History of K-pop Fashion: 4 Generations of Idols

Not only is K-pop known for its music and dance performances, but another key element is the fashion. Over the years, the fashion of K-pop groups have changed as the fashion industry and K-pop industry as a whole have evolved.

While more recent fashion concepts in K-pop are flashy and incorporate high-end brands, it did not always start this way. First, in order to understand the evolution of fashion in K-pop it is important to distinguish the different generations. Currently, K-pop can be broken down into four generations each with their own styles.

First Generation - Colorful and Natural

The first generation originates from the 90’s with groups like H.O.T., S.E.S, Sechs Kies and Fin.K.L. Fashion from this era had influences from hip-hop and American pop culture. Some staple pieces from the 90s included colorful, baggy clothing. Another quintessential style of that time was denim. Girl groups tended to have very casual, girl-next-door looks. The outfits were pretty uniform and the members would have very natural makeup looks. In addition, both girl and boy groups would be fond of accessorizing with hats, sunglasses, and hair clips. Idols during this era were portrayed as approachable; almost as if they were your friendly, neighborly brother (oppa) or sister (unni).

Second Generation - Dramatic and Eccentric

The second generation of K-pop includes groups like Wonder Girls, Girls Generation, BIGBANG, and 2PM, SHINEE which peaked during the early 2000s. This is when stylists and K-pop groups experimented and explored fashion. Groups were constantly changing up their image with each comeback. Unlike the previous generation, groups during this time incorporated more dramatic and flashy elements. Similarly to the previous generation, idols would wear outfits that were almost the same. Since K-pop garnered popularity during this time, companies tried to make their groups stand out by using eccentric concepts. For instance, a motif that was seen throughout the various comebacks was the futuristic look which incorporated bright neon colors. This was not just seen in the clothing but in the hairstyles as well. In addition, metallic wear and patterns were highlighted during that time.

Third Generation - Fashionable and Angsty

In the 2010’s is when we see another shift in K-pop with the emergence of groups like BTS and BLACKPINK. By this time, the K-pop industry had perfected a system to debut new groups and fashion was an integral part of the concepts that each group portrayed. For instance, BTS has introduced many different concepts and storylines which have evolved as they have grown up. Their earlier albums and concepts aligned with angsty, hormonal teenagers. However, as they have gotten more popular their image has shifted to a more sophisticated look. In fact, this is also where we begin to see the integration of high fashion into K-pop which brings us to the most recent generation of K-pop.

Fourth Generation - Reaching Greater Heights

Today, high fashion has infiltrated K-pop through music videos, concerts, and other performances. In fact, really popular idols may work in tandem with luxury brands as global ambassadors. Most notably, BTS has been selected to represent Louis Vuitton and Jennie from BLACKPINK is known for her partnership with Chanel. Fourth generation groups like ITZY have also collabed with brands such as Fendi. Nowadays, the fashion trends in K-pop tend to follow general fashion trends worldwide with a lot of influence from pop culture in general. However, it is apparent that K-pop fashion has evolved a lot since the first wave of hallyu idols. Although the group itself has a single concept, each member has a unique outfit that shows off more personality than looks in the past.

Which fashion era is your favorite and what trends do you want to see more of? Let us know in the comments below! Daebak Fam also be sure to check out merchandise, apparel, and more K-pop related content on Daebak’s website!