Fashion is really the most important thing if you just want to look Korean.
Although your face plays a major part in your appearance, your fashion might be even more relevant. Especially because people will see your clothes from afar, when they can't make out whether your eyebrows are straight or not.
Although your face plays a major part in your appearance, your fashion might be even more relevant. Especially because people will see your clothes from afar, when they can't make out whether your eyebrows are straight or not.
clockwise from left to right: Stylenanda, Marishe, Stylenanda, Dahong, Marishe, Dahong
Now when I look at #ulzzangfashion on tumblr, I get too many of those milktea,
vanilla, cotton candy, strawberry cheesecake coloured outfits of girls in frilly chiffon
dresses, with ash brown hair and ivory overknees.
Excuse me!
If you think that that is ulzzang you couldn't be more wrong. This is the exact opposite of ulzzang, you can't get any more un-ullzang.
Ulzzang fashion is not cute, it's not princess-y, it's not kawaii!!!
Anyone who tells you that ulzzangs look cute is wrong. Koreans don't aim to be so cheap and predictable and just cover themselves up in lace and pearls and call that an outfit. Koreans aim to be stylish.
Yes there makeup leans more towards the cute side, but it's a subtle, understated natural cuteness, that can't be compared to Japanese overkill cuteness or Taiwanese demure cuteness.
What is ulzzang fashion then?
To put it short - it's sporty.
It's edgy, it's simple, it's basic.
It's hipster, it's normcore, it's preppy, it's tomboy.
It's feminine, but not girly or princess-like.
The outfits uncomplicated and basic, but always on point.
To put it short - it's sporty.
It's edgy, it's simple, it's basic.
It's hipster, it's normcore, it's preppy, it's tomboy.
It's feminine, but not girly or princess-like.
The outfits uncomplicated and basic, but always on point.
clockwise: Yubsshop, Dahong, Stylenanda, Love Love Me, Yubsshop
Basic rules
- Be careful with colours! The more colours you add to your outfit, the less simple/ ulzzang it is.
If you are unsure about wearing colours, wear one at a time, or colours of the same hue. - Be even more careful with patterns! Patterns can quickly make an outfit appear unorganized and also add the wrong flair. E.g. a floral pattern might look too girly.
Additionally patterns are harder to coordinate.
The safest way to mix and match patterns is to balance them with uni-coloured clothes. - Beware the prints!
Prints are really cool, but many are also very uncool. When you pick a print tee make sure the print is very simple and no nonsense (like butterflies with glitter rhinestones).
Good prints would be something like some text, even better just a brand name. A sports team is also a good idea. But even something like 'BANANA' is fine, as long as the style is not too whimsical.
Graphics are also ok, maybe a cartoon character or a logo. - Wide tops and tight bottoms never fail to look good!
A pretty and cool outfit can be as simple as pairing an oversized top with tight pants. A perceived 80% of all outfits I see on online shopping sites are just a lose fit tee and skinny jeans.
- Be careful with colours! The more colours you add to your outfit, the less simple/ ulzzang it is.
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Where to shop?
You don't need to live in Korea or have enough money to spend on tax and crazily overpriced shipping rates shopping Korean online shops to dress like an ulzzang.
Similar clothes are easily available at H&M, Urban Outfitters, Topshop, Asos, etc.
I wouldn't recommend anyone to buy noname products from Korean online shops (or Yesstyle), it's not worth it.
Branded Korean clothes are sometimes are very good investment.
If you like something from a Korean, check if it's on ebay, before buying it from the brand directly or from an online reseller. They are mostly inexperienced in international disposal and lack overseas customers. That is why they ship with EMS which is super expensive.
Ebay sellers on the other hand only trade with international customers, often they have zero shipping charges and they declare items as presents with a lower price to evade customs /cough (did I say that loud?).
So even if a product might be on 50% sale on the original shop, buying it full price (but no shipping and tax) can still be cheaper.
Tip: If you can't find an item you want on ebay, message a seller who sells similar stuff and ask him whether he would sell that item to you.
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Stylenanda
Popular brands
International street style brands are very popular in Korea. I think they like the Made in cool western countries feeling and the badass coolness.
So - only to give you examples - Supreme, Boy London, Stussy, Thrasher, Huf etc are brand which are much loved.
But also street style brands which are not so commonly seen on Koreans like Wood Wood, Maison Kitsuné, etc would go down well I think. It's just that they aren't very available in Korea.
Other street style brands with more cheerful designs, like Joyrich, or Lazy Oaf are also well received, mainly because they get featured much by idols.
Girl's Generation in Lazy Oaf
Yubsshop
Apart from those sports brands like adidas, Nike, Fila, Champion, etc can always be found in the Korean fashion scene.
American Apparel is also very popular in Korea.
Popular brands on th pricier side are Acne, A.P.C., Carven, Opening Ceremony. And then we have of course high fashion brands - Givenchy (made popular by Big Bang), Kenzo, Commes des Garcons, etc.
Lastly, Korean fashion is often very advanced, something still out in elsewhere could already be the big thing in Korea.
Because of that and more, it is hard to provide a universal-formula for what strictly is ulzzang-style and what not. This is more like a starter pack, with basic rules and safe things to wear.
But you will see ulzzangs or online shops featuring outfits more fancy, more girly, more out-of-the-box. Which is just natural as fashion always tries something new.
Everyone has to add their personal character to outfits and find their own sense of style within that ulzzang fashion.
clockwise from left: Dahong, Stylenanda, Dahong, Stylenanda, Dahong, Yubsshop, Pinkage
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