Anti-Mugging "Skirt" Transforms Would-Be Victim Into Soda Machine
The mind-blowingly quirky piece of clothing pictured above may not deliver actual sodas, but it just might deliver you from evil-doers intent on causing you harm.
According to Australia's The Age, the above-pictured skirt looks like a pretty red dress under normal circumstances, but when flipped inside out over the wearer's head turns into a pretty dead-on soda machine disguise -- the perfect foil for some mugger or more violent criminal (at least in Japan, where street crime is rare).
Other fashion-forward, crime-prevention accessories the article cites are wraparound sunglasses so dark you can't make eye contact with perverts on the subway, and a "manhole skirt" that folds up all your valuables into something that looks an awful lot like a manhole cover, which you then place on the street should a criminal step into view.
You can laugh, but these flippable fashion outfits are actually inspired by ancient Ninja stealth techniques -- apparently Ninja warriors would hide under black cloths at night to avoid enemies or surprise-attack them.
Only in Japan, folks, does the old "no one here, just us Coke machines" technique actually ward off would-be rapists and/or muggers.
How about you? Would you feel safe wearing this thing?
From The Age (via Textually).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mr peanut @ Oct 22nd 2007 6:09PM
In any big American city these 'vending machines' would be a magnet for theives. They would be up that 'skirt' faster than a coon up a tree. The woman better have a gun behind the coin box...with the hammer cocked.
bkwormsjv @ Oct 22nd 2007 6:21PM
Whether it works or not, I gotta admire Japanese ingenuity!
MEL @ Oct 22nd 2007 7:53PM
SODA OR PHONE SKIRT WONT WORK MINORITY AREAS.
THEY'D HAVE THE SKIRT UP AND THE "COIN BOX"
OPEN IN 20 SECONDS.
Rich @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:03PM
Of course 2 of the 3 first responses are racist in tenor. "Like a coon up a tree" "Minority areas'
Wake up Middle America, the crime is in the suburbs too, in fact it is often worse. Just a bit more hidden--especially underage drinking and drugging.
I have lived in the suburbs in a very wealthy area (Mid Sized Southern City) and I have lived in Atlanta, NYC & Minneapolis.
When a minority kid gets caught, they go to jail, when a rish suburban kid gets caught--they just call Daddy who fixes it for them.
BTW I am white and very secure financialy
Devlyn @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:21PM
it is pretty ingenius but the reality is it will not work but carrying a gun would or a scalple just cut it off they will never try that again *smiles*
Greg @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:24AM
Leave it to the Japanese to think of more useless, inane things that will be about as effective as praying to the God of Gasoline to lower the gas prices.
Marny @ Oct 23rd 2007 2:21AM
Hey Rich...if you're so secure FINANCIALLY, maybe you should hire someone to teach you how to spell it. Who are you trying to convince with your little speech about being WHITE and SMART and RICH ? Hmmm...."Me thinks he doth protest too much". Do you know what that means Mr. Smarty? It means I think you're full of crap ! You may be white (doubtful), you have proven you're not smart (spelling proof anyone?) and I doubt you're so very secure financially (if you were, you wouldn't be reading this article trying to learn how to hold on to your last nickel) Get off your soap box, no one is impressed that you deign to speak to us and point out the error of our ways. Get real and get a life.
Devynn @ Oct 23rd 2007 3:12AM
while i do agree that Rich does, indeed, protest too much, one thing is for certain: crime is up! but it's not just in the hood anymore. the suburbs are just as bad. but they'd rather not talk about it, lest they look as bad as those ppl in the inner city. get over yourselves, Middle America! not that i think making yourself look like a Coke machine will do you any good in trying to keep crime rates down, but denial ain't working so great, either, now is it? didn't think so! get real, get out and protect yourself. no harm in doing that. that's what the "self defense" defense is for! and also, speak out! if you don't want the badness in your neighorhood, then let it be known! make sure the criminals know you're on to them and you're not going down without a fight. the petty ones just may give it up and get real jobs, but since there are so many that won't, it behooves us to remain viligiant. not paranoid. not scaredy catty. but viligant. aware. smart. SAFE!
neoterranova @ Oct 23rd 2007 7:20AM
Now that's neat. And, seriously, think about it for a moment. You're not going to use this to stand around all day dressed like a soda machine. If a crook starts hovering around your personal space, working up the courage to go after you, the smart thing would be to duck behind a corner or something out of sight and "transform," then wait for the bugger to simply walk by. It'll buy you an extra few seconds, and confuse a potential attacker just long enough to add additional distance between you and them. That can give you the time needed to either get away, get to your car, or duck into a store or something and put yourself in a public area with people close by (and call the police or a friend). Not everyone on Earth can legally own and carry a concealed firearm, and not everyone is capable of performing self-defence moves. I think it's a dandy idea. Besides soda machines, perhaps a snack machine or something might also be a good idea.
Doris @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:22AM
This is an insult to the intellengence of muggers. A while skirt with a red apron being touted on the tv news and the webb. Instant target. And what self respecting lady is going to wear a white skirt every day --just in case...
Sweet Diva @ Oct 24th 2007 12:23AM
Bwahahahahaha!!!
Picture this. Bad guy spots you and begins to hastily make his way toward you to rip you off. Your response? You stand still and raise your skirt over your head. Of course he's NOT gonna notice that the person he was just targeting has magically turned into a coke machine now is he? And this isn't gonna piss him off more and cause him to add some extra bodily harm or rape to his act now is it?
What are you completely nuts? LOLOLOLOL, who comes up with these?
Texhnolyze @ Oct 24th 2007 10:22AM
Never does it cease to amaze me, the idiots that post on spelling corrections and punctuation. If you would take half that energy and put it to a personal use, You might actually experience a life.
As for the Coca Cola skirt, rather ingenious. You are dissing the Japanese for coming up with this, yet i bet you were 2nd in line to buy a pet rock, personal misting system, or any of the other 99000 inane american products that have ever been invented.
JDub @ Oct 24th 2007 5:35PM
LMAOOOOOO...
Ok, so someone is beginning to eye you, then you do the "transformer move" into a soda machine?Womever is doing the potential mugging is probably going to freak out, then start probably start laughing, like OMG WTF, and then the mood of the whole thing is blown. I could see how that could possibly be a scenario...but, uh, it's just kind of obsurd, really. I mean, the person using it, too. I'd buy it for novelty purposes, make my friends laugh.
Dreolin @ Oct 24th 2007 6:50PM
Rich, I don't know if the "coon up a tree" was intended as racist.(Although the word is sometimes also used in a racist manner)In the south we (blacks and whites) call raccoons "coons" short for raccoon. That is why dogs that are bred to hunt racoons are called coonhounds. For example the AKC/UKC dog breed known as a Black and Tan Coonhound. But I guess a wealthy city boy wouldn't know that.
Angel @ Oct 24th 2007 8:34PM
"OMG,I Love this "disguise".
Although, I, just as "JDub", would use this item as a novelty only.
My friends and family would find it extremely fitting for me as well as Hilarious!
Where do I buy one?
Seriously?! lol.
Then again, considering what's been going on in the world lately with all the recalls from food, to toys, and clothing (think drawstring tops, etc), I'd 1st want to make sure this shirt/skirt (whatever) contains no lead paint, salmonella, E-coli, Rat Poop (Think NYC Taco Bell franchises).
Aw, as much as I love a great laugh- Forget it- I'll just carry mace, an ice pick, heavy key ring (as usual) or just hit a potential perp with my purse- that'll knock him (or her) clear into next week and I'll save my $19.95 (+ S&H of course).
Have a Great Week Everyone- and Stay Safe, However you have to do it.
Sarah @ Oct 25th 2007 1:42AM
What’s the deal with people leaving racist comments on news articles having nothing to do with race? I feel like the anonymity of the internet makes the racists out here feel like they can write anything. Yes, coon is a racist term, all muggers aren’t black, and you don't need to live in an urban area to be a victim of violent crime. If anything white collar, non violent, crime has many more repercussions to many more people than a mugging in New York or Tokyo.
JustM @ Oct 25th 2007 10:30AM
You people are idiots for automatically assuming that "coon up a tree" was a racist comment. It sickens me that a common southern term refering to how fast a raccoon gets his butt up a tree when being chased by coonhounds has been misinterpreted as being politically incorrect. I think that people are just looking for reasons to be offended. Yes, "coon" can be used as a racial slur, but this doesn't mean that every time someone says coon they are being racist. I hardly ever say raccoon when refering to the animal. Whats next, us having to rename coonhounds raccoonhounds just so people don't misinterpret? Grow up people.
Jenny @ Oct 25th 2007 11:32AM
I think this is hilarious. I love Japanese inventions like this! It reminds me of something out of an anime or something. :) I want one just to make my friends laugh. lol
Peace.
jemo @ Oct 25th 2007 12:59PM
It's really creepy how a few ugly comments can turn a cute story into something so sinister. Perhaps these posters should turn their talents towards carving up jack o'lanterns.
confused @ Oct 25th 2007 2:26PM
Where did she go?