15 Unique Korean Fashion Styles in 2023

Table of Content

• Introduction
• What is Korean Fashion?
• Why Korean Fashion Became Extremely Popular?
• 15  Unique Korean Fashion Styles to Wear in 2023
• How to Wear Korean Fashion
• A short FAQ
• Conclusion

What’s up, guys? Today is going to be an extremely interesting and important topic to discuss. We’re gonna talk about Korean fashion, why it’s that popular, and what cultural phenomena influenced it. I’m also going to show you the 15 Best Korean Fashion Styles in 2023 so that you will know what to wear to look absolutely gorgeous and make people admire you!

Korean styles became very popular over the last few years, and there’s no doubt that Korean culture and Korean fashion will develop even more in the next few years or even decades, bringing new styles to our Western being.

But before we dive into it, make sure you’ve checked out our 15 Best Streetwear Outfits For Men in 2023  and  15 Best Summer Fashion Trends in 2023 articles to rock the scene this summer.

What is Korean Fashion?

Now to start out, we gotta understand what is Korean fashion.

Essentially it’s a style that combines traditional Korean elements with contemporary, global fashion trends.

We all know it by its bold colors, different textures, and interesting patterns that bring a touch of freshness to the styles we used to see in the US or Europe.

Korean fashion also focuses on comfort, so it’s needless to say why it’s popular and why people all around the world start to wear it more! But not only comfort and cool look made Korean fashion recognizable.

Let’s understand what contributed to the rise of its popularity and what cultural phenomena are behind this style!

Why Korean Fashion Became Extremely Popular?

Korean fashion's rise in popularity can be attributed to several different factors:

• First and foremost, K-pop and K-drama influence: we all know them. BTS, BLACKPINK, and other popular K-pop bands and artists attracted a huge world audience’s attention to Korean culture, spreading it all over the world. I bet you have a few friends who absolutely love either Korean dramas or K-pop. I personally had a few college friends who were obsessed with Korean music and K-dramas and it’s not weird, because it’s bright, engaging, and entertaining, so people tend to consume this content for years without being fatigued. People want to dress like their K-pop idols, that’s why we see more people wearing this style on the streets of our cities, as well as see an imposing Korean fashion boom on social media, like TikTok or YouTube.

‍

• Innovative designs: Korean designers are known for their creativity, pushing the boundaries of conventional fashion. They tend to experiment with size, patterns, textures, and different fabrics which makes their products stand out from regular Western fashion, which got a bit boring over the last years. These designs got mostly liked by teenagers since they give a huge space for their creativity. We can style it in myriads of different ways without running out of ideas. This is something I like in Korean fashion and something that brought it to the top of the fashion industry.

‍

• Wearable yet unique: Korean fashion styles are very versatile, which makes it easy to incorporate them into your wardrobe without spending thousands of bucks to collect a few good-looking outfits.

15  Unique Korean Fashion Styles to Wear in 2023

Now that we covered the reasons why it’s popular and why you should try Korean fashion out, we can go to the best Korean fashion styles to give you some best outfits to choose from and to improve your wardrobe straight after reading this article!

Oversized Clothing

Honestly one of the most prominent attributes of the Korean style. It’s not usually should be incorporated into it, but it’s something people think about as soon as they heard “Korean fashion”.

It’s understood why oversized clothes are very popular. They give an interesting silhouette and shape to your style, making it more massive and bold.

It also became very popular over the last years during the pandemic, when comfortable, big clothes broke into our fashion trends. In 2023 oversized clothes don’t seem to lose their popularity, so if you for some reason don’t have any oversized clothes, I strongly recommend you buy some!

Layering

It’s the key to Korean fashion. With oversized clothing, you can really look majestic and stylish. Use different shirts, types of denim, or jackets over hoodies, T-shirts, or other shirts.

This will make sure you have depth in your outfit, which will definitely make you look stylish and more Korean-like.

Athleisure

It’s getting even more popular with Korean fashion. Use some sporty elements like track pants, and oversized T-shirts (This is something I was talking about – oversized clothes are very versatile!). Add sports sneakers to complete your look

Wide-leg pants

Are the fourth trend in Korean fashion. It relates to oversized clothing, and with oversized hoodies, T-shirts, and other clothing you can be very stylish.

Don’t forget to experiment with a big amount of different pants like jeans, official pants, etc. The goal here is to get creative!

Bold Patterns

Stripes, floral patterns, and geometrical patterns is also important when it comes to Korean style. I personally like simple ones, but you can go crazy with different patterns, it’s really up to you!

Matching sets

Coordinated sets such as matching jackets and pants are going to create a cohesive look that is gonna be effortless and stylish.

Korean Streetwear

It became especially popular lastly with the rise of streetwear in general.

It’s very versatile and gives you plenty of ways to express yourself by wearing graphic tees, oversized clothes, and many other streetwear styles that we have a complete guide on.

Don’t be afraid of wearing crazy looks with lots of accessories, this will make sure you look stylish and good. After all, style is just a way of expressing yourself and enjoying your life, so why would we be afraid of it?

Vintage vibes

Are one of the most important parts of Korean fashion as well. Actually, you can wear lots of different clothes from the past decades, like the ’90s, ’80s, etc.

But I wanna say that it mainly focuses on the ’90s, so finding a good look from that period of time isn’t gonna be a bad idea since there’re good clothes to choose from.

We also have a comprehensive guide on the best outfits from the ‘90s.

Modern hanbok

the original Korean style, but with tweaks with the purpose of refreshing traditional clothing by adding extra textures, and playing with different sizes and patterns.

This is a very interesting style, which I recommend checking out and making your own research on this topic. I’m sure you will find something you will be happy to find and buy. You can consider checking Kooding or Leesle out, these brands have plenty of good Korean-style clothing to buy.

Standard minimalism

Minimalism became a well-known part of the Korean style, needless to say, why.

Our modern society tends to make everything minimal, and I understand why. Generally, minimalistic colors, and patterns, with different sizes combination look really attractive and stylish.

By far one of  the best parts of Korean style!

Denim clothes

They are also very popular in Korea. With a variety of sizes, colors, shapes, and styles, this became popular not only among Korean but among people from the West as well.

Consider wearing denim jackets with jeans, not a bad combination honestly. Don’t forget to layer them and enjoy your new look!

Accessories

By far one of the most important parts of any style and look, but people tend to miss this part, even though it’s extremely powerful in terms of adding more value and style to your look.

Wearing bold, chunky necklaces, and interesting hats is really going to enhance your outfits.

Casual suits

I think they are one of the most recognizable parts of the Korean style since they are widely popular among idols.

I also noticed it many times while looking around different cities. It’s understood due to the good-looking outfits you have in the end, so take your old suits and try to style them with something more casual like jeans, oversized tees, etc.

Color contrast

It has become a big part of Korean fashion, using bright, contrasted colors is a good way of achieving this style and expressing yourself. Definitely try it out, you’ll never regret it!

Gender-neutral styles

These are great because they usually look eye-catching most of the time. They’re also affordable since you have more stores from different price categories to choose from and find clothes you will fall in love with.

Generally, gender-neutral styles are becoming a trend in the 2020s don’t be afraid of buying something in stores for women, I’m sure you will find there something unique!

‍

How to Wear Korean Fashion

To start out, I would recommend you experiment with layering and oversized clothing. Fortunately, you can find plenty of them on Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, and other mass markets. Go to secondhand and try to find something interesting there.

Experiment with patterns and colors since this will give you more uniqueness and ways to express yourself than just standard, boring clothes all people wear. Try adding a striped shirt or patterned pants to your minimal look, or try mixing oversized looks with official pants.

Trying something new will never be bad, don’t focus on others’ opinions and wear something you enjoy, because the way to live your best life and glow up is your happiness. You’re getting happier by doing something you truly like, so there’s no reason to ignore your feelings!

A short FAQ

Q: What is the origin of Korean fashion?

Korean fashion has its roots in traditional Korean clothing like the hanbok, but has evolved to incorporate contemporary global trends, making it a unique fusion of old and new.

Q: What are some popular Korean fashion brands?

Some popular Korean fashion brands include Ader Error, Covernat, Stylenanda, Gentle Monster, and Andersson Bell.

Q: How can I stay up-to-date with the latest Korean fashion trends?

Following Korean fashion influencers, designers, and brands on social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest can help you stay informed about the latest trends and styles.

Q: Is Korean fashion suitable for all body types?

Yes, Korean fashion is versatile and can be adapted to suit various body types. For example, oversized clothing can be flattering on different body shapes, and layering allows for customization based on personal preferences.

Q: What are some tips for incorporating Korean fashion into my existing wardrobe?

Start by adding a few key pieces like oversized shirts, wide-leg pants, or bold accessories. Experiment with layering, patterns, and colors, and gradually build your Korean fashion-inspired wardrobe over time.

Conclusion

Let’s move to the conclusion. Today I told you about what is Korean fashion and how to style it. What to do with this information, it’s up to you, but I highly recommend you making your own research on Korean fashion to find unique clothes on the Internet.

You can always look for Korean-style clothing in your city or town, maybe you will be able to find something eye-catching out there. Try to look at idols and what kind of clothes they wear, it might be a good inspiration for you to dive even more deeply into the Korean style.

‍