‘Anti-Pervert’ Hairy Stockings Are China’s Latest Fashion Trend, According To Viral Photo

Young women in China have reportedly found a creative way to keep “perverts” at bay: hairy stockings. By employing so-called “anti-pervert” stockings meant to simulate the appearance of extremely hairy legs, the women reportedly hope to stave off unwanted male attention.

According to the blog chinaSmack, Sina Weibo, the ubiquitous Chinese microblogging site, lit up recently after one user uploaded a photo of herself apparently modeling the hirsute stockings. The photo, posted by user @HappyZhangJiang, showed a pair of extremely hairy legs sprawled out on a bedspread. "Super sexy, summertime anti-pervert full-leg-of-hair stockings, essential for all young girls going out," @HappyZhangJiang wrote in caption attached with the photo.

The odd post quickly went viral, garnering both negative and positive responses. “Essential for the subway?” one commenter wrote. “No one will wear them, at least not girls,” another wrote.

Yet another user suggested that the flawed design might also ward off invited attention. “This will not only prevent against perverts, it’ll definitely also result in preventing handsome guys from approaching you. When things go to the extreme, they can only go the opposite direction!!!” a third user wrote.

The “anti-pervert” stockings aren’t the only alarming trend sweeping Asia right now. According to reports, a music video by Japanese band Born has sparked an “eyeball-licking” trend among Japanese teenagers. The trend, supposedly a dating practice that’s now considered the next “base” after kissing, has even led to a pink eye epidemic in high schools.

“From the beginning of this year, sties were practically epidemic in my class. At first, the staff didn’t pay much attention to it, but when there were five kids or 10 kids in a single class who all had eye patches, it really caught the attention of the adults,” one teacher told Japanese website Naver Matome in an interview that was translated by Japan Crush.

Here’s hoping “anti-pervert” stockings don’t have any adverse health consequences.