Fashion choices determine if you are an ajeossi or ajae

What is different between an "ajae" (stylish male adult) and "ajeossi" (old-fashioned male adult)? You can tell one from the other by their fashion sense. Here are the differences between the two types of men in characteristics of their fashion style:

Firstly, ajeossis wear whatever is available at home without considering their body type. Loose pants and top are symbols of ajeossis as well as wearing tank tops as their under shirts. They do not shop for their own clothes but wear whatever their wife buys for them. On the contrary, ajaes choose clothes that fit their body. They wear shirts and pants in a way to emphasize their body lines. Unlike ajeossis, they buy their own clothes from department stores where they try them on.

"You are what you wear, and what you wear can show your youthfulness," fashion consultant Nam Hoon noted. "You need to know your body shape and choose the right clothes for you after trying them."

Ajeossis can transform into ajaes if they change their hairstyle a little bit. Parting your hair on the side or neglecting to shape your hair with wax will make you look like an ajeossi. These days, many middle-aged men have two-block cuts (cutting sides and back while keeping front and top) to look young. "If you emphasize your grey hair rather than hiding it makes you look more charming," said Hyeon Tae-yang, the owner of "Hair Hyun Tae-yang." "If you have thin hair, I recommend you get a perm."

What about hobbies? If you enjoy hiking, fishing, or golf, you will be colored an ajeossi. The purpose of ajeossis' hobbies is to socialize or to entertain themselves whereas ajaes enjoy hobbies to show their uniqueness. Many ajaes are enrolled in lessons on senior's casual look, senior body building, cooking, dance sports, plastic model making, beer brewing and drone controlling.

"Recently, ajaes are showing a distinctive tendency that they think investing in themselves is important, which makes them our VIPs," said Gwon Yeong-gyu, the culture team chief at Shinsegae Department Store.

김동욱 기자creating@donga.com