Business Proposal is a series that came out in 2022 and is originally based on a web novel of the same name by HaeHwa .It was published into a webtoon (story by HaeHwa and Perilla, drawing by Narak). The series is known for its humor, the chemistry of the main couple, and the series tackling important subjects. The main character Shin Hari changes her style in the series to disguise herself. She uses it to her advantage to change the perception people can have of her.

Shin Hari in her regular style wearing a trench coat and a blue blouse
This image is from Pinterest

Shin Hari works at a food company where she helps create new recipes to sell healthy packaged food. Her initial style can be described as business casual. The series takes place in Korea in which a modest style is most common and Shin Hari follows this. She wears trench coats that make her look put-together even though her life isn’t that well organized. Shin Hari usually wears light or pastel colors that make her look feminine and go with her bubbly personality.

Shin Hari The transformation

Shin Hari with her style change to look less appealing
This picture is from Pinterest

At the beginning of the series, she agrees to help her best friend go on a blind date in her place. Her friend asks her to make the person not interested. When she gets ready for her date she dresses very differently from how she truly is. She wears clothing that is more revealing and has a darker palette. To change her style she uses more makeup, which is sometimes something that is looked down upon in South Korea because natural makeup is what is more socially acceptable.

To look unappealing she used things that are usually considered unappealing generally to South Korean beauty standards. The way that Shin Hari changed her style not to be as appealing might not translate as well in the United States. For example, because she is dressed in a way that can be common in the U.S.A. where dressing modestly is not necessarily a standard. After all, the beauty standards are different.

Shin Hari in the end of the series wearing a long yellow skirt and white blouse.

Although Shin Hari tries to make herself not appealing Kang Tae-moo still falls in love with her. The truth comes out and Shin Hari has to come out to be herself and she switches to her style. Her style changes slightly to wearing more dresses and skirts now that she is with Kang Tae-moo. This style change shows that she is back to being herself but she has grown as a person because she is more put together.

Read more about how fashion changes the perception others have, and the style evolution in The Devil Wears Prada.