Bold and provocative outfits have taken over the 4th Gen K-pop, and some are saying that Jennie is the cause
4th Gen K-pop idols are dressing bolder
Recently, LE SSERAFIM member Huh Yunjin has become the center of discussion for her revealing outfits during her group’s comeback with their latest album, “EASY”. In particular, her bold appearance in the title song’s MV and at public events has stirred up debates.
Previously in a teaser video, Yunjin also caused a stir by wearing a “pantless” outfit, confidently sporting lingerie with an outer jacket as she showcased a powerful stride. At the time, public reaction was divided over Yunjin’s choice of wardrobe, with some admiring and praising her for leading the trend, while others found the outfit too exposing and inappropriate.
Additionally, “EASY” is not the first controversial comeback for LE SSERAFIM in terms of outfits. Previously, fans were displeased with the stylist team dressing the girl group in extremely short crop tops. With LE SSERAFIM’s youngest member being only 17 years old at the time, the image of an underage idol wearing bra-like tops and skirts that doesn’t cover anything drew criticism.
On the other hand, Min Hee-jin – the producer behind NewJeans, also sparked similar controversies by having NewJeans wear extremely short tops for their debut song. At the time, despite being beloved for their youthful and energetic Y2K concept, many felt that NewJeans’ image is a complete mismatch with such skimpy clothing.
Additionally, many current generation 4 music groups are not afraid to be provocative. For example, in the promotional photos for their album “[2]”, (G)I-DLE’s 5 members wore bikinis with fur hats. Apart from accusations of plagiarism, these photos were criticized for excessively exposing the female idols’ bodies. Moreover, Soyeon, the group’s leader, wore extremely revealing and tight-fitting outfits in the MV for “Super Lady.”
All because of BLACKPINK’s Jennie?
When it comes to the most influential idol in terms of fashion nowadays, BLACKPINK’s Jennie is undoubtedly the first name that comes to mind. The BLACKPINK rapper may not be the first to don a new clothing combination, but she is a certain trendsetter in Kpop.
As K-pop’s “IT girl”, everything worn by Jennie immediately becomes a trend and gets followed by others.
Therefore, many believe that the current trend of dressing boldly in K-pop stems from Jennie. From cut-outs, underboobs, to bra-like tops, to see-through materials – Jennie has donned them all throughout BLACKPINK’s world tour and to other public appearances.
The image of Jennie twerking provocatively while wearing nothing but a bra top at the Paris stop of Born Pink Paris was controversial when it first spread. Yet, it was also extremely viral. It seems that Jennie’s influence has made the next generation of idols less hesitant to express their bolder sides.
On top of all this, Jennie proves herself as a true “hot girl” by becoming the ambassador for Calvin Klein. From posing with her back to the camera in lingerie to officially appearing on billboards worldwide, Jennie keeps the current generation restless. The female idol also did not hold back with her sexy SNS updates.
Now, idols can be seen “following Jennie’s step” by intentionally showing their underwear band, from experienced artists like Girls’ Generation Taeyeon to the new-generation idol LE SSERAFIM’s Kazuha.
But Jennie is not the only BLACKPINK member to advocate for bolder clothes – as Lisa has also been flaunting long slit skirts with tight crop tops. In the outfits that fully reveal her curves, Lisa’s dance moves become extremely captivating, especially as elements of crawling, lying, and even pole dancing are incorporated into her solo performances.
Even when appearing on a charity event, Lisa opted for an extremely body-hugging set.
Additionally, her appearance at the night club Crazy Horse Paris took exposure to the next level. Meanwhile, Jennie also fully reveals her sexy side with extremely bold outfits in “The Idol”, not at all minding the criticisms.
All in all, however, the fact that idols are dressing bolder likely has to do with K-pop going global. Nowadays, K-pop companies are shifting their focus to international markets, where sexiness is not frowned upon, and where idols do not have to conform to Korean standards of modesty.
Source: K14
