Korean street fashion, also known as Hongdae Street Style, has become a global trend, inspired by the unique and stylish outfits seen on the streets of Seoul. K-pop idols have revolutionized Korean streetwear, showcasing a vibrant and dynamic fashion culture. K-style evokes comfort and youthfulness, with a relaxed approach that doesn’t constrict body movements. The five popular styles of Korean fashion are street fashion, smart casual, classic feminine, edgy alternative, and comfy athletic.
The men of K-pop are the reigning street stars of Seoul Fashion Week, wearing a mix of oversized silhouettes, layered looks, and bold approaches to mixing high-end and casual wear. Their looks range from yellow-orange ombré suits and patterned jacket-and-pants combos to brightly colored knit sweaters. Key elements of Korean streetwear include all-black outfits, pants tucked into socks, oversized coats over tight fits, Fisherman beanies and baseball hats, chunky shoes, thick and chunky chains, and a mix of Western and Asian styles.
K-pop fashion often features a mix of Western and Asian styles, creating a unique aesthetic that appeals to a diverse international audience. Key elements of Korean streetwear include oversized clothing, advanced layering, vibrant colors and bold patterns, and eclectic accessories. Influenced by K-fashion, Korean street fashion encompasses diverse styles that fuse together to create a standout look. From idol-worthy tops to statement bottoms, K-pop street style is the top colorful fashion trend sweeping the world.
📹 korean fashion: your ULTIMATE k-core aesthetic guide
IG: @soeuninseoul the 5 cores & sub cores of k-fashion (+ their representative brands): 1. Basic – Office Basic – Trendy Apparel …
Can a 13 year old become a K pop idol?
K-pop idols, or trainees, sign contracts with management agencies at a young age, with it taking ten years for them to debut on stage. Both trainees and idols live in dormitories, where their management agencies control their diets, love lives, and behavior. Most contracts require them to pay back their agencies for singing and dancing lessons, wardrobes, and living costs, resulting in small profits for K-pop idols. Many K-pop groups take years to break even and do not receive their share of profits until their trainee debt is paid off.
The unfair treatment of K-pop singers and trainees has led to agencies like SM, FNC, and DSP being told by the FTC of South Korea to stop canceling trainee contracts on dubious grounds. However, many pressing issues have not been addressed by the FTC, such as mistreatment from South Korean entertainment agencies, which manifest in draconian and non-standardized contracts. These contracts often create manufactured and controlled identities to maintain a façade of a “supremely talented and gorgeous, single, heterosexual star, seemingly accessible to fans of the opposite sex”. Both male and female idols are expected to achieve and maintain an unhealthily slim figure to be considered for trainee programs.
What is the dark side to K-pop?
K-pop, a genre that has grown significantly in popularity, has become a global phenomenon with artists like BTS, Blackpink, Stray Kids, and Twice gaining millions of fans worldwide. However, the industry’s competitive culture, impossible beauty standards, toxic fandoms, and ingrained expectations of idols are becoming increasingly scrutinized.
Most K-pop idols are produced by management companies, with the most successful groups coming from the ‘Big Three’ – SM, YG, and JYP. Their company, HYBE, has also joined these ranks. Many trainees start as young as ten years old, signing contracts that bind them into the industry until adulthood if they debut.
Odols are exposed to intense support and criticism, with their image being decided by their management company. They are often put in inappropriate outfits or given’sexy’ choreographies to attract adult fans. This has led to controversies over skimpy styling and double-entendre lyrics.
In the saturated K-pop market, both new and old groups have to fight desperately to reach the top. Idols often report limited sleep and spending 16 hours a day practicing their dances during promotion periods. The negative impacts on their health are compounded by the intense pressure to diet and remain in peak physical condition. Idol diets, such as IU’s weight loss regimen containing only apples, sweet potatoes, and protein shakes, have been both criticized and much copied.
What dance style is closest to K-pop?
The dance style known as K-Pop is a synthesis of African diaspora dance forms, including hip-hop and jazz, that has been embraced as a distinct form of Korean pop culture. However, the extent to which these influences have shaped the evolution of K-Pop remains a topic of debate.
What is the K-pop clothing style?
K-pop fashion combines Western and Asian styles, attracting a diverse international audience. This creates a cultural exchange cycle, with South Korean culture being adopted globally while global influences are incorporated. The Hanbok, a traditional Korean garment worn by both men and women, serves as a primary inspiration for K-pop fashion. Known for its vibrant colors, elegant designs, and unique shapes, the hanbok is worn on special occasions like parties and holidays.
What is street style aesthetic?
Streetwear style is a blend of casual comfort, bold individuality, and cultural influences. It often features graphic elements, oversized silhouettes, and a mix of high and low fashion. This guide offers a transformative style journey, guiding readers through the intricate details of streetwear, blending casual comfort with the avant-garde to create a distinctive fashion identity. The guide caters to every facet of the streetwear spectrum, from basic pieces to show-stopping statement pieces.
Each chapter unfolds a new chapter, revealing insights, trends, and insider tips to empower readers in the world of urban fashion. This resource is essential for staying ahead of the curve, making a statement, and embracing street-inspired couture.
What is K-pop dance style?
K-Pop dance is a form of Korean music that incorporates elements of hip-hop and jazz, frequently featuring repetitive movements that reinforce the song’s lyrics. In addition to offering physical benefits, K-pop dance provides mental resilience through the teaching of intricate routines, memorization of positions, and the improvement of memory, concentration, and coordination skills.
What is street casting in K-pop?
Street casting involves casting new talent on the streets, with each agency having a rookie development team that scouts and casts individuals based on their appearance and image. However, being offered a position through street casting does not guarantee immediate idol trainee status. Contracts are written after a basic audition and camera test process. K-pop agencies conduct various auditions, including periodic, ongoing, and national or global tours, to recruit new talent.
What is considered street style?
Street style is a fashion style that originates from the population at large, often associated with youth culture and seen in major urban centers. It is often influenced by mainstream fashion trends and is different worldwide. Street style is based on individualism and allows individuals to demonstrate their multiple identities through clothing. It creates a space for identities to be explored through the act of dress.
Bill Cunningham for The New York Times highlights street style as a catalogue of ordinary people’s clothing and highlights that streets can tell a great deal about fashion and people. According to him, the best fashion show is coming to life every day on the streets.
Is kpop dance street dance?
In response to the growing popularity of East Asian culture in Glasgow, BSC is introducing K-Pop Dance, a South Korean dance form, to its curriculum. The dance, which is a synthesis of hip-hop, breakdance, and street dance, is available for adults (over the age of 16) and for advanced classes (3-4 p. m.) at Kelvin Hall Dance Studio. The objective of the event is to diversify the range of dance activities available and to extend a warm welcome to visitors to the city.
Do K-pop idols wear bras?
It is not uncommon for idols to affix bras to their attire as a means of securing their chests. However, there have been instances where they have experienced difficulties with their straps or have received bras of an incorrect size from their stylists.
What is Korean street style?
South Korea is a leading fashion destination with a rich history of cultural innovation, influencing trends in Asia and abroad. Street fashion in Seoul is characterized by chic, tailored pants, oversized cardigans, and high-rise boots. The suburbs are also experiencing a significant trend in streetwear fashion, inspiring K-pop stars and fashion designers. This dynamic and ever-changing industry is essential for staying updated on the latest trends in South Korean street fashion. To stay updated, it is essential to follow the trends in South Korean street fashion.
📹 Which member 🤔 of BLACKPINK has better street style? #lisa #jennie #rosé #jisoo
The korean so called “basic” clothing style translates well into the scandinavian style, jeans, chinos and tshirt with blazers oversized blazers etc. Basically most people dress that way here in Sweden ❤ Minimalistic, black and white, beige and gray with some statement pieces like a hairclip or a pearly jewelry and such
This was a great article. I always generalized korean fashions but this was a nice breakdown that was easy to understand. I find dressing as an adult difficult as I’m in my own personal style discovery era right now. Idk what’s flattering on me and what’s considered “age appropriate” (which I guess doesn’t matter that much anymore with style being subjective and people wearing whatever makes them feel good)
I am going to Korea for 5 month which includes summer, autumn and winter and was curious if there are things that are acceptable here, which i should bring to Korea. For European standards I have pretty conservative style (classic, business casual, casual). From what I heard is a v-neck automatically gives of the sexy style, but idk if that’s true and I am also curious if bikini’s and stuff are acceptable there. Could someone please give me some advice
I’ve been perusal more k-dramas and have been loving the fashion and was trying to figure out what the styles were called. This was a very informative article. Although I was a bit distracted by the music. I found myself humming at times to the music instead of actually listening to what was being said. For future reference, please keep the music down or no music at all. Thanks! I look forward to perusal more of your articles!
thank you for this article, it’s really informative and fun learning more about these styles!! i really like these aesthetics and it’s good to know more terms to describe them💗 it’s funny how you said boleros are now a basic and popular item in Korea, i love them but haven’t seen them in stores in my country as they aren’t trendy here at the moment!!
this article is such a bible ! Lately I’ve found myself navigating to k-beauty ad k-fashion because i feel like korean girls have colour palettes that are closer to mine that those around me (i’m Mediterranean, but I have pale skin with dark eyes, hair and eyebrows and i’m quite short and skinny… people have always told me that I don’t look at all like my ethnicity and even though it bothered me at first, now that k-idols are becoming more and more mainstream I feel (in a rather weird way lol) more represented than by the typical caucasian blue-eyed blond or the super tan curvy mediterranean girl. So thank you so much for this, I’m definitely gonna check out some of the brands !
I’m not saying it because I’m a koreaboo or something but sometimes I really wish that I was a Korean living in Seoul because of fashion. Korean general fashion sense is what I’ve tried to do for years without even knowing, like my own sense and East Asian approach for clothes really align well. I know peer pressure for dressing well there can be overwhelming sometimes but I still think it’s a great thing to be somewhere where many people care and try to dress well. And not to talk about the easy access to the items you want to buy, I kinda feel people there are lucky about dressing.
HEY! WHOEVER SAID THEY DON’T LIKE THIS MUSIC! THIS IS YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC NOW BECAUSE THIS IS MY GF AND YOU WILL RESPECT HER BY CHANGING YOUR PERSONAL MUSICAL TASTES TO STRICTLY THIS MUSIC. All your devices will be checked. (This is what I thought the Chiefs Quarterback’s wife was trying to say when she suggested that all of America will be rooting for the Chiefs to win, or at least giving up all hope of their team winning, aince her husband is the Quarterback and you WILL support him. I thought it was an outlandish and unreasonable request. And yet? Look?? Chiefs are winning a lot more, seems…?? And I don’t (embarrassingly) know where Taylor S. is from, but hey! She took the advice, so it couldn’t have been that unreasonable, now could it! Point: Porter.
I really liked the basic, grunge preppy style or and of the more monochrome styles, it speaks to me because of the simplicity and because i mostly wear neutral colors (mainly black, but recently more white) one Korean influencer i follow also dresses in preppy grunge and i love how she stylizes her outfits.
My joint-favourite article yet, great job! Your headband selection is on point as always haha. Your whole fit, as always, is fresh and stylish! Really interesting to see just how much French style/culture has influenced Korean fashion – we share the Francophilia! I know the terms are generally used somewhat negatively in the West towards these styles, but I love the Korean basic and preppy aesthetics in particular. They’re relatively simple yet effortlessly cool. It’s cool to see that Korea generally has its own fashion styles because in England, we generally end up with the same fashion styles as Americans, it’s mostly haircuts and makeup that differ. We don’t really have distinctly English styles (at least outside of the upper class) any more, we seem to have mostly meshed with America. It’s also great how you named the most prominent brands for each style, super useful! P.S. Your website growth is spectacular to witness, well done for coming so far so quickly 🙂 Edit: Another thing, thanks for adding your equipment in the description – I was looking to get into article content (as I already do radio and writing), so knowing suitable cameras is super helpful
I like that subject and there is surely more to say. As a french I laugh at the “french girl basic”. I’ve seen it on IG but didn’t know it was named like that. I thought it looked quite European but with a twist. As you said, there are a lot of references to French / European clothing, but the proportions feels off to me, which is interesting ! Also I’ve seen a lot of girls who put a top or corset over a shirt / T-shirt / dress and I’m pretty sure that would be a big no no here in France 😂 That said, I’m sure things will take off soon with today’s teenager. Challenging the status quo by doing something considered wrong by adults and stuff Aren’t most of those clothes you talked about consider cheap ? (Maybe we don’t have the same standard tho) Are most of them comming from China and other asian countries that produce clothes massively ? I oddly assume that because they seem to come out of nowhere and do not seem to follow any collections. As if they were generics and any brand could sell the same item. I would be interested to know how the fashion industry works in Korea. It seems that there is a big European trend at the moment in Korea, with all these cafes and the use of natural materials in furniture and interior design. I wonder what’s the motivation behind it 🤔