Seoul Fashion Week Recap
Courtesy of The Fashion Fantasy
The 2022 Seoul Fashion Week took off as the first show after three years of being virtual due to the pandemic regulations of the Korean government. The global fashion business event is hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government twice a year in March and October in the SS/FW season. In this recap, we will highlight Seoul’s signature style: streetwear. Its influence can be traced back to the developing hip-hop scene in New York and Los Angeles from the 1970s to the 1990s. What makes the style Korean is the rebellious choices such as men in crop tops and women in baggy clothes. The designers in SFW challenged themself by executing the evolving street style with colors and sewing techniques to create looks we never saw before.
Here are our favorite streetwear looks.
UL:KIN
In streetwear all around the world, you can’t go wrong with an all-black fit. With this look, designer Lee Seong-dong uses pieces such as a fringe handbag, a sequined jacket, and stacked leather pants to combine. The styling is perfect for going out and wanting to look nice without having to do much; the layering helps present a perfect blend of comfort and luxury.
BONBOM
Society might not be accepting of all fashion trends, but designer Jo Bon-bom challenges all norms in his eponymous collection. The pants with accessory buttons and straps are very common in their streetwear, but also show a combination of tradition and risk in the Korean fashion industry with the risqué complementary pieces.
Vegan Tiger
Designers are experimenting with telling their story in ways besides just their clothes. Designer Yang Yoon-ah tapped into graphic design to match the DNA printed ensemble. It also compliments the green turtleneck and shoes which gives a costume-like look. Norms were challenged here too with a skirt over pants and blazer over the green top.
nodicoma
We step away from the edgy look to show that professionalism is also a part of the streetwear culture. Colors are not rare in this fashion genre. Looks are either simple and powerful or have multiple layers.
The brand plays around with contrast on this look with the black accessories such as the namesake necktie on top of the cyan long-sleeve button-up and slacks.
SSERPE
Streetwear can be dark but can also be exciting! Monochromatic outfits are a huge trend in all fashion realms and when they meet comfortable, it turns a simple outfit into a standout look.
The blue chrome two-piece set is loose fitting and unisex so anyone can feel like themselves in it. The designer, who goes by the name 이상화 (Idealization), took it a step further with the pulled-back hair and bleached eyebrows to bring even more attention to the clothes.
SEOKWOON YOON
We couldn’t take our eyes off this look by Yoon Seok-woon. This outfit is another example of rule-breaking in Korean fashion. They typically don’t wear matching prints but it works so well right here. The trend coat, matching shawl, and pants that fade into a mix of blues are a testimony to the brand’s desire to let the clothes speak for themselves.
BEYOND CLOSET
The best designers know how to layer layers on layers without taking too much attention away from their concept. Korean streetwear continues to show its versatility through the eyes of Go Tae-yong. The leather and fur add a level of luxury on top of the cream pants with leather knee details to still give a streetwear feel.
BIG PARK
The environment is very important in Asian culture so it’s only right to have a floral ensemble during this special week. The white helped the red flowers stand out on every component. The cool thing about this look by Park Yoon-soo is the illusion it gives; you can’t even tell if it’s a shirt dress or a jumpsuit which makes it more mesmerizing.
EENK
Classic fashion will never go out of style and this look can be worn anywhere from the grocery store to a red carpet event. Hyemi Lee took into consideration creating a head-to-toe black and white look with the stand-out red lip. Leather pants and fur coats are making their return in recent fashion trends and Lee executed the combination very well.
Edited by Kieryn Alexander