MELISSA: So, do university students in Taiwan dress like the students you see here?

SOPHIE: Yes, it's similar. But I'm still surprised.

MELISSA: Why?

SOPHIE: It's even more casual here. In Taiwan, clothes styles used to be more formal.

But now people are dressing more like Americans, more sloppy.

MELISSA: I've been in Madison almost ten years now.

Actually, now, in 1999, people dress a little better than before.

SOPHIE: Really?

MELISSA: Yes, in 1991, for example, clothes styles were even sloppier.

SOPHIE: Why do you think that is?

MELISSA: Well, you know about the 60s in America.

There was a kind of social revolution. There were many hippies.

SOPHIE: Yes, I know about the hippies.

It was a movement of people who rejected capitalist society.

MELISSA: The hippies dressed in very casual ways.

And they influenced all the later generations, so clothes are more casual.

If you look at clothing styles in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s,

you will see they are closer to the style of the hippies. But now, styles have changed a little.

SOPHIE: Maybe they are more conservative now.

MELISSA: I don't know if conservative is the right word. They are just different.

SOPHIE: If you came to Taiwan, you would be surprised, I think.

MELISSA: Why?

SOPHIE: You would see most people dress very well. Not university students.

But working people rather. Many working people in Taiwan spend a lot of money on clothes.

MELISSA: They dress better than Americans?

SOPHIE: Yes. Or at least we Taiwanese think so.

But sometimes I think Taiwanese are too concerned with their clothes.

They spend too much money. Especially women.

MELISSA: I'd like to go sometime. I'd like to see how women dress there.

SOPHIE: Well, if you have a break, I'd be happy to have you stay at our place in Taipei.

I think you'd have a good time there.

MELISSA: That's a very hospitable offer. I'm tempted to take you up on it.

茉莉莎：台湾的大学生穿得和这里的学生一样吗?

苏菲：差不多，但是我还是惊讶。

茉莉莎：为什么?

苏菲：这里穿得比较随便，台湾服装的样式比较正式。

但是现在都穿得跟美国人一样，比较随便。

茉莉莎：我在麦迪逊快十年了。

事实上，1999 年的现在，大家穿得比以前好。

苏菲：真的吗?

茉莉莎：是的，例如1991年的服装样式就比现在还要随便。

苏菲：你认为那是为什么?

茉莉莎：大约在美国的六十年代。

有一个社会运动，出现很多嬉皮士。

苏菲：我知道嬉皮士。

那是人们抗拒资本社会的运动。

茉莉莎：嬉皮士都穿得很随便。

他们影响到后来的几代，因此穿着变得比较随便。

如果你注意七十、八十和九十年代早期，

你会发现那时的穿着都跟嬉皮士的风格很接近。但是现在的样式稍微改变了一点。

苏菲：或许现在比较保守。

茉莉莎：我不知道是不是保守，但它们就是不一样了。

苏菲：如果你到台湾来，一定会惊讶。

茉莉莎：为什么?

苏菲：你会看到大部份的人都穿得很漂亮，不只大学生，

上班族也是。台湾很多上班族花很多钱在服装上。

茉莉莎：他们穿得比美国人好看吗?

苏菲：是的，至少我们台湾人这么认为。

但是有时我觉得台湾人过分关心穿着了。

花费太大，特别是女人。

茉莉莎：改天我想去看看那边的女人都怎么穿。

苏菲：如果有机会的话，我很乐意接待你们来台北住我们家。

你会玩得很愉快的。

茉莉莎：那真是好客的提议，我忍不住诱惑要你这么做了。