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| A teaser image of BTS member Jimin wearing a plaid kilt / Courtesy of Big Hit Music |
By Dong Sun-hwa
Jimin of K-pop juggernaut BTS is no stranger to the spotlight. But, instead of his music, it was his wardrobe choice that recently created buzz among K-pop lovers and fashion enthusiasts. In a teaser image unveiled on June 28 ― a few days before the release of BTS's new CD "Butter" ― the red-haired Jimin donned a black-and-red plaid kilt with fur boots and posed for a photo in a small, orange room equipped with a black lamp and minimal furniture.
Jimin's plaid skirt immediately became a hot topic online, with numerous people showing their excitement over the K-pop star's gender-neutral approach to fashion.
"Jimin is breaking gender norms for fashion and art," one of his followers commented on Twitter. Another fan wrote, "He has shown us that fashion has no boundaries or gender, and that it is used for self-expression and to pass on a message."
Genderless fashion, which refers to styles that lack "typical features" associated with a particular gender, has been in vogue on the K-pop scene in recent years. According to Kim Hyo-jung, an adjunct professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) at the State University of New York (SUNY), Korea, its popularity stems largely from younger generations' desires for self-expression.
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| EXO member Kai, center, dances in the music video of the group's 2019 release, "Obsession." Screenshot from SM Entertainment's YouTube Channel |
"The public's growing interest in LGBTQ equality is often cited as a main rationale behind the rise of genderless fashion, but there is another factor: the willingness of millennials and those of generation Z ― meaning all people born between 1980 and 2010 ― to express themselves via fashion," Kim said during an interview with The Korea Times, Friday.
"Youngsters these days are striving to figure out what they truly want and what kinds of styles speak for them. They value their identities and uniqueness, so they are reluctant to conform to any standards that hamper them from freely expressing themselves. That is no exception for K-pop stars, who are quick to set or follow new trends."
Kim also pointed out that before the rise of gender-fluid fashion, there was another remarkable phenomenon.
"About three to four years ago, luxury brands, including Yves Saint Laurent, began promoting age-defying outfits, relaying the meaningful message that age is not a barrier in fashion," she said. "Following this trend, gender-defying fashion is now seeking to become a new game changer."
In fact, Jimin is not the only K-pop star to wow the public with clothes that challenge the binary view of gender. Kai of K-pop titan EXO also became the talk of the town in 2019, after sporting a crop top in performances of the group's hit, "Obsession."
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| K-pop girl group WEEKLY / Courtesy of Play M Entertainment |
In the case of girl groups, WEEKLY is at the forefront of the new trend. The seven-piece act recently drew extensive attention for wearing school uniform-style shorts on the stage, which are actually rarely seen in Korean schools, where female students are usually required to wear skirts. WJSN THE BLACK, a sub-unit of K-pop girl band WJSN (Cosmic Girls), also chose pant suits for their stage outfits this May, instead of wearing flamboyant yet uncomfortable dresses.
Some K-pop stars have gone beyond fashion, bringing their take on androgyny to the fore in their performances. Taemin of K-pop boy group SHINee is one of them. His performance of "Move" (2017) features a series of smooth dance movements that breaks the stereotypes of what male performers usually show.
Professor Kim predicted that the trend of gender-defying fashion will continue, though it may take some more time for a more fundamental, transformational change to occur.
"In the case of non-celebrities, men do not immediately wear skirts or put on lipstick," she said. "It is more likely they will first begin using perfumes, skin care products and cosmetics, and then gradually become more gender-neutral in their styles."
