Fashion revolution
South Korean K-pop girl group Blackpink are taking over the world, one stylish step at a time.
YOU really can’t talk K-pop without touching on fashion. Known for their synchronised dance moves, catchy tunes and striking outfits, watching a K-pop video is a visual feast.
K-pop girl group of the moment Blackpink – Jennie, Rose, Jisoo and Lisa – who are coming to Malaysia this weekend for the Blackpink 2019 World Tour [In Your Area] Kuala Lumpur, Feb 23 and 24, have set off a fashion revolution of sorts with their eyecatching outifts and the attitude to match.
Stylist Choi Kyoung-won, who was dressing the girls since their debut in 2016 (see sidebar Get to know Blackpink), in an interview with WWD last year, said she wanted to create something different with their look and for it to be at the forefront of fashion in South Korea.
She said the secret was “to compose looks that ‘cater to each girl’s personality, while also looking harmonious together.’”
Blackpink is currently styled by Kim Ji Eun, YG Entertainment’s visual director.
There are several fashion sites dedicated to Blackpink and its style is a huge part of its appeal. A popular one is @blackpinkcloset which gives its 180k followers a breakdown of their outfits. This is a group that was created with a strong fashion presence. As Choi says, “The group is more loved by people who follow fashion. They are for an in-theknow girl.”
Floral mini dresses with boots? Check. Short shorts and crop tops? Got them in pastels with a tweed jacket or in black with chains. Long dresses? Clinch it in with a leather belt or have a leather bustier as an overlay. And let’s not forget the streetstyle – oversized hoodies, sweats and mini backpacks (ideally Chanel). The element of schoolgirl is also there with the short pleated skirts in plaids or solid colours paired with knee high socks. They aren’t afraid to play with colour, florals and prints either. Throw in ruffles, bows, embellishments and sequins, and you get what looks like too much going on at times, but somehow they make it work.
If you want to dress Blackpink style, think high fashion, the keyword being luxury, but always with that streetstyle edge.
In K-pop groups, each member is usually assigned a personality - the leader, the visual, the vocal, the dancer, the “maknae” (youngest) etc. Blackpink is no different, and their outfits, while coordinated to a certain extent, have distinct differences to match their personalities. Here’s a breakdown of their individual style: