You can't forbid being beautiful: pages of a fashion magazine from North Korea

North Korea is a closed and mysterious country, where life is carefully hidden from prying eyes. Strict rules control everything there: from traffic to ladies' hairstyles and clothes. But women, with their unbridled desire to look beautiful, want to be attractive in Pyongyang.

You have a unique opportunity to see what North Korean beauties are wearing by watching a new issue of a fashion magazine that an American student managed to get.Alek Sigley is a graduate of Kim Il Sung Pyongyang University. He traveled around North Korea and collected the most interesting details from the lives of citizens of this mysterious country.Recently, a guy got his hands on a North Korean fashion magazine, which is very difficult for a foreigner to get, since it is not sold in central bookstores. Such magazines can only be obtained from small roadside newsstands, which are usually not looked at by the inquisitive eye of a foreigner.The government of the country proudly declares the development of the economy and the ability of citizens to go to restaurants, buy modern electronics, pedigreed pets and high-quality clothes.

Indeed, fashion is gradually beginning to enter the streets of Pyongyang. Women began to dress more brightly and stylishly. Men are also trying to change something in their appearance.The cover states that the magazine was published by the Clothing Research Center in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade.The Clothing Research Center develops the design of students' uniforms, which has clear standards throughout the country, from elementary school to university. In addition to designing clothes, this center cooperates with textile factories and ateliers, controlling the production technology.The center has its own experimental factory "Comet". The Center's staff even created a design program of the same name, within which preparatory courses for models work — they are taught to demonstrate new items from the fashion world on the catwalks of North Korea.The organization of this kind is the only one in the country. Her mission is to "make Korean women more beautiful" and "be responsible for the cultural development of the country" through "the creation and distribution of clothing models that keep up with the times and the tastes of citizens." This motto is placed on the cover of the magazine along with the symbol of the atom.The atom is used everywhere in North Korea as a symbol of science. Everything in this country is viewed through the prism of Marxist ideology, and even fashion is subject to rational reflection and analysis. The fashion magazine contains clothing styles that are officially allowed at the state level. What people wear is carefully controlled by the so-called "fashion police".The first page of the magazine contains a quote from Kim Jong Il:

The contents indicate that the magazine has samples of fashionable clothes for the four seasons. Women will also find tips for every day here, for example, how to remove blood stains or how to iron a skirt.The spring collection offers different versions of strict suits, reminiscent of the famous Chanel sets. Fitted jackets and skirts create an elegant feminine look.Here you can also see a selection of handbags. Their shape is inspired by the famous brands Louis Vuitton and Gucci.Where can I go without high-heeled shoes? By the way, high heels are in fashion here, and everyone, from office workers to security guards, wears them. The motifs of the shoe decor are combined with jewelry on handbags. All items of clothing and accessories in the photos are numbered and signed.Look at the faces of the models: some of them seem to be heavily photoshopped. Some girls look quite natural, while others — as if their faces were cut out of another photo and inserted. Perhaps, in this way, the designers tried to create a "proper Korean face" by carefully editing the image. Many clothing models show the same models.This section presents women's shirts in bright colors, in casual style. But here you will not find T-shirts and sweaters with hoods, with a zipper: such elements are used only on sportswear or on winter jackets. Therefore, casual things remain quite formal. In Korea, both in the South and in the North, many people like shirts, but Pyongyans prefer a more strict cut and restrained shades. Bright colors have only recently started to come into fashion.Sportswear for active citizens.Swimsuits that preserve the chaste image of their mistress.Fabric bags have precisely designated sizes, which can be found on the next page.The magazine has a dimensional grid, which was used when sewing the presented clothing models. Measurements are made in centimeters, and each woman can independently determine the size that suits her.North Koreans mostly buy ready-made clothes at markets or in stores, but tailors' services continue to be popular. Ateliers can be found on almost every street in Pyongyang, tailors' services are inexpensive here. The client can choose the model he likes and the master will sew the right thing that will fit perfectly. In addition, you can choose any fabric.The fashion magazine, by the way, is produced on high-quality paper and has a bright print. There is not a hint of communism or militarism in it, the features of which are noticeable in North Korea in both men's and women's clothing. There are no badges with a photo of the leader on the models. But jeans, as well as clothes that are too open and everything that looks "foreign" is still banned.It is impossible to put a woman's nature in any framework, even if they are set by the strictest leader of the country. Therefore, the North Korean government can only give its citizens a little freedom, while vigilantly monitoring their moral character.

Does all this remind you of the fashion magazines of the late Soviet period?