By Miral Fahmy

SINGAPORE, Feb 9 (Reuters Life!) - Cut-outs in clothing may be cool, but when in Asia, make sure they stop at your socks.

Holes are the ultimate fashion faux-pas in this region, where taking off your shoes is a cou"" >

 
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Oddly Enough
12:58PM EST, Sun 11 Feb 2007
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Where holey hosiery is a holy horror

Fri Feb 9, 2007 1:37PM EST

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By Miral Fahmy

SINGAPORE, Feb 9 (Reuters Life!) - Cut-outs in clothing may be cool, but when in Asia, make sure they stop at your socks.

Holes are the ultimate fashion faux-pas in this region, where taking off your shoes is a courtesy expected at social, religious and professional events.

""Asians routinely take off their shoes before entering holy places, such as temples, and the home -- it's a form of cleanliness, leaving the dirt outside,"" said Lee Wong, managing director at Asian Welcome, a Singapore-based relocation adviser.

""And because we know we're going to be removing our shoes, we're very careful about the state of our hosiery and our feet.""

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz made news -- and raised eyebrows -- this week when he was photographed stepping into a mosque in Turkey wearing gray socks riddled with holes.

Most Asians take pains to avoid similar sartorial snags to preserve their social and professional standing.

Etiquette experts say that while the thrifty older generation would tolerate a darned pair, younger, wealthier Asians are more likely to throw out socks once they get holes.  Continued...

 

© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved.

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