Comfortable elegance, Korean style
This trend-setting style inspires both professional fashion designers and street-style enthusiasts with its aesthetic. Korean fashion is worth a closer look for anyone seeking fresh ideas and wanting to bring a touch of refined boldness to their look
This trend-setting style inspires both professional fashion designers and street-style enthusiasts with its aesthetic. Korean fashion is worth a closer look for anyone seeking fresh ideas and wanting to bring a touch of refined boldness to their look. The hanbok of the past — the versatile national costume of a blouse paired with a floor-length skirt or wide trousers, topped with a jacket — has today been artfully blended with the latest European ideas. Yet the Korean love of comfortable clothing that doesn't restrict movement remains just as concentrated as ever.
When putting together our wardrobe, we sometimes don't even realise that our choices have been dictated by Korean fashion. Oversized hoodies, vests and jackets — all of this is a legacy of historical Korea that is so relevant among young people today. The practicality of clothing in the Korean style is offset by eye-catching accessories or bright details on a garment. A special preference is given to mixing romantic and sporty notes in an outfit.
Features of Korean style:
A muted palette has the upper hand. Pastel tones are the favourite range of colours among Korean women, while men prefer a darker spectrum. Bolder colours, however, earn their place through garments featuring cartoon characters;
Bold accessories that catch the eye. Women complement the simplicity of an everyday look with chunky beads, bracelets and rings. The look is brought to a finish — and attention drawn to the face — with hats and headbands;
With footwear, comfort comes first. Korean women prefer comfortable shoes over stilettos, shoes that give every chance to show off a graceful gait. A platform can serve as an alternative to heels;
If trousers, then slim ones. Snugly fitted or slightly loose trousers are the uncompromising choice not only of women but also of Korean men. This is driven by the desire to show off the elegant silhouette so characteristic of these people;
A hundred times "yes!" to mini-skirts. The passion for minimal length stems from that same desire not to hide slender legs. To avoid any vulgar suggestion, skirts are balanced out with a covered neckline and longer jackets;
One could go on endlessly about the quality of the looks offered by Korean clothing brands. A shopaholic's paradise, Seoul sells conscientiously tailored clothing in its boutiques with confident pride. The long service life of these garments lets you build up a substantial wardrobe that you simply need to learn to combine. Clearly, quality comes at a fair price — one that, in this case, you won't regret paying.
Popular Korean brands
The economic phenomenon of Hallyu has, since the 1990s, become a driving force for fashion designers inspired by the images of Asian film, pop and animation stars. Well-known Korean brands today produce clothing lines that draw attention with their unique expressiveness.
Top 3 branded items of Korean clothing:
Tibeg. The female half of Korean celebrities adores this brand. Tibeg's target audience is women. The brand is represented by dresses featuring elegant graphic elements and embellishments. Tibeg offers a wide pricing policy, with prices varying depending on the collection and starting at 30 dollars;
Kye. A brand that has won more than one award, it is a cult name in South Korea. This fashionable clothing for men and women is steeped in the emotion of a new generation. The price range starts at 80 dollars;
Studio K. This carefully considered line can be admired on the actors of Korean TV series. The fashion brand has harmoniously woven all the world's trends into its clothing without losing its individuality. The minimum price for its items is 60 dollars.
If you want to look Korean-stylish, you need to apply a few rules for combining clothing. Layering, emphasising the length of the legs and a short torso with an accent element at the waist, and a visual separation of top and bottom are the main ones. Basic pieces in "grown-up" colours can be offset with a "childlike" print, which is very characteristic of Korean fashionistas. A woman's look needs to be completed with a hairstyle and make-up, a man's — with accessories and hats.