Fashion for Everybody

This week was a whirlwind of kpop comebacks. I kept scrolling down my youtube feed and feeling completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of new videos. There's a lot to work through, but don't worry, we'll keep reviewing and hopefully get to all the AH-mazing fashion that came through this week. So to kick off our last comeback season of 2013, we're going to start with the first group we ever reviewed on this blog. 

SHINee! And their new song: Everybody. 

The video came out on October 10th 2013 and as of October 15th had 2,284,196 views.

The Big (SHINee) Picture:

Ruby: This music video had A LOT going on. Really though, there was the weird introduction, endless strobe lights, huge props and an entire factory of eyeliner. There were parts of it that worked exceptionally well, although it was a bit overwhelming as a unit. They really played up the contrast in this video; there were a lot of opposing groups, black and white, patterned and solid, etc. There was an element of controlled chaos, which I liked. I mean, I think they could have taken something out and the video might have been more cohesive, but there was an intensity and a freshness about the styling that I really enjoyed. This idea of thick eyeliner and messy hair meeting clean-cut military uniforms really appeals to me.

 

And then there was this small child in a mask... whyyyy?

Minho looking pensively out from his giant chess set

Em: Everybody was a wonderfully fashionable take on the military-esque styling, mixed in with a few standout pieces that were separate from the main group’s outfits. Blindingly white captain’s uniforms played off uniforms that patchworked solids and patterns, all of which invoked a military feeling. Let’s hope they’re not trying to tell us something about how soon their military service is. As for the standout pieces, Taemin’s was probably the most distinctive with a giant furry black jacket and dangling necklaces (oh and no shirt, which I guess is still fashion despite the lack of clothing). They also had leopard print and pimp canes and professor glasses and I don’t even know. They just seemed to be throwing in every kink they could think of.

 

Oh captain my captain era. 

Onew chilling on the floor sporting a leopard print scarf, and furry hat. 

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS KPOP?

IT’S TIME TO PLAY THAT FAMOUS GAME AGAIN FOLKS, THAT'S RIGHT YOU KNOW WHICH ONE!!!

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS KPOP? Featuring SHINEE!

Now we’ve seen videos set in New York and we’ve seen videos set in Vietnam, we've even seen videos set in magical pastel wonderlands, but today’s video is a little bit different!

Here are a few hints!

Get your fancy hats ready folks, we’re gonna need them!

Shirts not required! Wooooo!

You might need to go for a while without a haircut, let’s hope we all look as good as Key does with long hair!

Don’t forget to accessorize,  lookin’ snappy is very important here!

I’m sure everyone has figured out where we are today!

Of course, our filming location is ON THAT PEARL-AQUA SHINING SEA. With our sea captains, SHINee.

They have matching uniforms, snazzy accessories and cargo loads of precious objects, making them ready to heave anchor and set a course for the isle of GREAT FASHION SENSE.

Pierre the Posh Producer: Now look here my good sirs and madams *adjusts trendy monocle* I understand the appeal of ships. I really do. Captains and ships and the high seas, all very nice. But we needed something more…grand. Something with…pizazz. So you know what I said to myself? We need DRAMA.  We need a half naked taemin spinning around! We need Jonghyun smashing statues with the virulent rage of youth! We need hats and metals and necklaces and boots and most importantly, WE NEED MORE EYELINER. If only these idiots who work for me understood TRUE ARTISTIC VISION. My genius is so misunderstood. *sobs*

Now Trending

#willstripforeyeliner

#youkilledkermit

#maknaetostarboard

#willstripforeyeliner…. Its pretty clear. There are really two ways that kpop boy bands go after a ‘sexy’ image. One way is to opt for the manly man man man approach and take of shirts, show off muscles and generally exude testosterone. The other way is through sexy styling, like mussed hair and endless eyeliner. Which way is sexier? I guess that's up to the viewer…. ;)

 

2pm's Grown shirtless photo of washboard abs more please teaser

MBLAQ's cry photoshoot.... there is something ironic about
wearing that much eyeliner in a video called cry.

#youkilledkermit is similar to a hashtag from last week. Its fall and its getting colder and so there seems to be a trend picking up of big coats. Fur coats have made a few appearances, like in last week’s review, but also wool coats and other winter accessories. Get ready for this tag to stick around for a while, since the winter season is just beginning!

 

From last week's review, Very Good-Block B

#maknaetostarboard just so happens to reference the excessive amount of nautical in this mv.  In fact, turns out it has shown up before…uniformed men are a recurring theme in kpop. Block B set sail as pirates in the mv for Nilili Mambo. G-Dragon was channeling it in his 2013 World Tour, and TOP did the same thing in Fantastic Baby. And perhaps most famously, Girl’s Generation sailed into the mix with the original naughty nautical themed mv, Genie. 

 

Admiral Top, reporting for duty in Big Bang's Fantastic Baby

The iconic sailor uniforms of the lovely ladies from SNSD in Genie.

Final Call:

Ruby: I enjoyed the video a lot. I think I would have liked it more split into two. Personally I am completely enthralled by the contract of the white uniforms and dark eyeliner and hair. Such clean styling is not kpop’s usual MO, but sometimes it just works so well. Especially in mvs with a lot of movement. But I can’t say that I wish the whole mv was uniforms either. I loved the solo outfits too *coughjonghyuncough*…There are so many things I like that, when lumped together, it was a bit overwhelming, truth be told. We talk a lot about balance and I think it is as relevant as ever in this video. Even when everything individually is amazing, when put together it can look overwrought.

 

We didn't mention his eye jewels. He has eye jewels.

And a pimp cane. Wow. He's really blinged out... (badumpche)

Em: Definitely an interesting video. There was a lot going on, and it was certainly eye-catching. Some of things were great and I wish there was more of them, like Key’s solo outfit. The all-white uniforms were a bit much for me, but the whole uniform concept was cool and they varied it in interesting ways. It was very SHINee. The doll/electrically powered people concept comes up a lot actually, from groups like F(x) with Electric Shock and Ladies Code with Hate You (which we actually reviewed earlier). They didn’t actually channel the idea much in the clothing though, it was more in the dance and the set. The piercings were an excellent decision on someone’s part (maybe Suzy the Stylist).

The image video teaser was incredibly cool.
Like one of the coolest things ever in kpop.

Key's messy hair and headband look really is set off by the
MASSIVE AMOUTN OF EYELINER.

Onew and his nose bridge studs..... 

DAEBAK!!!!!

ONEW PROPELLOR.

The teasers redefined the term tease.

seriously though the video image teaser is awesome, watch it:

Thanks so much for reading! 

We're still working out all the changes, phew!

Leave us some comments please! We'd love to hear from you guys!

See ya next week, 

Ruby and Em <3