Cultural Post #3
For my third cultural post I will be talking about Korean fashion trends and Korean fashion in general. In recent years, Korean fashion has skyrocketed as there has been a surge in Kpop as well as Kdrama influence. The overall effortless look of Korean fashion involving minimalism combined with sleekness has remained timeless over the years.
The first fashion style I would like to go over is streetwear. Typical Korean streetwear consists of fashion items that are bold but not too loud. This would consist usually of some sort of chunky shoes such as loafers, boots, or sneakers. This would then typically be styled with some sort of pants with a baggier or wider silhouette. This can consist of wide leg pants or even baggy jeans. As far as the top goes, this can be more of the individual’s preference but shirts such as graphic tees, or jerseys are common options. One theme that remains consistent over all styles of Korean fashion is the usage of monochromatic colors. Koreans typically tend to stray away from loud and bold colors and prefer muted colors such as white, black, and grey.
Another popular Korean fashion style is “smart-casual”. I would describe this as a style that is classy but not too overly formal. This usually consists of well tailored or fitted pants, typically trousers or slacks with a collared shirt. Proportions are also key to this and a lot of Koreans tend to have mastered the rule of proportions. Elegant pieces of clothing like sweaters or blazers can be thrown on or layered, complemented with pieces of jewelry such as rings and necklaces.
Overall, I would describe Korean fashion as a style that experiments with modern trends yet keeps it to a level of minimalism. It emphasizes its sleek aesthetic with attention to detail in its garments. Layering, mastering one’s proportions, and accessorizing are the three key aspects to understanding Korean fashion.
One criticism I do have of the Korean fashion industry, is that while innovative, I tend to think Korean fashion follows trends. When observing fashion trends on a global scale, I have noticed that Koreans are usually 1-2 years behind on trends. Furthermore, Koreans are usually not very expressive with their fashion choice and it feels reflective of their notion to conform to society. This may be true as Koreans are rooted in their Confucianism values.
For my third cultural post I will be talking about Korean fashion trends and Korean fashion in general. In recent years, Korean fashion has skyrocketed as there has been a surge in Kpop as well as Kdrama influence. The overall effortless look of Korean fashion involving minimalism combined with sleekness has remained timeless over the years.
The first fashion style I would like to go over is streetwear. Typical Korean streetwear consists of fashion items that are bold but not too loud. This would consist usually of some sort of chunky shoes such as loafers, boots, or sneakers. This would then typically be styled with some sort of pants with a baggier or wider silhouette. This can consist of wide leg pants or even baggy jeans. As far as the top goes, this can be more of the individual’s preference but shirts such as graphic tees, or jerseys are common options. One theme that remains consistent over all styles of Korean fashion is the usage of monochromatic colors. Koreans typically tend to stray away from loud and bold colors and prefer muted colors such as white, black, and grey.
Another popular Korean fashion style is “smart-casual”. I would describe this as a style that is classy but not too overly formal. This usually consists of well tailored or fitted pants, typically trousers or slacks with a collared shirt. Proportions are also key to this and a lot of Koreans tend to have mastered the rule of proportions. Elegant pieces of clothing like sweaters or blazers can be thrown on or layered, complemented with pieces of jewelry such as rings and necklaces.
Overall, I would describe Korean fashion as a style that experiments with modern trends yet keeps it to a level of minimalism. It emphasizes its sleek aesthetic with attention to detail in its garments. Layering, mastering one’s proportions, and accessorizing are the three key aspects to understanding Korean fashion.
One criticism I do have of the Korean fashion industry, is that while innovative, I tend to think Korean fashion follows trends. When observing fashion trends on a global scale, I have noticed that Koreans are usually 1-2 years behind on trends. Furthermore, Koreans are usually not very expressive with their fashion choice and it feels reflective of their notion to conform to society. This may be true as Koreans are rooted in their Confucianism values.
Comments
This is a great post that highlights how Korean fashion blends minimalism with modern trends. I thought that this was an interesting topic to tackle, yet one that I feel is very effective. I've heard of people talking about "airport fashion" but I never really thought to evaluate it in that level. However, I think it was really effective! I especially liked the point about how layering, proportions, and accessories play a big role in creating polished yet effortless looks. The observation that Korean fashion sometimes leans toward conformity due to cultural values like Confucianism a unique take, yet works for this case!