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scene stealers
January 28, 2014

Taeyang, G-Dragon, and More: A Guide to the Style Stars of K-Pop

By Julianne Escobedo Shepherd

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Of all the street-style stars to descend on Paris in the past few weeks, some of the flossiest — and most original — have been rapper G-Dragon and singer Taeyang, of South Korea’s beloved boy band Big Bang. Spotted in the front row at most of the bigger couture shows and fall menswear shows, they caused a general spectacle with their penchant for bejeweled boleros and multi-colored hair.

New on http://t.co/6R4oGnCoyp. “Players Only” section http://t.co/IG2fBan9dp and “Unconventional Wisdom” podcast https://t.co/pFPNC3pPow

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 28, 2014

This is the first time G-Dragon has appeared at Fashion Week since a brief, pink-haired appearance in 2012, but Taeyang has been on a roll. He caused a frenzy with street-style photographers last summer in Paris, attending the men’s shows with a foot-high faux-hawk and kilts of tartan-plaid and bandana-print (with matching bank-robber face-gear). G and Tae have a mutual distaste for rules regarding color, fit, or gender. To that end, during the shows in Paris, the boys greeted many admirers, including Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, Alber Elbaz at Lanvin, and Carine Roitfeld at Saint Laurent. 

But the Bangers aren’t the only K-Pop stars making the street-style rounds. Blogs like K World Style, Kpopstarz, and K-Fashionista breathlessly chronicle the looks of the genre’s best-dressed, including an ever-popular “Airport Style” feature — because unlike a good third of all U.S. celebs, you’ll never see a member of 2NE1 slogging through LAX in ratty flip-flops and Christian Audigier leggings. Click through our slideshow for a primer on the K-Pop street-style clan’s best and brightest.

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1 / 18 Photos
Taeyang and G-Dragon at Chanel Couture Spring 2014 in Paris   The duo backstage at the Chanel couture show last week, all in looks by ... Taeyang and G-Dragon at Chanel Couture Spring 2014 in Paris   The duo backstage at the Chanel couture show last week, all in looks by Le Karl. Taeyang is wearing a serious rhinestone-cowboy thing from women's 2014 pre-fall with a pompadour, while G-Dragon's patterns-gone-rogue look is rendered extra-comfy by his fluffy fur headpiece (which doubles as an outlandish wig). Photo: Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/2014 Bertrand Rindoff Petroff
Taeyang and Mademoiselle Yulia at Kenzo Spring/Summer 2014 Menswear in Paris  Tae in Kenzo, along with Japanese style goddess/D.J. Mademoise... Taeyang and Mademoiselle Yulia at Kenzo Spring/Summer 2014 Menswear in Paris  Tae in Kenzo, along with Japanese style goddess/D.J. Mademoiselle Yulia, in his signature bandana pattern.
Taeyang and G-Dragon at Saint Laurent Menswear Fall 2014 in Paris  Here's a closer look at their ensembles at Saint Laurent — very reminisce... Taeyang and G-Dragon at Saint Laurent Menswear Fall 2014 in Paris  Here's a closer look at their ensembles at Saint Laurent — very reminiscent of 1981 London, 11 p.m. at a club called Ground Zero (get a load of those creepers). Alternately: basement of Trash & Vaudeville, St. Mark's Place, circa 2012. Could a Big Bang-Bauhaus cover be in the works?
Taeyang and G-Dragon at Lanvin Fall 2014 Menswear in Paris  They sat front row like this (sat front row like this) at Lanvin. Photo: @IBGDR... Taeyang and G-Dragon at Lanvin Fall 2014 Menswear in Paris  They sat front row like this (sat front row like this) at Lanvin. Photo: @IBGDRGN/Twitter
Taeyang at Kenzo Fall 2014 Menswear in Paris The simplicity of Tae's mop-matching moto jacket is summed up in the wry smize, though you also get ... Taeyang at Kenzo Fall 2014 Menswear in Paris The simplicity of Tae's mop-matching moto jacket is summed up in the wry smize, though you also get the sneaking suspicion he's worn Drakkar Noir at some point in his life. Photo: YoungJun Koo/I’M KOO
G-Dragon in the J.Estina Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign  In 2013, after recording an original track for Mugler's spring/summer 2014 runway s... G-Dragon in the J.Estina Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign  In 2013, after recording an original track for Mugler's spring/summer 2014 runway show entitled "I Am Mugler," G-Dragon was declared the Style Icon of the Year at Seoul's Style Awards, an accolade he accepted in a formal-for-him leopard-print smoking jacket and pink-to-blonde gradient hair. He has since been scooped up as the face of accessories line J.Estina; he tidies up in an androgynous tweed and holds patent-tiara clutches in these ads.
G-Dragon at Marc Jacobs Men's Fall 2014 in Paris  This embellished jacket from Marc Jacobs's spring 2014 women's collection paired with a le... G-Dragon at Marc Jacobs Men's Fall 2014 in Paris  This embellished jacket from Marc Jacobs's spring 2014 women's collection paired with a leather top gives the impression he's going for number-one gun in Khaleesi's army from Game of Thrones, but the sharp contrast with his fluorescent hair says he doesn’t care about your White Walkers. Photo: YoungJun Koo/I’M KOO
G-Dragon Walking Through Gimpo Aiport in Seoul, January 2014 En route to Korea in an oversized, dusty-rose trench from Céline's fall 2012 ... G-Dragon Walking Through Gimpo Aiport in Seoul, January 2014 En route to Korea in an oversized, dusty-rose trench from Céline's fall 2012 collection, carrying a stacked shopping bag from Tom Ford and looking entirely unbothered. In his mind, he’s surely doing the turn-up dance about his sartorial success. Photo: Choi Soo-Young/Multi-Bits via Getty Images
G-Dragon Backstage at Thom Browne Men's Fall 2014 in Paris  In this tweed Thom Browne headpiece from the fall 2014 men's collection, G-Drago... G-Dragon Backstage at Thom Browne Men's Fall 2014 in Paris  In this tweed Thom Browne headpiece from the fall 2014 men's collection, G-Dragon solidifies himself as simultaneously kawaii, classic, and freaky. Photo: xxxibgdrgn/Instagram
CL of 2NE1 at Incheon International Airport, November 2013 Spiritual twins to the Big Bangers, perky girl-group 2NE1 goes hard with color contras... CL of 2NE1 at Incheon International Airport, November 2013 Spiritual twins to the Big Bangers, perky girl-group 2NE1 goes hard with color contrasts, high-end designers, and general boldness. CL is the group's breakout style star, though; here she is traipsing through Incheon Airport, as one does, in giant overalls, Converse, and matching icicle-pristine fur. Photo: Choi Soo-Young/2013 Multi-Bits
2NE1 Performing Onstage in Seoul, November 2013 Here's a shot of the ladies performing in Seoul in Timberlands and one-of-a-kind flocage tops by ... 2NE1 Performing Onstage in Seoul, November 2013 Here's a shot of the ladies performing in Seoul in Timberlands and one-of-a-kind flocage tops by French art/fashion label Andrea Crews. No snaps, only extreme envy. Photo: Choi Soo-Young/2013 Multi-Bits
2NE1 at the Shinesgae department store for Vogue's Fashion's Night Out in Seoul, September 2013 This is classic 2NE1: a mix of bright but complem... 2NE1 at the Shinesgae department store for Vogue's Fashion's Night Out in Seoul, September 2013 This is classic 2NE1: a mix of bright but complementary colors in luxe leather, silk, and fur. Bonus points to Minzy for matching her blazer to Dara's ombré pink hair.  Photo: Choi Soo-Young/2013 Multi-Bits
Girls' Generation Walking Through Gimpo Airport in Seoul, December 2013 By far the most proper and conservative of the lot, Girls' Generation hol... Girls' Generation Walking Through Gimpo Airport in Seoul, December 2013 By far the most proper and conservative of the lot, Girls' Generation holds up their sweet bargain in classic fits with a touch of the super-feminine. Here's Tiffany doing an insta-mash-up of the classic peace sign with thr new-rage "hair smile" in sweetie-pie plaid. Photo: Choi Soo-Young/2013 Multi-Bits
Girls' Generation at Incheon International Airport, November 2013 Have we died and gone to boarding school? Pegging Seo-Hyun as this pic's "... Girls' Generation at Incheon International Airport, November 2013 Have we died and gone to boarding school? Pegging Seo-Hyun as this pic's "Little Jenny" — innocent for now, out-of-control alpha by senior year. Photo: AFP/2013 AFP
SHINee at the 28th Golden Disc Awards in Seoul, January 2014 There's really never been an imperfect hair on this boy band's beauteous collective ... SHINee at the 28th Golden Disc Awards in Seoul, January 2014 There's really never been an imperfect hair on this boy band's beauteous collective head. (Ignore the slight creepy-doll vibes emitting from the symmetry of their hands.) Have you ever seen such a collection of hues put to such gleamingly formal, contrasting use? Photo: Choi Soo-Young/2014 Multi-Bits
SHINee performing onstage at the 28th Golden Disc Awards, January 2014 Oh, you thought that SHINee was shiny? Photo: ilgan Sports/2014 Multi-Bit... SHINee performing onstage at the 28th Golden Disc Awards, January 2014 Oh, you thought that SHINee was shiny? Photo: ilgan Sports/2014 Multi-Bits
SHINee performing during the MCM Spring 2014 Collection in Seoul, November 2013 Their perpetually clean lines owe in part to their connection to ... SHINee performing during the MCM Spring 2014 Collection in Seoul, November 2013 Their perpetually clean lines owe in part to their connection to part-South-Korean luxury line MCM (SHINee graced the runway for the brand's spring 2014 collection in Seoul). Note the baroque leopard trench coat. Photo: The Chosunilbo JNS/2013 Multi-Bits
Lee Hyun Bum at Men's Fashion Week in Milan, January 2014 Not a K-Pop star, but a popular stylist who's had influence in the sphere. In Milan, in... Lee Hyun Bum at Men's Fashion Week in Milan, January 2014 Not a K-Pop star, but a popular stylist who's had influence in the sphere. In Milan, in January, his walking-away pose offers the unlikely statement of a formal dining area's baroque curtains, paired with the inverted cross of witch house and/or Satan. Bold! Photo: YoungJun Koo/I’M KOO
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Tags:

  • k-pop
  • street style
  • scene stealers
  • paris haute couture spring 2014
  • fall 2014 menswear
  • g-dragon
  • taeyang
  • south korea
  • chanel
  • lanvin
  • saint laurent
  • kpopstarz
  • k-fashionista
  • airport style
  • kenzo
  • mugler
  • marc jacobs
  • 2ne1
  • girls generation
  • shinee
  • lee hyun bum
  • More

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