High Heels and Hanbok: Sweater by Sweater with ZE:A

So at least where I live, it is now very much winter. Like.

NOT AMUSED.

As I said, winter has begun. At any rate, I'm sitting here feeling all warm and fuzzy because of one very fluffy music video:

Step by Step ZE:A (WARNINGS: EXTREME HAPPY AND FLUFFY CLOTHES)

click here or watch below

The fashion forecast:

Ruby: So as we mentioned it’s winter. I live in the hinterlands, so in the past week it has snowed, hailed and frosted. Seriously though. I feel a deep affinity for this music video as it is all warm and fluffy and currently I spend much of my time cold. As I’ve said before, I love seasonal videos. As I don't think I have said before, I love men in sweaters. They just look warm and dapper and oh-so-cuddleable. The music video was simple, but friendly and inviting. And although we’re very confused about who is dating who in this instance, it’s nice to know that everyone is staying warm and making friends. Happy start of winter fashion everybody!

CUDDLES FOR EVERYONE.

Men in fluffy clothes are happy men.

Em: I simply must agree about the men in sweaters. They’re so cute and cuddly! And while it has not yet snowed where I am, it is ridiculously windy and definitely time to wear fashionable winter things. I have seen more infinity scarves than I ever thought existed here, and they showed up in the video too. It’s nice to occasionally see a video that’s very wearable while still being fashionable. I especially liked the combination of regular jeans with more dapper suit coats over cuddly sweaters…it struck a nice balance between formal and casual. Date clothes? I think so.

A giant heather gray scarf with a red sweater? How could you make this better?
That coat. That's how.

Different style of date clothes, but still winter-ready and fashion-forward.

And now for...

Today's Question from our secret Bachelorette is:

Hello ZE:A! It's almost christmas, which means it's almost time for presents! What would you get me for Christmas?

Bachelor 1: Well, at first I thought that these awesome retro shades would look awesome on you,

But then, I realized, it's winter! My tweed trench would look totally cute next to you in this houndstooth blazer. Couple coats are always in fashion...

And while I'm out, this teal sweater would match your eyes so nicely. So I'd buy that too!

Bachelorette: Ooooh big spender! Well then! Bachelor 2, how will you compete?

Bachelor 2: What is more in fashion right now than a pretty pink purse? It's vintage and feminine and all your friends will want one.

And then I'd throw in a dash of personality and invest in some silly hats. Gifts should be fun right?

Bachelorette: So cute! Oh dear me! Bachelor 3, can you top these two?

Bachelor 3: What else? If I like it, I'm gonna put a ring on it.

Bachelorette: Wow Bachelor 3, you move fast.... and I'm not sure how I feel about men who wear ascots, with purple cable knit sweaters, to be honest. Bachelor 4, are you dressed to impress?

Bachelor 4: Of course. My super trendy wool military style jacket can go anywhere. And I bought you flowers. Classy and classic, thats totally my style.

Bachelorette: You do look snazzy in that coat, and flowers are sweet I guess.... Bachelor 5? What would you do?

Bachelor 5: Well, clothing doesn't win a girl's heart, though my pristine white sweater makes me look sweet, my baking skills are even sweeter. Handmade cake? Check.

Bachelorette: Oh goodness! How do I make such a tough choice! I choose.... ALL OF YOU!

AND NOW...

Brrrrr it’s getting chilly out! Don’t forget to bundle up when you go outside, hon! I’ll put the tea kettle on too. It’s nice to know that some things haven’t changed, and one of those things is the snazziness of winter fashion. I just LOVE to see a well-dressed, dapper man on a cold winter’s day, strolling along to a coffee shop or a clothing store. There’s nothing like a man who takes the time to dress himself sensibly in the morning, and if he’s cute on top of that…WELL you should just jump on that sweetie. I was a TAD bit confused about who was dating who in this video…are they all in date clothes for just one girl? Is this the bachelorette? Whatever is going on, they all look ready for anything and so adorable I could just pinch their cheeks and call them cupcakes.

Don't be nervous sweetie, just ask her out already!

Hugs and kisses,

Granny Kimchi

BRRRR EDITION!

#sweaterweather

#allwrappedup(inyourscarf)

#lovenotecoat

#sweaterweather, no not the hit song, but rather in this case, the fashion trend of warm fuzzy winter wear that has been populating the kpop world. Just in the last few weeks we’ve seen two videos that make use of sweaters! Troublemaker, in last week’s review and even Miss A’s Hush used similar cropped white sweaters. Even K. Will likes to get in on that action. They’re such a lovely option for cold days.

Chanyeol and K Will on the set of You Don't Know Love.
I do know that I love those cardigans though.

I appreciate that you are wearing a sweater, but pants might be smarter.

#allwrappedup(inyourscarf) Another great option for beating the cold weather is fluffy scarves to keep your neck and face warm. The thicker knit the better for cuddling runny noses and chapped lips. Scarves feature in many videos, but I got totally stuck on a very seasonal video indeed. SMTown's Santa U Are the One from last christmas. Oh boy. It's fascinating.

Onew of SHINee in the SM Town Christmas video

Oh for the love of god Sungmin (of Super Junior).

#lovenotecoat is your third option for lovely winter wear. A warm coat can protect you no matter how cold it is where you are, and kpop has given us lots of option for snuggly ones. There was a cute coat on the girl in Jin’s Gone as another example. G-Dragon also wore a coat, but rather than being cute and cuddly it had a more threatening vibe to it…maybe not what I want for cute winter wear.

Jin in Gone

GD in Crooked

A step away from the end...

Ruby: Normally we’re swept up into massive amounts of aegyo or sex appeal, leaving us pretty tired of the sort of normally overwhelming, over-worked kpop videos. But this video was refreshing and simply kind of cute. It featured all the lovely warm things we get to pull out of the closet this time of year and it left me with an equally warm and fuzzy feeling in my heart. I mean, yeah the concept was slightly creepy but hey, it’s not the first time kpop has pulled an eight guys one girl scenario on us. All in all, it was seasonally appropriate and as fluffy as a cable knit sweater your grandma made for you.

We're all waiting for different girls... right... right.... AGAIN GUYS.

Your corduroy jacket looks both warm and soft. I genuinely want this jacket.

Em: The video was subtly well-crafted and communicated the feeling of cuddly, cute romance without being too over-the-top with the aegyo. Even their hairstyles were cute and fluffy and not too extreme with the hair dye. It’s not that we don’t love a good neon pink, it just wouldn’t have fit here, and the stylists stayed consistent with their vision. It also helps that THEY’RE ALL SO FREAKING ADORABLE IN THEIR SWEATERS. Okay you probably get the point.