KOREA IN ME
COUPLE’S FASHION HEADS WEST
HOW DOES STREET DEFINE WHO YOU ARE?
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Editor’s Note
SPRING/SUMMER SPECTACULAR
Spring starts off at a furious pace with street fashion, culture and more
Street style, more so than the
Amy Wang Editor in Chief awang@kimmagazine.ca @amywang
red carpet or any other celebrity stomping ground, is the largest indicator of whether last season’s runway trends have actually taken off—or if the style set has simply gone rogue. All manner of precipitation is keeping Canadians on their toes (and in their snow boots), but this Spring collections are already starting to trickle into stores here and elsewhere. We’ve rounded up the need-to-know trends, from out of the world street fashion from Korea and brought it into the lives of our Candian lifestyle. Time to switch it up! Having lived in Canada for so long I can definitely say that the style here has been
Dannie Villalobos Editor in Chief danniev@kimmagazine.ca @dvillalobos
a little too conservative, no offense, but sometimes people dress so early 2000’s ago. It’s time to take a risk and be ready to shine! This years street fashion has taken a large turn in trend and in beauty, from heavy smokey eye make up to all natural skin; from boring black, navy and
I promise you that this time it’s different! We’re not about high fashion PRADA, LV, Dolvce or any of the runways. I mean, don’t get me wrong, they’re nice but who has all the money to afford that stuff! Am I right?!...This is Korean Street Fashion we’re talking about, it’s fashion that comes uniquely from the Korean culture. It is fashion we don’t see often and it is culture fashion we haven’t been exposed to yet. So we’re here to bring Korean Street Fashion to those globally minded fashionistas and want to take a risk in their wardrobe to stand out. We hope that this magazine will give you a different definition of what fashion means and expose you to many styles from Korea. You don’t always have to wear the best expensive clothes or have a the coolest items, that is not what fashion is about. Fashion is what you have to bring to the table, it brings out the uniqueness of you. That’s what keeps us busy at KimMag, is finding what fashion means to you.
grey suits to layers of spunky blouses, crop tops and crop pants...and, of course, the most important, sweaters! Now I know what you’re thinking, this is just another “fashion magazine” Well,
Designed by Amy Wang and Dannie Villalobos Editor: Amy Wang and Dannie Villalobos Copy writer: Amy Wang and Dannie Villalobos Photographed by Darryl Pollock Model Participation: JinSeok Yoon /SooJung Kim/ Carline Dawe/ Meghan Langan / Sarah Gonzales Kristy North Peigan / John Wong Ales Au Published by The Printing House Toronto Dominion Square Retail, 317 7 Ave SW #190 Calgary, AB, Canada Tel: (403) 697-6231
Copyright © ACAD 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission of the copyright holder. Production by KIM Magazine Production Ltd., Canada All reasonable attempts have been made to trace, clear and credit the copyright holders of the images reproduced in this book. However, if any credits have been inadvertently omitted, the publisher will endeavor to incorporate amendments in future editions.
Editor’s Note
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6
Contents
INSIDE
E D I T I O N 1 /S P R I N G SU M M E R 16
1
2
Skincare Sans-Makeup: Healthy skin can go a long way
Couples Fashion Heads West
8-9
12-21
It’s about quality, not quantity. The best beauty to work with is our natural skin. Here are some great skin care products by THE FACESHOP to help give our skin what they deserve best.
Couples in Korea dress exactly alike to indicate that they are together. Ladies I know you don’t want anybody to steal your man, Find out what some of these couples wear to indicate that they are together.
Hair & Styling Quick Bun: For an easy on the go look
What Is Your Street Fashion?
10-11
Here are some elements of street fashion advice we got from local fashionista’s. We found what they absolutely love to wear and how they wear it. Maybe it will give you some inspiration with your wardrobe.
Sometimes we need a effortless elegant hair do for a nice night with our friends or significant other and we need it quick. Find out how here! Promise, it will do you justice.
28-43
Contents
3
7
4
Clothing and Fashion
Nightlife
D.I.Y Fashion: because why should someone else do it ?
Singing your heart out: A look at Calgary’s friendliest karaoke bar
22-23
44-45
The difference between and fashion stylist and you is that they don’t know what clothes are going to make your personality shine. Who needs a stylist when you can find what you love right inside your closet.
If you’re in the mood for a night out with friends, Nanta is a great place to be.
Seoul Fashion Week Designers to watch for: S/S 2016
Music Seasonal Playlist: Music to enrich you S/S 2016
24-27
46-47
For all you fashionista’s out there, take a look at different designers that will be at the Spring & Summer 2016 Seoul Fashion week. Be in the know and get inspired.
Want to be more Korean inspired? Here are some great music choices given to by genres. Whether you’re walking down the street, driving in your car or just a stay at home day, this playlist will work to suit your mood.
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Skincare
SANS-MAKEUP H e al t h y S k i n C a n G o a L o n g Wa y
Make-up is a necessity in most young womens’ lives due to pressure put on us by society, but how much of this gunk is really necessary to look good? The truth is, here in North America, we focus on the wrong thing. We focus on covering up existing “flaws” or blemishes instead of simply taking care of our skin.
out of South Korea’s book and have a dermatologist you visit on a regular basis. But even if you don’t, you can take care of your skin and avoid the need to use makeup. Instead of spending a tonne of money on makeup each month, whether that is finding the beWst toner, foundation or BB cream. Head to The Face Shop where you can find great products to help smooth out your complexion because the best beauty to work with is being comfortable with your natural complexion.
1
Face Masks We know that at the end of the day our skin can get a little oily and using these masks can help open up pores and let skin breath. It takes 10-15 minutes if your time and only costs, $2.00 each. Just make sure to wash your face first.
Sure, difficult acne is something that many people have to face and that is very fair, and I strongly suggest working with a dermatologist for that type of situation. In fact, even if you don’t have major skinrelated issues, you could take a page
1. Real Nature Face Masks
Skincare
9
2. Flebeaute: Diamond Peel
3. Ginseng (face cream)
2
Flebeauté This diamond peeling face wash that will help eliminate the oil that forms in your T-Zone and leave your skin comfortably soft. This product is priced at, $20.00 for one bottle. Dispense an adequate amount on your face and massage gently for a minute. Then simply rinse
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4
The Myeongan Miindo Heaven Grade Ginseng Moisture cream adds moisturizes and increases skin’s self moisturizing abilities by cooling-off warm skin. This product can be used by any skin type and costs a bit more, coming in at $80.00.
This is in-line with the previous cream, except it is for your eyes. It contains highly-enriched oriental herb oil and boosts skin elasticity around the eyes with ingredients extracted from six-year old ginseng and natural pine mushrooms. All you have to do is dispense an adequate amount around your eyes and spread it out smoothly. You can sleep in it, and wash it off in the morning. This little beauty will set you back $80.00 as well.
Ginseng (face) Ginseng (eyes)
5
Start Serum Chilbongjaesaeng Beginning Serum is a Miindo Jin brand cream is a highly moisturised and enriched oriental essence that absorbs quickly into the skin, giving moisture and allowing for the regeneration of skin. Apply every morning and evening by dispensing adequate amount to the centre of the face with fingertips working your way outwards. It will cost, $85.00, but you don’t need to rinse after.
5. Start Serum
4. Ginseng (eye cream)
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Hair & Styling
QUICK BUN
For an Easy On-the-Go Look
Sometimes, us women, need a effortless hair due that will not take up a lot of time for us to do. Most importantly, for women with thicker hair, like myself, it is a pain to find a perfect up-do that won’t take me hours to finish. If I’m running late to go out to dinner with my friends or have a date night, I need something fancy, pronto! Well I’m here to make all your hair troubles go away. Here is a simple 6 step tutorial of my favourite up-do. It is easy, takes less than 10 minutes to do and then TA-DA! You’re good to go for the day and the evening, it’s a win- win situation.
Step
1
Tie your hair into a pony tail. Depending on the person,you can have a higher up pony tail, mid or low. (It’s up to you)
Start out with a hair piece item called the Sponge Hair Clip. This is not the typical doughnut shaped hair piece we often see, neither is it a old rolled up sock. The sponge hair clip makes the same up-do as a sock bun with less time, effort and trouble. And I guarantee you, that it will make your life a lot easier and give you a perfect bun. That’s right, I said perfect! The sponge hair clip is not at all expensive and can be purchased at stores like Ardene, Claires or on e-bay. Depending on who sells them they come in a variety of thickness and lengths for women with thick or thin hair.
Step
2
Then put the pony tail through the hole of the sponge hair clip and slide it to the end to capture all the extra loose hair.
Hair & Styling
11
Step
3
Slide the sponge hair clip back to the other end of your tail and begin to curl it. Inwards or outwards, both direction works, depending on your comfortability.,
Step
4
As you curl it up all the way towards your head, it should look like the image above. Two ends of the hair sponge clip should be showing on both ends.
Step
5
Then take the two ends of the sponge hair clip and bend it back so both ends touch. There is a bendable wire so you can use the wires to hook the two ends together..
Step
6
The final step is spreading the hair out to the back so the sponge hair clip becomes invisible. For some, there may be loose hair that you may not want showing. Just use a couple of bobby pins to hold them down or another way is to hair spray .
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COUPLE’S
FASHION Heads West >>> F
ashionable dress is something that you easily come by when heading anywhere in Seoul, whether you’re on the train or just walking down the streets. This is due in part to South Koreans’ ingenuity when it comes to clothing as well as a love for fashion which has launched them towards having a globally recognized Fashion Week and mentions on America’s Next Top model. But all of this boils down to affordable and accessible fashion, made possible by massive clothing markets found in Dongdaemun’s fashion district such as Migliore and Doota.
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COUPLE’S FASHION HEADS WEST
With this emerging market, baked by many schools offering fashion design, it comes as no surprise that South Koreans are dressed so well and pave the way in this industry, leaving North America up to two years in the dust.
perhaps there was a way that this fashion statement could effectively brought across the Pacific Ocean to North America. Of course, in South Korea, the idea is that you wear like-clothing to indicate that you are a matching set and essentially tell the people around you that you and your partner belong to each other and will not tolerate outside advances. While in North America, relationships tend to be a lot more down-played while in public. Due to the difference in culture and expectations, visually matching too much here could be considered over-the-top and maybe a little… gag-worthy? if not cheesy, and a little disturbing.
Fr o m s h o e s a n d a c c e s s o r i e s t o higher-end designer clothing, ever ything is found in Seoul From shoes and accessories to higher-end designer clothing, everything is found in Seoul, and with them, something a little different and fairly restricted to Korea. Now, I had had a bit of exposure to South Korean fashion due to the endless amount of Korean dramas I have devoured in the past five years, and aside from being impressed by the flawless skin, hair, and clothing design, I also found myself intrigued by another more peculiar aspect of fashion and culture that I had never experienced before. Couple’s Fashion. Couple’s fashion is becoming more and more widespread, so I would not be surprised if you had heard of it before, but if not, the best way I can describe it is, “Couples, dressing the way that mothers often dress identical twins”. This idea of matching often includes shirts, pants, and shoes, but can also include hats, accessories i.e. glasses and watches, and even hair cut and colour. All is fair in love and fashion when couples are concerned. So when I went to Seoul for the first time a few years ago, I didn’t think much of this concept, since I thought it went as fair as matching t-shirts, and stepping off the plane at Incheon, I was not exposed to it at all. Only after I visited Ewha (이대)—one of the university districts—for the first time a few weeks into my trip that I experienced my first matching couple which consisted of this cute girl with light brown hair in braids and a fedora who’s white and black striped shirt matched that of her boyfriend’s. Shortly after this encounter, I was waiting for a friend at one of the exists of Hongdae (홍대)—another university district— when a moped passed me on the sidewalk, being ridden by both a girl and guy sporting rusty red hair, matching shirts, hats, and shoes, and black pants. I was floored. Who knew people could match so much?
So the crew here at KIM decided we would take it upon ourselves to find a way of bringing this trend over to North America in a tasteful way that visually allows couples to compliment each other and look as if they are two parts to one set. We rounded up some couples, allowed them to pick out some of their favourite articles of clothing, and proceeded to matching them up with their partners. The outcome? Interesting to say the least. The first pair we found are dressed in a fairly preparatory style. It is fairly clean look that is unlikely to offend anybody who is looking at them, while remaining exceptionally cute and within the same essence as South Korea’s original couple fashion style. They have chosen to colour-match by choosing analogous colours of shirts while matching her collar to his shoes and keeping their leg-wear the same colour brings the whole look together, creating visual harmony. Meanwhile, our second more bad-ass hiphop couple has chosen to match styles by personality. As you can see the girl is sporting a BOY hat. BOY London is a popular brand in Korea and runs along the same lines as the
both a girl and guy sporting r usty red hair, matching shir ts, hats, and shoes, and black pants.
After all of the exposure to couple’s fashion I had, more and more I became interested in couple’s fashion. When I came back to North America, I figured that
Comme Des Garcons brand in popularity and style. You will commonly see this look being sported by couples that associate more with an underground rap scene. She is sporting a mesh topped t-shirt that fits well with the right amount of draping, while he pairs with a simple grey sweater, black-patterned bandanna, and black toque.
COUPLE’S FASHION HEADS WEST
Models: JinSeok Yoon
Caroline Dawe
Jinseok Yoon
Stylists:
Caroline Dawe Photographer:
Darryl Pollock
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COUPLE’S FASHION HEADS WEST
Models: SooJung Kim John Wong Stylists: Dannie Villalobos John Wong Photographer: Darryl Pollock
COUPLE’S FASHION HEADS WEST
Models: JinSeok Yoon
Caroline Dawe
Jinseok Yoon
Stylists:
Caroline Dawe Photographer:
Their shorts may be different textures, but the colour keeps them working together, while their shoes visually pair well. All in all, great street style that works wonderfully regardless of where they are in the globe.
looking at them, you begin to see that their style matches their comfort level with each other. Overall you see such a comfortable style that you can’t help but smile. You can start by looking at their sweaters. These are both commonly found being worn by Koreans in Seoul and have very little in common, yet, you can see that they still manage to work. Next, have a look at their shoes. Completely different looking right? Right. Except that here, they are brand-matching. Both are wearing Nike shoes, which has an iconic swoosh that makes them recognizable and work together. Keeping the look light on accessories, and just simply wearing clothes that are comfy yet fashionable, this couple has demonstrated just
BOY London is a popular brand in Korea and runs along the same lines as the Comme Des Garcons brand in popular it y and st y le. Finally, we have our third couple who are sporting a stay-at-home casual look that looks like they are ready to take a leisure stroll down their street together. When
Darryl Pollock
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COUPLE’S FASHION HEADS WEST
Models: Alex Au Megan Langan Stylists: Amy Wang Megan Langan Photographer: Darryl Pollock
COUPLE’S FASHION HEADS WEST
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COUPLE’S FASHION HEADS WEST
Models: SooJung Kim John Wong Stylists: Dannie Villalobos John Wong Photographer: Darryl Pollock
how easy it is to make a couple look that works well, so long as your have the chemistry to match. We must admit that not all of the clothing were purchased here in Canada, but we have created this shoot as a means of giving inspiration to those who are looking at doing this type of thing with their significant other. None of these articles are difficult to find in North America, so
whether you are in Seoul or Toronto, you can be a cutesy couple that matches in their own way, regardless of how similar or different you and your partner’s clothing is. The point is to try something different and you might just be pleased to see what the outcome is
COUPLE’S FASHION HEADS WEST
Models: Alex Au Megan Langan Stylists: Amy Wang Megan Langan Photographer: Darryl Pollock
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Clothing & Fashion
DIY FASHION
Because Why Should Someone Else Do It? Street fashion isn’t about owning the coolest accessories or buying expensive designer items to make ourselves look good. It is as simple as taking something we love most from our closet and wearing it in a variety of ways. It is style we see trend from one person to another, styles that differs from person to person. Street fashion is a style that compliments who we are. Street fashion is all about you!
Quilted Faux Leather Jacket Forever21 $45.90
Black Skinny Jeans H&M $24.50
Cream Crew Neck Pocket Sweater H&M $14.50
Black Wmns Fedora Hat ALDO Accessories $25.00
Bronze Etched Pattern Cuff Jack & Jill $55.00
Printed Sunglasses Banana Republic $98.00
Spring Nude/ Gold Wmns Handbag SIRENS $34.50
Instead of having been styled by models on runways and designers standing in front of boards of directors, street fashion is said to have emerged from the streets. It has what is said to be the grassroots in the youth culture of the most recent decade. It is not specific to one type of dressing, but instead covers a host of different styles, all unique in the fact that they were created and styled by young people themselves.
Bronze Hand Sign Heart Necklace ALDO Accessories $18.00 Blush Pink Pointed Spring Flats SPRING Shoes $25.50
It is this style, street fashion, that has begun to influence the creators of high fashion. The tight-fitted jeans once favoured only by those wearing the street fashion known as punk now are a common element in high fashion designer wear. Similarly, the hippie, loose-flowing dresses with filmy material are being redirected in the fashion set in a more demure, focused innocence.
Clothing & Fashion
Cream Crew Neck Pocket Sweater H&M $14.50
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Gold Base Mint Gem Statement Necklace ALDO Accessories $25.00
Light Blue Ripped Boyfriend Jeans ZARA - Womens $69.99
Mint Nail Polish THE FACESHOP $3.00
Mint Gold Chained Summer Clutch ALDO Accessories $50.00
Solid black Printed Sunglasses ALDO Accessories $18.00
Hip-hop fashion, with its origins in street fashion, has now translated itself into a multi billion dollar industry. While now considered an iconic style, it still continues to be a statement of the music culture from which it originated. Hip hop street clothing emerged from the African American urban movement and filtered into the music industry and was worn by many wellknown recognized athletes. Big name designers have incorporated this fashion into their design lines. Such as Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, among a host of others, feature distinctly street fashion trends in their designs. These designers, along with others, have brought the style to another level by allowing it to influence dress and formal wear. Korean street fashion is largely influenced by the street wear found in the North American area. Though most of their clothing labels are produced within Korea, they are strongly infuenced by
Leopard Print Back Strap Pointed Heel NINE WEST $80.00
trends seen abroad. Korean street fashion have to credit many looks to the hip hop culture as well. Street fashion, though largely influenced by the trends seen worn by the youth can be noted throughout the world, as each and every culture has a youth that is desirous of making statement. This statement is made many times by the clothes chosen to be worn by any given generation. Every decade, which produces a new crop of youth, has a markedly notable street fashion uniquely generated by it. Street fashion is about taking what is in your wardrobe and taking a little bit of seriousness out of it and having more fun with it, a little more “open road” or “freedom”. It’s about adding colour, adding whimsy and playfulness to your outfit as well as breaking out of traditional work wear.
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Seoul Fashion Week
DESIGNERS TO WATCH FOR S/S 2 016
Seoul Fashion Week Spring/Summer is always an exciting time as it is the most looked-forward to event of the year in Seoul, and as such, we feel the need to inform you of some of our favourite designers that we are looking forward to.
87mm
Arche
Big Park
BNB12
Designers: WonJung Kim JeeWoon Park
Designer: ChunHo Yun
Designer: Baekyunsu
Designers: JungMin Choi JungSang Park
Very Excited about these guys. Well known in Korea, This cute couple is part of Generation Next and have a very comfortable street style that is well-loved.
Arche is a cute, simple, clean brand that feels fresh and quite lovely. We can look forward to something that feels light and airy. Look for this brand in Generation Next.
Bright colour combinations and interesting clothing cuts puts Big Park in a league of its own. With type and illustrative images, this Seoul Fashion designer is a must-see.
Another duo from Generation Next, BNB12 demonstrates a cute style that utilizes many patterns from nature, particular fauna in new ways.
Seoul Fashion Week Seoul Fashion Week is growing larger because of it’s continuous additions that are starting to be recognized globally, but how is there so much talent within one tiny country? Honestly speaking, it is our belief that because South Koreans in general put so much pressure on outward appearances and impressing others, it kind of comes with the territory and this is probably why there are various fashion schools within Seoul itself that cater to fashion design. Seoul Fashion Week is constantly showcasing new designers and we wanted to focus on some of them (coming from the Generation Next portion of the fashion week) as well as the more veteran designers. Within our selection of designers, it is our
Cy Choi
goal to give our readers a taste of most og the variety that one can find at Seoul Fashion Week. Especially because it is the Spring and Summer show, there is so much to view and take in. This is not to say that we have shown every type of designer that you can find at the show, since our target is specifically street fashion, but high fashion and couture definitely is thriving, and can be found in the show from extremely experienced designers. In fact, while doing research about these designers, I came across an interesting discovery. It seems that there is a rather large divide that exists between ages. Although not always the case, it seems that older designers, specifically those pushing 50+ years tend to lean towards higher-end
Doii
25
fashion while younger designers come across as more accessible in terms of the appearance of the clothes that they design. Even when looking at the types of experience of these designers, I noticed that many had experience operating their own booth at DOOTA, and other such places. (DOOTA is a building/store conglomeration found in the main fashion section of Dongdaemun, across from the Dongdaemun Design Centre). This is interesting to note because even though Dongdaemun is one of the main fashion areas, it does not contain the most expensive stores that you will find, in fact, if you are looking for higherend places, you tend to head over the Han river to the southern part of Seoul. This is the “Gangnam” area, most popularized by
Jarret
JAYHO
Designer: ChulYong Choi
Designer: DoYi Yi
Designer: JiYeon Lee
Designer: JaeHo Lee
This reminds us a lot of Boy London clothing with a more refined finish and we’re loving it! We definitely think Cy Choi’s rocking it these last few years at Seoul Fashion.
Sophisticated style that uses strong patterns, yes is somehow still so elegant, and absolutely beautiful. Doii can be found at the Seoul Fashion section of this fashion week.
Pairing more elegant dresses and trench coats with typical street style and strong patterns works well for this designer. Check out the Seoul Fashion section to see more.
This true street fashion designer brings it to the runway. Using texture and photographs with minimal colour in his designs makes us excited to check out his runway at Seoul Fashion.
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Seoul Fashion Week
JEHEE SHEEN
J KOO
Low Class
Munsoo Kwon
Designer: JaeHi Shin
Designers: GuYeon Ju JinWoo Choi
Designer: YeongShin Yim
Designer: Munsoo Kwon
At the high end of the street fashion spectrum, Jaehi designs his clothes to work as day and night ensembles which are sensible and look good, all found at the Seoul Fashion show.
A bit more edgy, J KOO brings hints of colour to their clothing while keeping the essential street feel. Take a peek at their Seoul Fashion runway show.
In the Seoul Fashion portion, this brand of clothing is very much the opposite of its name, professional street chic is the best way of describing this Designer’s clothing.
Found in the Seoul Fashion portion, MunSoo makes interesting design choices that make his clothing fascinating too look at. Mixing casual and formal in the best way possible.
South Korean rapper Psy. It does refer to a particular district, but in definition means “south of the river” and that is where the idea of “Gangnam Style” came from was the type of ritzy lifestyle and ideals held by the people who live in this area of the expansive megalopolis.
we wanted on our list (aside from us just generally liking the designers and their clothing) was the idea that these are clothes that you may just see, being worn by individuals on the metro, street, LP bar, board game cafe, noraebang, night club, beer and hoff place, and so on so forth.
Knowing that these designers can be found within buildings around Dongdaemun just goes to show the type of shift that has occurred when talking about the type of fashion being produced in South Korea.
We want you to look out for these designers because they are going to continue producing awesome clothing that can only get better with time. So whether they are in the Generation Next program, or already park of the Seoul Fashion runway shows, make note of them because they are totally worth it.
Now, there is more to this list than just how accessible the designers are, and their variety. Another way that helped us decided who
These are the designers whose clothing is going to be reproduced and found in
the ghost market for discounted prices. Why? Because they sell well. They are wellreceived by the masses. For these reasons, we included all of these designers in our list, for the sole purpose of giving you an insight into the culture, the fashion week, and the designers themselves.
Seoul Fashion Week
Ordinary People
Seoul Pot Studio
Steve J & Yoni P
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Studio K
Designer: HyeongChul Jang
Designer: SuJin Kim
Designers: Seung Yeon Jeon Hyuk
Designer: HyeKin Hong
Our absolute favourite designer. He brings“dapper” back into fashion. Inspired by the 1920s, and always using earthy tones, definitely look out for him in the Seoul Fashion portion.
This the Seoul Fashion designer br in gs ava n t- ga rd e t o s t re e t fashion in a curious way that is very monochromatic while focussing on mixing textures for interests’ sake.
This interesting couple is found in the Seoul Fashion section of the show and often play with colour and material as a means of setting themselves apart.
Like Korean ideals, this modest Seoul Fashion designer plays off the hidden-shoulders/short shorts combination in a laid back way that leaves you wanting more.
Jang HyeongChul Jang HyeongChul’s brand, Ordinary People, is commonly associated with men’s fashion only, but he does in fact design for both men and women. Of course, he does primarily design for men but that is neither here nor there. Why we love Ordinary People so much, is because it really pushes the boundary between street fashion and more of a couture style. By bringing style influences from the Art Deco period into his designs, he makes truly attractive clothing that you enjoy visually as it takes a common man or woman, and raises their attractive level by eight thousand degrees. We can’t get enough and want to share that love with our readers.
STREET
HOW DOES
FASHION
Define who you are?
Street fashion can mean any number of things to different individuals. By listening and asking questions, we can begin understanding these people and the way they think which can be an interesting lesson in what exactly the essence of street fashion really is.
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ELEMENTS OF STREET FASHION
Model: JinSeok Yoon Stylists: JinSeok Yoon Dannie Villalobos Photographer: Darryl Pollock
T
he way we normally define fashion is as the production and marketing of new styles of goods, especially clothing and cosmetics, and with it, most inexperienced people think of runways, models, clothes, and designers. But for some people, clothing is a lot more than simply getting dressed.
survey to be filled out and set-off on a journey, to discover personal street style.\
If there is a difference in time, why do you think that is?
Jinseok Yoon: It takes me roughly around 30 minutes usually.
jy: For a special event, I would match for the dress code and if there is any, I tend to look at the small details such as my shoe colour and matching it to my other accessories.
As it stands, fashion can be extremely personal to some and those are the type of people who make a difference in one small way or another, whether it’s just by
John Wong: It really depends on the day and how i’m feeling, Some days, I don’t care how I look, or woke up late and am in a rush. It will take me about 5 minutes to get dressed Other days, I want to look good, but I don’t know what to wear, so it might take me 15 minutes (if I have time to spare).
Alexander McQueen was an absolutely genius artist who worked in the surreal and etherial.
How long does it take you to get dressed for a regular day?
Sarah Gonzales: 10-15 minutes.
How long does it take you to get dressed for a special event? jy: Usually it will take me around 40 minutes to an hour. sg: 20 minutes to 30 minutes.
appearing stylish, regardless of what they are wearing, or somehow getting those around them to appear stylish as well. So, to get into the mindset of some of these young fashionistas, we created a miniature
jw: I’ll already plan ahead of time what I am going to wear for special events, so it will take about 10 minutes. But, if I have a dress shirt and pants to iron out, then it could be 20 minutes. Clothes I don’t have to iron really cut back on time.
sg: I like to try out different outfits to just make sure it really encapsulates my overall image and style. jw: I think it’s my mood and how much care the clothing fabric requires. If you count having to steam and iron fabrics, it takes longer. It also depends on how many items you’re wearing. Everyone has their good days and their bad days when you can’t seem to put anything together. Do you believe that clothes should be used as a form of self expression? jy: Yes and no. It doesn’t have to be a self expression because certain types of clothing could form a stereotype which is a negative effect. sg: Yes. The way you carry yourself and what you wear leaves an impression on people about who you are.
ELEMENTS OF STREET FASHION
Model: Caroline Dawe Stylists: Caroline Dawe, Dannie Villalobos Photographer: Darryl Pollock
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ELEMENTS OF STREET FASHION
Model: Sarah Gonzales Stylist: Sarah Gonzales Photographer: Darryl Pollock
ELEMENTS OF STREET FASHION
Model: John Wong Stylist: John Wong Photographer: Darryl Pollock
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ELEMENTS OF STREET FASHION
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Model: Alex Au Stylists: Amy Wang Alex Au Photographer: Darryl Pollock
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ELEMENTS OF STREET FASHION
Model: John Wong Stylist: John Wong Photographer: Darryl Pollock
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Models: Alex Wong, Megan Langan, Jinseok Yoon, Kristy North, Caroline Dawe Stylists: Amy Wang, Dannie Villalobos Photographer: Darryl Pollock
jw: Of course. Even if you don’t see your own clothes as an expression of yourself, other people will see your clothes that way. That’s why people say first impressions matter. It’s why people wear suits. At work, you wear certain clothes that express your professionalism. At funerals, you wear black to express your sadness and mourning (or white, depending on your culture). Even if people say no, I can bet they wear different clothing on those days that they feel especially confident.
can have buttons, zippers, clasps, or be open. If you’re feeling chilly, you can always wrap it around yourself. Warm? Tie it around your
What is your favourite article of clothing and why?
shoulders or waist. Everyone has insecurities and cardigans can cover up areas where you might feel you need some security. Cardigans are a quick way to dress-up t-shirts or buttonup shirts, and they’re not too formal or intimidating like blazers can be.
sg: Mom and pop’s closet. jw: For styling inspirations, I really enjoy thinking about what I want to do and where I’d like to go, and whether my wardrobe will help me do that. It sounds kinda funny, but when I feel like I’ve done a good job dressing myself, I not only feel more confident like I can meet lots of new people, but I feel like I can get more things done. If you’re talking about creative inspiration, I go to music videos, not only from North America, but other parts of the world. Music videos are fun and experimental, so they can show you outfits that you might not see yet in everyday life. You can adopt as little or as much of that into your own wardrobes.
Cardigans are a quick way to dress-up t-shirts or button-up shirts, and they’re not too formal or intimidating like blazers can be.
jy: I can’t really pick one. I don’t know. sg: Overalls with underwear on the outside. But in all honesty, I’d say it would be my dad’s navy cardigan. I love to layer, it has just the right amount of bagginess and it’s great for any weather. jw: It would have to be the cardigan. They
What do you think your style says about you?
Where do you get your inspiration for dressing the way that you do?
jy: Hopefully, it says clean and normal since that’s what I want to convey.
jy: my brother mostly. Also, I tend to get ideas from Instagram photos.
sg: That I can look like a boy or a girl and still be as awesome as I want.
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ELEMENTS OF STREET FASHION
Model: Megan Langan Stylist: Megan Langan Photographer: Darryl Pollock
ELEMENTS OF STREET FASHION
Model: JinSeok Yoon Stylists: JinSeok Yoon Dannie Villalobos Photographer: Darryl Pollock
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ELEMENTS OF STREET FASHION
Model: Megan Langan Stylist: Megan Langan Photographer: Darryl Pollock
ELEMENTS OF STREET FASHION
Model: Alex Au Stylists: Amy Wang Alex Au Photographer: Darryl Pollock
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ELEMENTS OF STREET FASHION
Model: John Wong Stylist: John Wong Photographer: Darryl Pollock
jw: That’s really hard to say, because I’m still trying to figure out who I am, and I don’t think that’s going to stop. So my style changes every now and then, and I think that’s a good thing. If I had to say, I would guess my style says: effortlessly well put-together, that I care about myself and have a strong sense of purpose and clean direction about where I want to go. Do you have a favourite designer/fashion blogger/model? If yes, who are they and why? jy: Sorry, again I can’t think of anyone. sg: Alexander McQueen. He was an absolutely genius artist who worked in the surreal and etherial. jw: No, I don.t Just like I change over time, so do designers and their designs or bloggers and
their styles, so it’s hard to have a favourite that stays constant over time. I have a hard time picking a favourite of anything, in general. If you could go to any fashion week would you? Which one and why? jy: I would go to Seoul Fashion week because most of my outfits are dependant on Korean models and current fashion. sg: I would have to say New York because… well it’s New York! jw: I think it’d be fun to go to one anywhere, but I’d like to go to ones in different continents like North America and Asia, just to get a sense of how different people in different places live and how that shows in what they wear. I’m to very familiar with African fashion, so I’d probably learn the most from one there.
When you hear the phrase “Street Fashion”, what comes to mind? jy: Comfortable and not crazy, while still being unique. sg: Bill Cunningham. jw: I think of what people wear on the streets and sidewalks of the city. What people wear during their leisure time on the weekends when they’re hanging out with friends or family. What people wear when they want to have fun and they’re going out for a night on the town. You can show an edgier, more relaxed side of yourself. You can experiment more and try something different or kind of out there. Everyone has a “street fashion”
ELEMENTS OF STREET FASHION
Models: Megan Langan SooJung Kim Caroline Dawe Stylist: Megan Langan, SooJung Kim, Caroline Dawe Photographer: Darryl Pollock
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Nightlife
SINGING YOUR HEART OUT
A l o o k a t C a l g a r y ’s F r i e n d l i e s t K a r a o k e B a r
evaluate. These things range from a location’s ability to NOT smell like hepatitis and the things that would prevent that, your ability to stay alive attempting to reach the locale, if the music sucks, if you are going to feel claustrophobic from being shoved into a closettype room, and if the people working there are total jerks or genuinely friendly individuals who are more than happy to help.
Entering the Bar
Owner: Sungki Lee
With all the Asian influences that are found throughout Calgary, it comes as no surprise that we also adopted a love for singing poorly into low-quality microphones with a lot of reverberation. Karaoke is a great way to socialize with friends, even if you can’t hold a single note. The atmosphere found at most karaoke bars are laid back and ridiculously fun, but what sets one bar apart from the others? The truth is, when it comes to deciding between one place and another, there are many things that we
Does it smell like hepatitis? Okay, so when it comes to Nanta... well... it isn’t very clean. Some of the books smell of old mouldy beer, the washrooms do have minor issues such as holes in the drywall and no hot water. However, even so, I do have to say that when it comes to the things that do count i.e. the glassware and dishes that are used for serving, they are pristine and that should count for a lot. If you can handle the smell that emanates from the selection books and that washroom that you may not even use, I suggest heading to Sole or Galaxy.
Am I going to get shivved trying to get there? Being a block away from both the northbound and southbound train stations means that Nanta
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is in a prime location for accessibility, and even when the trains do stop running for the night, it is not hard to get a taxi. But, Nanta’s benefits don’t stop there. There is usually ample parking on both sides of the street, so even if you choose to drive, you won’t have to walk a long distance to get there. Sure, Sole offers all of these perks as well, except you have to walk through a creepy downtown alleyway to get to the entrance of it. I would prefer to keep my kidneys, thank you very much.
Does the music suck? Often times, it feels like Galaxy is the better of the two places for music variety but it isn’t a fair assessment since you can usually just look through the menu to find the song that you want, while the owner of Nanta has a business to run and has a lot less time to continuously searching through the vast ocean of music he has on the system. As it stands, aside from not having the one Rammstein song(which is pretty
Private Room (Seoul)
operate one of the remotes as they can be a bit frustrating and daunting when you are learning how to use them. The only way that your ears will bleed is by those karaoke lovers who are completely oblivious to just how tone-deaf they actually are.
Am I going to feel claustrophobic? This section is fairly self explanatory. If you have ever been to a karaoke bar, you are probably aware that in most cases (if they are the Asian style of bar) you rent rooms by the hour and sing to your heart’s content. This is pretty on-par with what you will find when you go to any noraebang in Korea and probably Japan.
Are the people who work there, jerks? Upper Entrance
obscure) that Galaxy has, you definitely get a vast selection to choose from which spans across multiple languages. So it really is fair to say the selection Nanta offers is ample enough, and if you do choose to rent a private room that you will pay for by the hour, feel free to peruse through the vast selection of songs for that one song you want to sing. I just hope you know how to
span of time, I have gotten to know him and have even become friends. We have had some pretty deep conversations with him where he has earnestly told us about customers. These conversation lead me to this conclusion: Sungki will treat you well, so long as you do the same and understand that he is running a business and needs you to buy things so that he can continue paying his electric and water bills. There have been a few times where he has had customers furious because he hasn’t “put in their song” even though they put it in after last-call, and have set off on verbally abusing him and threatening to “shut him down”. It really just boils down to: if you act like an adult, he will do his best to accommodate you within what is possible for him. If you stick to these simple guidelines, you will not find a friendlier owner anywhere else in the city.
This one is probably the most important of all of the different evaluation categories. If you find that you cannot get along with the hosts, or they try to rip you off, or treat you in a terrible way, you really don’t feel like spending your money there, because why would you want to support people you dislike? Sungki (Rick) Lee is the owner of Nanta and has been single-handedly running his establishment for eight years. For three of those years, my friends and I have been attending Nanta every week and over this
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Music
SEASONAL PLAYLIST
M u s i c t o E n r i c h Yo u r S p r i n g & S u m m e r There is no doubt, that as exporters of music, Korea is probably in the top 5 countries. However, this does not mean that all the music produced in the country is gold. There really is a decent selection of good music in different genres found within Korean culture, and we are here to help you sift through the crap to find the music that isn’t generic, cut-copy music that has been heard before.
Crush & Zion T - Just M/V
Urban The more chilled-out sounds of urban music are great for unwinding after work, sexy-time, or just as a means of getting rid of all your stress. Crush - Whatever You Do ft. Gray (2015) Zion.T - Zero Gravity (‘15) Pretty Brown - Farewell ft. Kanto (‘15) Primary & Ohyuk - Island (‘15) Primary & Ohyuk - Bawling (‘15) Primary - Etunnel ft. Gaeko (‘15) TROY - Green Light (‘14)
R&B GaIn in Apple M/V
Slower than Urban, but still lovely, this music hits you hard in the heart. Crush & Zion.T - Just (2015) Jay Park - The Promise (‘14)
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GaIn in Paradise Lost M/V
HipHop & Rap
Electronic
Jazz/Lounge
More up-beat, this is the type of music that’s perfect for roadtrips in the sun, and getting pumped up before going to for the night.
Jazz is pretty self explanatory regardless of the language, it seems to extend borders and boundaries.
Gaeko & Yankie - Cheers (2015)
The electronic scene is HUGE in Seoul and you can pretty much find any type of electronic music in clubs across it, yet finding recorded stuff is a lot harder to find, so here’s just a few good songs.
Giriboy - Back & Forth 30 Minutes (‘15)
Glen Check - Pacific (2015)
서서우재- Hot Coffee ft.Kim WonJu (‘15)
Paloalto - Good Times ft. Babylon (‘15)
Electricity Flowing - Empty Night (‘15)
SamSam - Elephant (‘15)
Jolly V - It’s All Good(‘15) Jessi - Unpretty Dreams (‘15) KangNam, Jessi, Cheetah - My Type (‘15)
HipHop/Pop This crossover category that merges boy/ girl groups with heavy hiphop and rap elements that are best for getting pumped up or raising the energy level of a house party. GaIn - Apple ft. Jay Park(2015)
Indie This crossover category that merges boy/ girl groups with heavy hiphop and rap elements that are best for getting pumped up or raising the energy level of a party.
JAZZOTHEQUE - Shark (2015) JAZZOTHEQUE - Just Curious (‘15)
Zion.T - Yanghwa Daegyo (‘14)
Ska
Cranfield - Cobalt (‘15)
Although I could put this in the indie category, Ska is always best left separate since it really is its own sound. There’s only one song that really got our attention this year though, so without further ado, here it is.
Aurorasting, Met - About the Change (‘15)
Garlixx - Barbecue (2014)
Hee Sang - Wind (2015) Neuru - Stay With Me (‘15)
GaIn - Free Will ft. Dok2 (‘15) Xia Junsu - X Song ft. Dok2 (‘15) San E & HyoRin - Coach Me ft. JuHon (‘15) B-Free - Love Last Forever (‘15) Block B - Her (‘14) MIB - Chisa Bounce (‘14) TROY - Why Are We? (‘14)
Pop This is what Korea’s best known for and it isn’t sorry about it whatsoever. Some are just great positive vibes while others make you feel a little darker. GaIn - Paradise Lost (2015) GaIn - Guilty (‘15) Shinhwa - Sniper (‘15) Xia Junsu - Flower (‘15)
Giriboy in 30 min M/V
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Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. - Coco Chanel