, daydream and rummage through my bag to find my headphones, there was a perceptible change in the atmosphere.
I looked up and there he was, walking towards me, headphone also on, carrying a Paris Baguette bag and wearing the exact same navy blue puffer jacket. Exactly the same. Involuntarily, I smiled up at him and paused, waiting for love to strike me/him/us. It didn't. Definitely not for him. He just kept on walking and did not even look at me twice, perhaps not even once. And on my part, well I stopped but that was really only because I wanted some sort of acknowledgement between us that we were the only two people out this early in the morning and we were wearing the same thing! To be honest, there were no sparks flying and no instant attraction between us. We did not magically run towards each other, share the contents of his Paris Baguette bag and then skip away together, laughing inanely at some private inner joke that only lovers would understand. No, it was not like that at all. I was left standing still on the street corner, feeling utterly deflated by the encounter that never was. So does love automatically follow when you find someone else in a matching jacket? No. Well, not for me anyway.
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