Round Table China Beware the wedding e-invite!
Jan 26, 2026
A deep dive into why Beijing streets look like a sea of black down jackets and what practicality, weather and culture have to do with it. A playful look at how digital wedding invites track views, RSVPs and forwards. Discussion of how click-tracking turns casual curiosity into social pressure and reshapes privacy and expectations.
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Practicality Explains Beijing's Black Jacket Wave
- Beijing's widespread black down-jacket trend reflects pragmatic collective wisdom rather than lack of taste.
- Fei Fei argues warmth, maintenance and commuting realities make practical choices smart, not shameful.
Seeing The 'Black Wall' In Beijing
- Steve describes seeing a "black wall" of coats in Wangfujing and the subway, confirming the phenomenon in person.
- He notes the density of dark jackets is most obvious in crowded subway cars during commutes.
Practical Dress Is A Democratic Choice
- Fei Fei frames choosing practical clothing as competence and democratic inclusivity, not lack of ambition.
- She says modest, low-maintenance clothes reduce social pressure and reflect realistic priorities.