Roses are Red (and so are the shoes)

This week's choice to review was IU's ultra fashionable Red Shoes. We had a lot of fun reviewing it, especially since the MV was so fun to watch! If you haven't taken the time machine back and experienced it yet, check it out here:

Put on your dancing shoes and lets get started:

Em: Red Shoes was perfect to review because, I mean, how could we not review something where the title had to do with fashion? Beyond the shoe question, IU’s video had a lot of fun retro and interesting details. Her outfits were very dance-oriented, with flowy skirts and dance-friendly low-heeled shoes, and it fit with the theme of the video. They weren’t always attractive, but at least they were relevant. There was also a fascinating cast of characters that joined her in this; they had Paris-inspired, 1920s-esque outfits as well. She and the rest of the cast complimented each other to create a cohesive MV.

Flowy clothing and soft, bright makeup

Ah, Paris

Ruby: This was so much fun, and how could we pass up an mv centered on the shoes, too perfect for words. The whole mv had that Great Gatsby feel to it, which is of course, on the rise in the fashion world. There was a lot of clothing I didn’t love in the mv, but it all fit together so well, that I was willing to forgive silly looking striped shirts (Smee from Peter Pan anyone?) and a wholly unflattering dancing dress. It was seriously fun though, with the fashion show and the playful nature of the characters interactions. The whole cast looked current and fresh and goshdarnit like they were having a really good time.

 

Great Gatsby anyone?

Judgy Smee

NOW TRENDING:

#retrofitforfashion

#alittlelaceforthelady

#50shadesofgrayscale

#retrofitforfashion and we love it! Increasingly we’ve seen retro fashion filtering into the kpop mainstream. Sure, it’s usually a retro cut in bright, bubblegum colors rather than pastels or neutrals. But hey, isn’t magenta kind of neutral these days? This trend has been especially popular in girl groups. SunnyHill and Hello Venus come to mind.

 

Retro Romance

Oh so retro...it even has the stripes (from SunnyHill's
Darling of all Hearts)

#alittlelaceforthelady refers to the ever-popular addition of lace into an outfit, and one of IU’s main dance outfits involves an extra lacey black dress. Black lace can be sexy in the right amount (though it CAN get overdone), and this was no exception. Miss A used it in their MV Touch, and that looked pretty good too. Even the guys sometimes use it, like Junsu in Tarantellegra.

Now doesn't she look good?

Miss A in Touch doing the same thing

Junsu's somewhere in there.

#50shadesofgrayscale highlight a recurring tendency for kpop to either do things in black and white clothing/rooms or to just flat out make black and white videos. It’s a powerful color scheme, especially when done right, so we see it time and again (often with red thrown in for pizzazz). We saw it in our recently reviewed Coup d’Etat by G-Dragon and in the first half of MBLAQ’s Smoky Girl (before they went neon, that is). In IU’s video, the grayscale represented the past, referencing old silent films.

Mr. Shoes

MBLAQ's Smoky Girl

Gdragon's Coup d'Etat

*drum roll please* get ready for the fashion show of the century.......

Good afternoon IU, sweetie.

I saw you singing on the youtube today, yes. It was quite lovely, dear. I was simply in raptures over your outifts! They reminded me of the good old days, when men wore bowties and women’s skirts covered their patooties. Ah, those were good times…. Your cute little dancing dress was swishing all over, so adorbale. And what a handsome young man that got makeup all over your face… did you invite him home for dinner? He was so nicely dressed and clean cut, with his dapper half suit, the right kind of boy for young girls to be dating. Not to mention the shoes, how scandalous! Red dancing shoes! I remember when I could have danced all night in those cute little heels.And then that fashion show! So many memories of when I was young, the lace, the dropped waists, the feather boas! It was an era where women began to empower themselves to be feminine, sexy and independent! And I love seeing it come back in modern day! So move forward IU and let them know who is boss, KICK SOME BUTT BABE!

Ehem. And don't forget to invite your fella to dinner and clean up your apartment. I left you some kimchi in your fridge.

Hugs and Kisses,

Granny Kimchi

Yes, I do mean gentlemen like this one

The Last Dance

Em: One thing I really liked about this video was the detail work. Sometimes the marker of a really good video is the attention to detail…every time I see it I notice something different, and I like it even more. The directors didn’t seem to be concerned about us seeing everything they included, they wanted the whole effect of everything. Because of this attitude, even the backup dancers change outfits multiple times, despite them being in the background and just supporting IU. There was a lot of energy put into this and it shows. The outfits were bright and cohesive and just generally worked really well (despite some questionable individual pieces). You can tell there was a really clear vision for this MV.

 

Elaborate outfits on backup dancers (though still not too distracting)

VISION

Ruby: The video was spunky and fun and full of life. It was long, but I didn’t mind wathing it through, which was novel. There’s something about the retro concept that was endearing and enjoyable. I thought it lent IU, who has always been more cutsy than sexy, a fresh and daring edge. She blended her younger cuteness with a more adult sex appeal nicely within this genre. She to play with men’s clothing, lace and color, exploring this kind of fashion really fully. Sure I didn't love every piece but it was the variety and the usage of them that was so much fun. It really set a scene and an atmosphere, from the extra clothes, like floral buttondowns and drum major coats, to IU’s own wardrobe selections. Sweet and edgy and very very fashionable.

 

Mostly sweet in this picture

 

Fun florals for a fun guy

DAEBAK!!!

Sir. You have weed. On your socks.

Epic piano playing.

So what did you think? Are the weed socks a must-have for this fall's wardrobe? Do you want to party with the stripey couple? Let us know! We'd love to hear from you.

-Ruby & Em <3

Junsu's Incredible Wardrobe

Recently we've really kicked off summer. 2ne1 brought us to the beach and No Min Woo got us all pumped up for a massive rock and roll party! Leave it to Junsu to combine those two and toss in a little of his own special skills to top it off! Of course, this week, we're talking about
Incredible - Xia Junsu
get your party suit on and click here (or just watch below)

The video was released on two channels (loen and cjes both released the video) on July 14th 2013 and as of July 22nd had a combined 915,749 views. 

*as a side note, I'm flyin' solo this week, Em is still away so we're trying out singleton writing*

Overall impression:

Ruby: So Junsu’s solo work is always a little bit off-kilter. I don’t think anyone is going to forget Intoxication anytime soon. So. There’s that. There was A LOT of clothing in this video. Junsu changed a buttload of times and then he had a million and a half backup dancers who were all decked out for a super funky retro rave disco beach party. That is the technical term. Generally I found the fashion to be too much for me. I like parts or concepts but it was really massively overwhelming. I mean in a way it worked since I think they were going for chaotic summer nutso party. But there were parts of it that I was like, I just don't get it. Mesh tank top and a button down…. Why.

Secret filming location. I swear.

I mean i don't really understand where any of those pieces were designed to be worn.
Except the bra. Which was made to go under shirts. so.

I. just. I mean. He's wearing his suit pants, mesh and pastels.

Other promotional Materials:

Ruby: The video teaser featured what I found to be the coolest part of the mv in itself. It was a good representation of the mv itself and it definitely intrigued me. I guess you could also consider 11 am, his mv before this was also sort of a preface to this. It’s incredibly simple and a really nice counterpoint to the insanity of Incredible. Actually it kind of looks like they got the order wrong. Maybe 11am was the aftermath of his crazy beach party. There was a showcase where he performed several songs. He changed accordingly, wearing a silver and black tassel-dangling suit for Tarantellegra but the red patch jacket for Incredible.

Now this is pretty.

must've been a wild party dude

Red coat with appliques and a newsprint tie.... oh blurry screencaps.

Continuity:

Ruby: I feel wrong discussing continuity in this mv. There is zero continuity. Okay well, maybe I’ll give it ½ a point for the main girl, she seems consistently like pastel hipster and I like that. Although she is really really out of place. I mean who wears lacy shorts and hipster headbands to the neon spandex flashdance cat mask party? Then again, Junsu was also clearly struggled with what to wear and his initial choice of black pants a white shirt was very wrong and later rejected.

FLASHDANCE

Don't worry guys, she's a pretty stalker.

Crap, I misread my own dresscode.

Band’s Overall Image:

Ruby: Junsu likes to be the sexy pop star when he’s not performing with his group, JYJ. I mean, Tarantellegra and Intoxication were equally as racy and provocative. I mean 11am was much more reserved, which was a big change for him. I guess he might be trying to work maturity into a very risqué image that he’s maintained throughout his career. He’s 26, so I can understand him wanting to emulate his age and experiences in his life. I would miss Junsu if he decided to be conservative or cutesy, but it good to see him take on a more serious role as well. Thus 11am and Incredible were well paired.

Junsu in 11am, very simple and never changes.

And then there was Tarantellegra,

Trends in K-POP:

Ruby: There were so many many things….. Can gold suits not be a trend? No no no. There was another video released recently where they wore something similar. All I can think of is pornstar-oppa. We see the return of oddly patterned suits, something SHINee is well known for. Maybe Junsu borrowed one of Jaejoong’s mesh shirts. I guess the randomness in itself is a trend right now. Like 4minute.

Tarantellegra teaser!

Porn. Star. Oppa.

And then there was more gold fabric.

Conclusion:

Ruby: I like the song and I like the video in a way. It was one of those, this is terrible and I love it. It's a mess and its very confused and I shouldn’t like it. But I do. I found Junsu’s outfits sort of unimpressive but the chaos behind him is kind of wonderful. For me I think I’ve enjoyed some of his other mv’s more but this was quite interesting and it’s summer, so it's a good time to have crazy-butt parties and go wild.

But I mean in all honest I paused the video more than once just to be like, what the hell are you wearing. dear god.

This part was cool.

but then I was like, dear god where did you even find that!?!?!?!

Daily Dose of Daebak:

FISH HAT and CAT MASKS

SHAKE YOUR SPACESHIP CANDY

So tell us what you would wear to Junsu's massive beach party!!!!

Or just leave lonely me some love :(

see ya soon!

Ruby...... 

MBLAQ Goes Dapper

This week we're drooling over MBLAQ's classiness in Smoky Girl!

The marvelousness can be found HERE

It came out on June 3rd, 2013, and as of June 30th, 2013 it had 1,594,522 views.

Overall impression:

Em: So this MV, at first glance, seems like a bunch of guys in suits. Sexy, sure, but is it interesting enough to do a review on? WELL. Just wait until 2:30, when this random girl drops her drink and everything is an explosion of happiness and rainbows (okay what was actually in her drink guys? Guys?) In all seriousness though, MBLAQ’s Smoky Girl was a well-put-together MV with a variety of interesting styles. They started with sleek black suits, then smooth white suits, then they got neon rainbows on their white suits (which glowed fantastically under a blacklight) and then finally more colorful outfits at the end. Plenty of dapper details to keep it interesting like snazzy hats and sunglasses.

 

Dapper as all @#%& in black suits

Acid is bad, folks.

White suits + blacklight + neon paint = this awesomeness

Ruby: I really think that this mv was all in the detailing. I mean, normally we see mv’s of suits and are like, well don't you guys look dapper and snazzy… and I’m bored. So for us I think this mv was really refreshing. Yes, it was suits, but it fit the cool and suave concept for the dance and song. And they were sooo well done. And I’ve seen the neon paint thing a few times recently, but this worked really well under the blacklights and I think added that unique spark to the mv. Unique is the wrong word here, but standout definitely still applies.

Corset detailing...file under sexy

Sneaky bits of color that made outfits much more than just boring suits

Glowing suits. Yes.

Other promotional Materials:

Em: MBLAQ did an oddly beige teaser photo where they wore tan and off white. The only color was their hair, which was rather distinctive in the MV itself too. It’s interesting how these vague, noncommittal colors play off of the stark black and white contrast and bold colors throughout the actual video. The video teaser was just clips from the MV.

Looking at the MV, I'm kind of confused

Ruby: Honestly, as much as the suits were amazing in the mv, something got miscommunicated to the stages. Don't get me wrong, some of their suit sets were really clean and quite dapper…. Others edged on just a bad idea. I mean, I understand, you had the altered suits in the mv, but those already walk a thin line of being stripperish or looking like a mistake. They seem to have driven an army tank over the line and declared war against modesty with the comeback stages. I understand where they were coming from, but come on guys…..

Sure this is fine, nice and clean, they look like a group

Wait is that a slit in your shirt?

They appear to have run out of fabric

Continuity:

Em: Smoky Girl was unique in that usually kpop bands have a few different outfit sets to switch between throughout the video, but in this one there were two sets for the first half and then two sets for the second half after the drink spilled, which marked the transition from black and white to Wonderland. Despite this jump in the middle, the level of dapper stayed pretty consistent throughout the MV. The white suits were essentially carried over, but transformed, and the other outfits tied in with each other nicely. The band ALWAYS looks like a cohesive band.

 

Sunglasses in black

Sunglasses in white

Ruby: I agree, I think the suits themselves really acted to keep the band consistent. I guess I would have liked to not have the street clothes set. It wasn’t bad but it lost a lot of its appeal when placed next to these extremely clean, sexy and classy suits. Also, for me, colored hair is great. I adore brightly died hair but it has to match the concept. That pink is just to much for this mv, its like, all I can look at…. Can’t…. look… away….

Street clothes--acceptable, but just not the same

What is the first thing you see in this picture?

Band’s Overall Image:

Em: MBLAQ has definitely done the sexy men in black and white thing in the past, and they do it well. They’ve also done colorful patterns before…it always makes a statement visually, so they’re using what’s worked for them in the past. It’s not that they can’t be cute, they just usually focus on sexy concepts.

Sexy, b&w concept from their album Y

Some colorful patterns like in the street clothes

CUTE WORKS TOO OKAY

Ruby: MBLAQ does sexy well. I mean they do the whole like black, sexy manly man man concept pretty much all the time. Although they’ve got cuddly and silly personalities they definitely pull it off well. Usually I think they’re a little wilder including elements of punk style or maybe color accents, but this comeback I think the new buzzword was classy. Not that they were not-classy before, but that this reaches new levels of classy for not only kpop but male pop star fashion in general. They just look good, okay?

Shot from the MV This Is War

Classy.

Trends in K-POP:

Em: Suits have always been a thing, and hopefully always will be a thing. They’re classic. In fact, even Lee Hyori wears them when she’s crossdressing, and looks just as dapper. Not actually kidding. Kpop fashion also has a liiiiitle bit of kink thrown into it. MBLAQ did it with a corset shirt thing. Ukiss did it with rope in a photoshoot. It gets snuck in.

Lee Hyori in Going Crazy

U kiss and their rope thing. Yeah the whole band did this too.

Ruby: Please let suits never go out of fashion. Like well fitted, black, non patterned suits. ON AN UNRELATED NOTE the paint thing has been in kpop-yester-comebacks. You can go back to 2ne1’s Ugly in 2011 or look at 4Minute’s What’s Your Name from this year. MBLAQ uses the trend well here and I think it can be really fun if done right. Also, when setting MVs in night clubs I think they tend to struggle with the background clothing, but I liked the really stark, fairly conservative approach with the white. I think it worked and really reduced the visual noise in those scenes. This SHOULD be a trend….. ;) 

2NE1's Ugly MV with neon paint

What's Your Name by 4Minute

Simple white nightclub outfit fits the MV

Conclusion:

Em: This was a good showing from MBLAQ. The suits were sleek, well fitting, and were interesting without being too ‘creative’ to the point of trying too hard. They managed the tough balance in men’s clothing between color and manliness by keeping the details subtle and countering the color with an overall classic appearance. Partly dapper and partly good for clubbing too.

This is not MBLAQ. This is SHINee, after being attacked by their stylists.
Don't do suits like this. Just don't.

Better.

Ruby: MBLAQ nailed it. This song and dance and clothes match really well. This isn’t a concept to use all the time. It wasn’t super exciting in some ways, I’ll admit it. But the song was really asking for that classy with a twist attitude. Plus we got the fun parts later with the paint and the black lights and our hints of sexy with the eyeliner, hats and shades. I could have done with different hairdos in some cases, but there was just so much yes in this video, I can’t really complain.

Guyliner and is that lipstick too? but he still looks good, maybe it's the hair

Hellooooooooo

Daily Dose of Daebak:

Sometimes stylists go crazy with scissors. Sometimes we let them.

Mir, glasses, hair back, eyeliner…. We don't have a like, SEXXYYYYYY category. But this can go in that category….. on top…. Of the list…. Drools

So what did you think?  Were they as classy as we thought or did they miss the dapper boat? Let us know in a comment!

Love,

Ruby & Em <3