While trends like transparency, Bermuda shorts and fringing have become increasingly popular, no one expected to see the hospital gown join the list of this season's must-haves. And yet, you could be seeing the garment – or its lookalikes – on the beach in the next few weeks. It's a "trend" that emerged on social networks, almost as a misunderstanding, and has been gaining ground steadily over the last few days.
The phenomenon has reached such proportions that the hashtag #hospitalgown has now racked up over 35 million views on the Chinese social network TikTok. That's quite something for an outfit that patients – real patients – usually dread wearing: it's not glamorous, and is inevitably associated with illness. It all started with a video posted by one TikTok user (@izzyfreee), over which she writes: "Some outfits just make me feel like that b***h.
This, my friend, is the perfect example." Read more: Despite the fashion stigma, 'double denim' is here to stay as a key trend She can be seen showing off an outfit similar in cut and pattern to the one given to patients when they arrive at the hospital. The famous opening in the back, which patients dread, is even featured on this dress, which resembles a hospital gown in every way.
And that's all it took for the trend to take off, elevating this medical garment to the status of summer must-have. Well, almost..
. Although the video has been viewed more than four million times, the outfit has been mocked and criticised mo.
