Fashion trends in Korea are constantly changing. Whether it is thigh-high white boots or those Y2K baggy jeans that have been trending worldwide, fashion is often the bridge from idols/actors to everyday people. You can follow airport fashion or outfits from music videos to see what is currently popular in the fashion world in Korea. However, the newest trend is more street fashion meets the ever-growing trend of making something old, Hanboks, new again.
Hanboks are the traditional clothing for women in Korea. They have been around for thousands of years and have undergone several style changes in that time. Hanboks used to be everyday wear for Korean women and now have started to trend as such again. As K-pop and the Korean Hallyu wave only gets bigger, a desire to connect to Korean roots has been seen from traditional style music videos to modernized hanboks.
Kim Yuna has hopped on this trend as well. The retired Olympic champion has found time in between planning her upcoming wedding to design a Hanbok fashion line to be shown at a London Fashion show this month. She helped design a hanbok as well as modeled some of the over 60 hanboks being shown in the show. The show is titled “Hanbok Fashion Show, The Hanbok Wave", which highlights the interest in these traditional outfits abroad. To further promote the line, a video of the photoshoot will be shown in Times Square later this year.
Are you interested in wearing a Hanbok but have no idea where to start? There are several brands that make wearing hanboks easy to wear. If you live abroad, Kooding.com is a great place to start. They have tons of modernized hanbok designs from many different designers that mirror the ones you can see Koreans wearing in Seoul. They have several unisex separates as well as full dresses at varying prices.
If you are plus sized and concerned about the Korean sizing, look no further. There is a fairly new plus-size hanbok brand called Hoya. The brand was started in 2020 to cater to women who couldn’t find their size in traditional Hanbok shops. They have many designs in sizes up to XXL. They use recycled vintage fabrics found in traditional markets in Seoul. So while they are a bit on the expensive side with prices starting from $200, you’d be getting authentic pieces fitted to you.
If you’re in Seoul, you have many options to find hanboks on the street and online. There are several brands with online sites and physical stores across Seoul. There is Nabim, a brand that has hanbok-styled sweat suits to beautiful silk dresses. They have an online store where you can find most of their designs. They are a designer line, so expect very expensive prices.
If you prefer to shop in person, Insadong is a great place to start. The Seoul neighborhood is famous for all of its traditional shops and vibes. You can find traditional hanboks, hair accessories, jewelry, shoes, and more in its back streets and malls. You can build a complete outfit fit for a modern princess. Insadong is located near all of the palaces and historical museums which makes it a tourist hotspot. You can find traditional snack shops and restaurants to fuel your shopping sprees as well.
Like any of the Hanboks shown here? Or know any cool shops? Link them below!
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