Talking Trends :: Korean Fashion Trends in Early 2015 [ft. Pae-pi (패피) from Seoul Fashion Week!]

 As you probably know, Korea's fashion industry is constantly growing and changing; with lots of influence from foreign designers and kpop stage outfits also leading style changes, sometimes it seems almost impossible to keep up with the constantly changing hot fashion trends. That's why in this post I'll be introducing some of the big fashion trends that have passed over from late 2014 and are currently leading the fashion scene in Korea. 

I'm going to go through the major trends from head to toe and hopefully by the end of this post, you'll be on top of all the latest trends and be able to put together your own up-to-date and trendy k-fashion look. 

:: Hats, hair and Harry Potter ::

1. Spring-Ready Blonde-Brown Hair

At the end of last year, 99% of Koreans I saw on the street had red or off-red hair, so I assumed the colour was just trending, but now it seems like Koreans all simultaneously want to change their hair at once, and always the same colour. This winter/spring, it seems the 'in thing' is blondish brown hair. Even during my most recently salon trip, about 80% of the ladies working in the salon had the same blonde-brown colour. 

That said, it's not necessarily a bad thing, while blonde is hard for most Asians to pull off, this colour is just far enough into the brown spectrum that it actually really compliments most of their skin tonnes and looks incredibly nature. It's also a colour that really well suits the spring season, so it looks like Korea is sticking to its natural and elegant feel this spring too. 

2. Add a Twist to Your Snap-Backs

Another good thing is that is seems like they won't have to worry about their roots growing out any time soon either, as hats are still playing a big part in current fashion trends. After last years hip-hop snap-back boom, it seems Korea isn't ready to ditch its caps just yet. However this year they're back with a twist. Literally! Both men and women are currently enjoying sporting their snap-backs... backwards! 

While before people would antagonize about what it said on the front (lip/bib) of their hat, now it seems people are more concerned with how their snap-backs are fastened, as that's the part they want to show off. Technically, most of these aren't 'snap'-backs any more, but you get what I mean. 

3. Over-rated Expensive Hand-knit Cone Beanies

Hip hop style not really your thing? No worries, there's a much more laid back alternative if you just want something to keep your head warm (or hide those darn roots!) Recently it seems like last years bucket hat trend is being replaced with an equally funny shaped hat, and that would be the cone beanies. But there's more! At first, these might just look like harmless, cute knitted hats, but actually these babies come with a huge price tag! 

ARTBOX, a popular home goods
store is selling this expensive yarn
for around $50 a bundle (one hat!)

Apparently the yarn used to knit them is extremely soft but also extremely expensive to produce and they're all homemade. If you're store buying one of these babies, they usually start at ₩30,000 and the prices only go higher from them. It's also become quite a trend for lots of girls to actually purchase this yarn and the massive (also expensive) knitting needles needed to make them, and make them themselves! Due to the large knitting needle size they don't take more than 30 minutes to make and they're quite easy for even beginners to make due to the cone shape. It usually ends up costing between ₩60,000 to ₩100,000 to make your own, but then you get a one of a kind beanie that no one else can make, and you can boast to all your friends.  

4. Harry Potter Glasses? Well, the Rounder the Better 

Whoever said you had to
wear your glasses to make
them work?

No matter your style, it seems like sporting glasses is becoming increasingly more popular in Korea, but not just any glasses. In late 2013/early 2014, it was all about the old school nerdy/ geeky square glasses; well now we're going even more retro with perfect circles. They come in all shapes and sizes, (and they actually have lenses in this time round! ...well, most of them.) 

Since round glasses don't suit everyone, there's also a few options with add-ons on the frame to make them more suited. Even glasses wearers have been known to get contacts just so they can wear a pair of these cheap but stylish glasses. (I'm also guilty as charged...) I actually purchased these because of some that I saw during my trip to Seoul Fashion Week last October and earlier this March, but it just shows how big fashion events like this really do take inspiration from all the alternative fashionista that show up and eventually become trends. 

:: Wrap up warm & remember, you're never too old for Disney! :: 

5. Disney is Back and Better Than Ever

Well, in truth, Disney never really left, did it? While last summer, it was all about sporting cartoon characters like Bart Simpson (yes, I know that's not Disney), as the seasons have gotten colder, it seems Korean's favourite character has switched. In late autumn it was goofy and donald duck, but right now Korea has headed back the most classic of classics: Mickey & Minnie Mouse! 

Hats, t-shirts, jumpers, jeans, shoes, you name it, they've got it with Mickey or Minnie Mouse's face on it! Actually, most of these pieces are quite cute and creative, sometimes the designers even add their own little touch, rather than just sticking the character on their piece they only use them as inspiration. While I haven't purchased any for myself (yet), we did include it in our recent giveaway as it's definitely a nice trend that we'd love to be apart of. While we weren't a big fan of some of the previous character-themed pieces, there's something about Mickey and Minnie Mouse that you can't deny. Even big kids love Disney! 

6. Forget All The Rules You Knew About Blue Jeans

The colour blue is REALLY in this spring, and honestly speaking when you think about the colour blue in fashion, there's one thing that always comes to mind: Denim. I actually predicted last autumn that denim would be in this year but it was honestly terrifying how quickly it took over the stores; denim tops, denim hats, denim trousers, denim bags, you name it, they have it! 

Denim on Denim at it's finest

Not only are they bringing back the beautiful retro-style ripped baggy boyfriend jeans, but they're also abolishing probably one of the biggest fashion taboos; denim on denim! Honestly, these girls and guys are rocking their faux-denim shirts on top of denim jeans with matching canvas shoes combos wherever you go, and they look absolutely amazing doing it too. A lot of stores are also offering more than just your standard one tone blue jeans and adding patches, patterns and other small studs/badges to help you spice up your look too! 

No matter what your style, there's a denim piece out there to match. Personally speaking neither Harmony or myself have ever been massive denim fans, but we're totally buying into this trend too. 

7. If Your Coat Isn't Touching the Floor, You're Not Doing It Right! 

Another trend I accidentally brought into, in mid-winter I purchased a long knitted jumper that went down past my knees to keep me warm through the bitter cold, but it seems I wasn't the only one who thought of this idea. In truth, I didn't notice it much in 2014 but since the start of 2015, the number of people in ridiculously look jackets has increased considerably! 

Both men and women are sporting jackets, coats and jumpers that go well past their knees. It's actually quite a shocking thing as Korea is somewhat known for the shortness of its skirts and shorts. In the past most coats didn't go past the bottom of your skirt (which wasn't all that low) but now its rare to see them ending above your knees. At first I thought it may have been due to the cold temperature, but in truth this trend started long after the worst of the cold weather was over. 

Anyhow, it's a lovely trend in my opinion, a lot of these coats and jackets are very stylish, and they're perfect for if you just need to quickly pop out to the shop but don't want to take off your pyjamas! Actually this trend isn't just limited to coats either, there are lots of 'maxi-tops' for women and a wider range of overalls available for women and men too, giving you quick styling options. The only really downside is that, while long jackets can make tall people look taller by accentuating their long legs, unfortunately it has the opposite effect on most short people, and the girls here are quite short. That said, it still creates a cute charm. 

8. Androgyny Continues To Take Over

Since early 2014, the fashion world's eyes have been turning away from the gender divide and started to look positively upon androgyny; it would seem that this year too, we're taking a further step into that trend. 

Everyone knows that flowers are a regular fixture for spring, but nowadays these 'girly' prints can now be found on MEN's wear in basically any store. Most commonly seen on dress shirts, pullovers and suits, these once 'girly' motifs are now been seen equally as appropriate when used in Men's fashion, and it seems the guys are loving it too. Flower prints have become much bigger and bolder than they used to be, making them leave a deeper impression matching the masculine aura that the average male wants to create, so these new flower-print homme items have been easily accepted.

Another thing that makes this change so easily integrate-able is that blue is really in this spring season. Blue is considered one of the most androgynous colours as it can easily be worn by both sexes; darker blues creating a sexy, mature and sultry feel while lighter blues create a more innocent and youthful atmosphere. No matter your preference there's something out there for you making it easier for everyone to chose; your outfit basically isn't complete without a dash of blue somewhere. 

9. The End Of The Skinny VS Thick Era

And last but not least clothes-wise, something I'm sure lots of your will be happy to hear: the near abolish-ment of the skinny fit trend! During the 00s, skinny jeans came into fashion, and after that tight fitting clothes in general were extremely 'in', which was fine of course, unless you didn't like it or weren't skinny. It became extremely hard to find loose fitting, straight legged or boyfriend jeans and lots of bigger people felt like it was an attach on their weight not to have looser fitting options. This later caused a problem of fat-shaming which went on to create skinny-shaming too, but finally the fashion community has listened and created an answer! 

While skinnies aren't going anywhere, they are no longer the only option; straight legged, flares and boyfriend jeans are slowly seeping their way back on to the market! And it's not just jeans too, lots of clothes are now being offering in less figure-hugging cuts and sizes, and clothes like shorts and overalls no longer cling to your figure, meaning they can be enjoyed whether you're curvy, skinny, hour-glass figure-d or other. As a result it puts a lot less pressure on people to be skinny and in shape and provides more cute and fashionable options for those who aren't. While Korea's cultural standard of beauty overall hasn't exactly changed, at least now it's creating leeway for people who don't match that standard or want to create their own.

:: Again with the trainers?? :: 

10. The Only Thing Korea Loves More Than Bae Suzy

I don't know if you can really call this a trend so much as something that I believe is unique to Korea and will possibly never change, and that would be their never ending love for trainers. While I understand the love of converse in the west, as they do match pretty much everything, these aren't stylish trendy trainers, these aren't even Air Jordans or anything like that, these are those sweaty, chewed up trainers that you wore for physical education in middle school... well, new ones anyway. 

It seems that everything goes for trainers in Korea too, colour, design, style, you can have anything you want and it doesn't seem to matter if it matches the rest of your outfit or not either. All black coordi? Yeah, those blue and neon orange trainers are good. Personally, this is something I can't seem to wrap my head around, shoes can make or break and outfit and nine out of ten times, these are breaking them. Let's be honest, if you met a business man in his expensive suit and tie, looked down and saw his bright yellow running shoes, would you take him seriously? Well, that's not such a far off sight if you're walking around Korea. 

That said, I think it may be a cultural thing as trainers are very easy to slip into and out of, and as you know, its cultural unacceptable to wear your shoes inside many buildings here. Even so, there are many better and much more stylish alternatives guys... well, rather those clashing trainers than those god-awful striped house slippers you STILL catch people wearing outside. 

Unfortunately(?) I don't have any pictures of this phenomenon, but I think you get my drift... Thank you to everyone at Fashion Week who allowed me to use their pictures, all rights reserved.


Well, that's all for my introduction to some of the current trends of early 2015. As you can see, Korean trends stay very close to their roots, getting inspiration from k-celebs and its very own fashionista. Whether all these trends are right for everyone, (or right at all) is up to your personal scrutiny but if you want to be considered fashionable then its important that you know what's trending in the streets of Hongdae and Gangnam. 

I'll write you another one of these posts in the future depending on when I notice another big change in the trends here (who knows when that will be? You never can tell!) But until then~