Early August Girl Group Style Roundup: Wonder Girls, T-ARA, Apink

Hi lovelies! Wow, I've been falling behind on my posts! Let's kick off my return with a K-pop style inspiration roundup featuring the 3 biggest girl group comebacks so far this month! Click on the photos for shopping info. ^^

Wonder Girls - I Feel You by luhunnie

Aw yeah, WG are back! I can't even express how much I loved this song. It was very old school with a serious 80's vibe, proving that Infinite isn't the only K-pop group that can channel that decade's sound properly! The looks themselves were pretty simple--the girls mostly wore bathing suit style leotards and heels as they "played" their instruments lol.

I, however, have neither the body confidence nor desire to leave my house wearing a leotard, so how about a simple bodycon sleeveless dress instead? Add a black belt around the waist and platform sandals, and you're golden! Don't forget the chandelier earrings and matching bright lipstick.

Also don't forget the cleavage and come hither eyes. Get it, Yubin!

The middle look is based on Hyelim's striped crop tank and shorts in the MV, while the American Apparel lip print tank appears on Sunmi in the first moments of the MV (you know...when she's on the toilet. Why, JYP??).

Did you enjoy the WC comeback as much as I did? What do you think of the 80's retro sound in K-pop? 

Next we had some of the usual zany cuteness from T-ARA with 'So Crazy.' I'm not a huge fan of all the aegyo-filled silliness of the MV, but the song is usual T-ARA catchy and I love the little finger pointing dance at the "oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh" part haha. The girls look super cute in their marine girl fashions, but I don't recommends copping them exactly unless you want to look like you either raided a lingerie store or thought Halloween came early. 

Ahoy, sailor! kkkkk

Instead, let's stick to a cute but realistic outfits in nautical white and blue with a few marine inspired accessories. Those navy and gold peeptoe pumps even have an anchor embellishment! <3

Did you enjoy T-ARA's comeback? What did you think of the MV and their marine girl costumes? 

Seriously, the dance is super easy and fun!

Last but not least was Apink's 'Petal,' which featured some really lovely floral dresses and skirts. The looks in the MV were actually quite simple with the director opting to focus instead on the girls' pretty hair and faces. I loved the water lilies in the scenery--the whole thing was like a Monet painting. SO pretty. Just pick a lovely floral dress or skirt as the focal point and add some understated jewelry and accessories. For makeup, give your cheeks and lips a fresh rosy glow and don't forget the bright orange nail polish! 

Aww they were so pretty! 

I actually just saw Apink on Saturday doing a fansign at Times Square mall in Yeongdeungpo. It was a circus, but the girls seemed very nice and down to earth. The fans seemed to really enjoy themselves. :)

What did you think of 'Remember' and 'Petal' this summer? Do you have an Apink bias? I loved Eunji ever since Reply 1997. ^^

Please comment with requests for any K-pop style inspiration posts! 

Kisses,

Angela

7 Things I've Learned Being a Fat Girl in Korea

Hi lovelies! I'd like to talk briefly today about a subject that's very close to my heart, especially as I'm in the middle of a career transition. Many people fall in love with Korea after being hit with the hallyu wave and inundating themselves with K-pop and/or K-dramas. I'm no exception! I was dazzled by how beautiful the men and women on the screen were, and I was very vocal in my praise (much love to my friends and family back home who put up with my fangirling for so long lol). 

For a number of reasons, I decided I must go live in Korea--that was the country for me. I devoured all the info I could on expat life in Korea, but I was disturbed by reading some miserable experiences of overweight expats here. If you read those stories, please don't be scared off! I didn't let them me put me off, but I came to Korea four years ago expecting the worst. I'll relate some of things I discovered in that time without judgment. 

First of all, when you're watching your K-pop MVs and feeling bad about your body, just remember...

Not everyone is as beautiful as the celebrities we see on TV. I think that Korean people are in general very attractive and that Korea probably contains more good looking people on average than many countries. I'm biased, however, and have a definite preference for Korean features. The fact that not everyone looks like the models and K-pop idols won't stop them from TRYING to look that way though. Again, I don't mean everyone--some Koreans are perfectly happy with their appearance without constantly comparing it to the ideal. But that's the thing: there is a very specific "ideal" of beauty and it's pervasive in Korean society. Everywhere! On the subway, on the TV, walking down the street you'll get reminders that...

Beauty ideals are extremely specific. It's not enough to have a nicely proportioned and symmetrical face. You must have the V-line (jawline shaped like a 'v') and a small face. I still don't completely understand the small face thing after all my time here, but I know some friends who get made fun of for having large heads. That's just something that I never noticed, having grown up in the States where it's not something we're taught to notice. Even if you have the face shape down, skin tone is important for Korean beauty standards--the lighter the better. Also, having a "high nose" and big eyes is desirable along with those enviable straight brows. 

If you get frustrated, the many plastic surgery ads around Seoul offer suggestions lol.

As for your figure, slender bodies are preferred on men and women, though a woman should have as large breasts as are reasonable on her slight frame (that's flexible though--there are plenty of slim women with A-cups who still fit the ideal). Also, one should work out to make themselves slim in a way that doesn't give them big calves. Heaven forbid we see muscles on an in-shape set of legs (ok, I got a bit judgy there after all--sorry).

As there is a different cultural standard for beauty...

There is a different standard for politeness regarding weight. I can't recall a specific instance of this happening to me, but it probably has sometime in the last four years: a well meaning Korean colleague or friend will take you aside and kindly inform you that you really need to lose weight for your health. They don't mean to be rude at all, only helpful, and will offer to assist you or make suggestions of nutritionists or Chinese medicine clinics. The funny thing is that most of the friends I hear this anecdote are not really overweight, but are only fat by Korean standards (larger than a size 6).

Oh, wait! The first time I got a physical here the doctor had a very serious talk with me about my weight and suggested how many kilos to lose. Also, though it would hardly be spoken out loud, companies might hesitate to hire someone based on their weight. All jobs require recent photos submitted with the resume even before an interview, so just...be prepared. I've yet to lose out on a teaching job because of my weight, but now that I'm doing other things I'm mentally preparing for the worst because...

Korea isn't made for overweight people. First of all, it's very difficult to find plussized women's clothes in stores. Maybe it's easier online, but many foreigners' limited Korean skills makes that difficult. Also, as we plussized folks know, trying on clothes to check the fit is very important. More than that, however, many places and features are designed without large people in mind. I've many a time feared breaking a tiny stool or wobbly looking chair at a cafe.

Me at Lotte World

Public transportation and theme parks can also be difficult for people over a certain weight. I haven't personally gone on a ride a couldn't fit into, but it's been tight a few times. Some folks a little bigger than me can't fit into some rides at all. And yet...

There actually are overweight people in Korea. You certainly wouldn't know it from the Korean media, however, where the only overweight actors are comedians or gag men. Korean television is very careful to promote the idealized Korean beauty standard as, if not the norm, then something to aspire to. Nevertheless, there are walking, talking, breathing overweight people in Korea. As an overweight or obese person, you won't be gawked at like a circus freak in a country full of supermodels. I promise! There might be some uncomfortable moments, but as long as you're prepared for that, you can let it roll off your back. 

The hardest thing to get used to as a fat person in Korea is the constant expectation that someone will make a comment or be rude about your weight when meeting someone new.

Just know that, even though the dread is always there, it rarely ever happens. My most awkward moments have come from when I was teaching: children have no filters, or from random old women making passing comments to my friends. Something along the lines of "Oh, your friend would be really pretty if she lost weight!" I just do my best not to feel insulted and agree that I would indeed be prettier (at least according to the Korean standard) if I lost weight. But even if you feel unattractive sometimes, don't worry...

You can still date Koreans. For those of you who want to come to Korea and find a nice Korean bf/gf (for whatever reason, no judgment), don't get discouraged. If you don't let your self esteem get ruined seeing all of the beautiful, thin Koreans around you, it's absolutely possible to find a boyfriend/girlfriend no matter your body type. I'm a size 16 and have a wonderful boyfriend who, though having grown up with those specific ideals and expectations of beauty, loves me regardless. We have an open dialogue about my weight loss struggles, but I still know he thinks I'm beautiful and he wasn't the only one. I've seen people bigger than me dating Koreans and being perfectly happy. 

I think I started taking better care of my appearance in general, and specifically to makeup, hair, and skincare, since I got to Korea because those were aspects of my appearance I could immediately control and improve upon. Weight loss takes time, a good makeover doesn't. For me, making sure I'm put together every day gives me the boost of confidence I need to feel attractive in a country where my body is so far from the ideal.

I think that if you feel comfortable and let yourself be lovely, it will attract the right people. And even if it takes time...

It's so worth it. Despite all of the challenges, I find myself more motivated than ever to lose weight! I'm certainly more motivated than I was living in the States. For me, it took getting out of the routine and comfort of my own country to truly begin my weight loss journey. Even if I wasn't trying to lose weight, however, my love for Seoul and my life in Korea would make any number of unpleasant observations or suggestions related to my weight worth it. Do I think life will be easier in Korea if I lose more weight? Of course. The shopping options alone will change my life! However, even if I never lose another kilo, I wouldn't give up my life in Korea. I'm not naive enough to expect the strict standards of beauty here to dramatically change any time soon, but I sincerely hope people are not scared away from coming to Korea because they don't fit that standard. 

I've found my happiness here and am happy to share it with the world! Wherever you settle, please feel lovely in your own skin and trust your good qualities to recommend you to people worthy of your love! Feel free to comment with any questions about being overweight in Korea or any stories of your own. Have you had any unpleasant weight related moments in your time here? Let us know~^^

Kisses,

Angela

K-Pop Style: Super Junior - Devil

Super Junior - Devil click on the image above for shopping info ^^

AHHHHHH SJ IS BAAAAAACK!!! OMG I always anticipate their comebacks with all the enthusiasm my poor fangirl heart can muster (which is a lot), and Suju doesn't disappoint! They've been doing this so long, each comeback is so smooth and so pro. I love EXO and BTS and all the younger guys too, but I still need SJ to come around once a year and school everyone on how it should be done! Super Junior is like "You think you're confident? THIS is confidence. You think you're sexy? THIS is sexy. 

Bringing sexy back since 2005 >///<

One of the best and most unique things about Super Junior is their humor and ability to not take themselves too seriously. I know other groups try to joke around, but most are far too concerned with their cool image to really let loose and goof off. That's why SJ is still so important to the K-pop landscape even ten years later! Ten years is a looooong run for a boy band, but SJ still gets all the love from fans. Their personalities are what SM markets best, not their amazing talent or their ability to look hot in a suit.

Though I'm sure it helps.

Anyway, SJ has found a formula that really works for them over the years and I won't argue with them. Classy suits, a smooth and sexy sound, and awesome dance moves all blend together beautifully into that classic SJ image we know and love. 'Devil' is no exception, and I have personally already seen both ELF and non fans singing along and tapping their feet to the song as it plays around Seoul. I'm so proud of our boys as they celebrate both another hit and their tenth anniversary! Ohhhh I can't wait for the party in November! ^o^

As for the fashion in the music video, it would have been easy to do menswear looks inspired by some of the members' more fabulous suits. However, I chose two looks based on the girl, the titular "devil" (don't get me started on SM's portrayals of white girls in MVs--that's a rant for another time). 

The look on the left is from her scene with Kyuhyun: "Devil's Temptation." It features a kind of sexy business woman vibe: white silk blouse, black pencil skirt (with slit), and the glorious ankle strap pumps that stood out most to me. Don't forget the smoky eye and red lipstick! 

The look in the middle is based on her outfit in "Street Dance of Love" (lol) featuring the black crop top and sequin skirt. I thought the little devil horn headband might be fun for a night out too! 

The look on the right is inspired by Yesung's wonderful red blazer, white tee, black pants, black and white loafers combo. Yesung oppa isn't even my bias, but his outfit really stood out to me (and I'm happy he's back!).

We all know Eunhyuk is my ultimate bias now and forever! He killed it in that burgundy suit, too <3

What did you think of the song and MV? How about the live performances? 

Also, I have a very exciting makeup project in the works to celebrate 'Devil,' so please expect! I hope everyone loves the SJ comeback and spreads the ELF love during their promotional period! As always, please comment with any looks you'd like to see next~~~

Kisses,

Angela

K-pop Style: AOA - Heart Attack

AOA - Heart Attack by luhunnie

Real quick, I just wanted to post a couple of looks from AOA's performances of "Heart Attack!" I like the MV, but lacrosse inspired fashion isn't really my cup of tea. I think their cute ensembles in the performances are more wearable though! I loved Jimin's off the shoulder white shirt with the pink mini. I also thought the schoolgirl looks with the plaid skirts were cute too! I'm not a fan of wedge sneakers though (I'm tall enough), so some simple white kicks like these Lacoste ones are perfect for this look. For makeup, the girls have really fresh and rosy looks, so I'm going for this lip and ckeek tint from Korres. As for the cat ear headband, why not? *sings along to "Like A Cat"*

What did you think of the song? I love the word 심쿵 haha--it's one of my favorite Korean words (thanks, BF, for teaching it to me!) and I use it all the time. I thought the lacrosse motif was a bit much, but I really enjoy the song itself! 

Also, I thought Jimin's sqeauky chipmunk voice was weird and annoying at first, but it really grew on me! Now I think it's really cute kkkk.

Feel free to leave requests for any looks you want to see! 

Kisses,

Angela

BTS "Dope" and my Love for Rapping Boy Bands

Hey Lovelies! I don't know about you, but along with all the Bigbang, "Dope" by BTS has been my ultimate summer jam! It's so catchy and the choreo is seriously on point! I've always liked BTS despite my skepticism during their debut.

For the sake of nostalgia, I want to repost this essay I wrote 2 years ago after their debit ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.

Bulletproof: BTS Doesn’t Care About Your Criticism

Confession: I have a soft spot for Bangtan Boys.

The last two years have seen a bevy of  boy groups debut on the K-pop scene, all struggling to stand out in a sea of fresh rookie talent. In an effort to make themselves memorable, however, more and more groups seem to be trying a similar strategy. Is it just me, or have these recent rookie groups really been pushing a more aggressive and manly image than the boy group debuts of earlier years? The first name that comes to mind along that vein is B.A.P, who debuted in early 2012 with the bombastic “Warrior.” With a heavy hip-hop influence, B.A.P blew audiences away with their forceful dancing and manly charisma. Let’s just all take a minute to appreciate Bang Yong Guk’s grimy voice and Zelo’s gritty, playful rapping. Wasn’t their sound both powerful and fresh?  

 B.A.P. weren’t the only ones, however—Block B also debuted in early 2012 with the amazingly catchy “Nalina,” which also highlighted the rapping talents of the members. I would place these two groups in a separate category from, say, Exo who also had a fantastic debut in 2012. Though their edgy debut concept (if we’re counting “Mama” as their official debut instead of the fabulous “What Is Love” and “History” which were technically just teasers—thanks for the confusion, SM), the major hip-hop influence of B.A.P. and Block B was absent. Exo’s single “Wolf” has a decidedly more hip-hop/dubstep feel to it and adequately shows off their rapping talent, but I still wouldn’t call them quite the same style as the other two. Anyway, it was “Growl” that best showed off their signature style and made them a household name in Korea.

Yes, B.A.P. and Block B have decidedly different sounds, but their music is of a similar style (come at me, Babyz and BBC!). I’m not trying to argue about who did this new style first or who did it best, but the trend that began last year is unmistakable. More recent debuts from rookies like BTS with “No More Dream” and LC9 with “Mama Beat” seem to continue that trend of gritty hip-hop style dance tracks. In fact, there now seems to be a hazy subgenre of boy groups whose focus has taken a turn towards rapping in a big way with an intimidating image to match. It’s not that these boys can’t sing—it’s just that rapping is their bread and butter. Along with that comes a lot of attitude and a refusal to conform with traditional ideas of male beauty and “cute” male behavior in the Korean music industry. In fact, B.A.P is hilariously bad at aegyo, which this writer thinks is totally charming and refreshing.

                                  

            BTS and LC9, the most recent rookie groups in this batch of badass boy bands, have even upped the ante on their seniors who debuted last year. LC9 stands out for their insanely violent MV in which they basically beat the ever living crap out of each other, Street Fighter style. Viewers may not remember the song itself, but that MV was certainly memorable! As for BTS, I was a bit skeptical at first about such a young group, with a leader named “Rap Monster” no less, pulling off such a strong hip-hop concept. However, overused hip-hop clichés aside, their debut single ‘No More Dream’ showed off some legit rapping skills and their powerful stage performances cinched their impressive arrival on the K-pop scene. As for their age not quite matching the concept, what can we do? It seems K-pop fans have a soft spot for cute Korean schoolboys spitting gritty East Coast style rap.

            That choreography though…I’m never prepared. Seriously, aren’t these guys a little young to be moving that way??? Good thing my bias is legal (20 is close is enough, right?) You can get it, Suga. <3

But whatever. WE GO HARD DURING COFFEE HOURS!!! Keep it up, Bangtan. Haters gonna hate.

A/N: Conversation with my friend right before posting:

Me: If I say ‘I have a soft spot for Bangtan,’ does that sound all pedonoona?

Olivia: No lol. As long as you aren’t, like, creepily leching on them. 

*relieved sigh*

Ah, memories! In the past 2 years Bangtan has continued to surpass my expectations and became a group to be reckoned with. I've gotten over their ages and consider them one of the most talented groups out there! 

What did you think of their last MV? For fashion inspired by "Dope" check my recent post. Do you love them as much as I do?

Also, GD won the Bigbang poll, so expect a tribute to him soon! ;)

K-pop Style: BTS - Dope

BTS - Dope by luhunnie 

Fair warning, guys, I am OBSESSED with the choreography for this song at the moment. I really love BTS's agressive sound and think they're really talented in spite of their young age. However, they still seem really young to me...know what I mean? Like, when I see all their career outfits in the MV, I'm thinking "Aw, cute! They're cosplaying as grown ups!" instead of feeling the male stripper vibe I think the studio was going for. Despite their adorable faves, BTS always turns out really fierce performances that give them the manly aura they need. I wrote an article on them back when they ddebuted I'll have to link...

As for the looks from the MV, they were mostly based on different occupations: pilot, police officer (Kookie was too cute), office worker, etc. the looks I chose are based on their group outfits in the live performances. Let's take a look, clockwise from the left:

• BTS fan bracelets to show your ARMY pride ^^ 
• This AMAZING navy Moschino blazer with gold trim is evocative of their military style jackets from the Music Core comeback.

• Dior Addict Lip Glow to give your lips that subtle rosy gloss that goes well with a menswear inspired look (some of the boys may or may not have been wearing it in the MV kkkk).
• A plain white tee, because after watching so many of their dance practice vids, that's just a look I associate BTS with. 
• Black leather pants (imitation is better) because they looked great with the jacket in the live  performance! 
• Heeled black lace-up boots make a nice change from plain combat boots.
• Cute red MCM backpack similar to the one Jung Kook has to add a bit of color. I have a beige one (Luhan's) and love it! 
• Handcuff bracelet, a nod to the adorable Officer Kookie kkkk
• This black and white dress was a nice alternative to their simple white shirt, black skinny tie and pants outfits from the MV and the M!Countdown performance. Office appropriate, no? ^^
• Some cute cat earrings just because I think Suga looks kind of like a cute cat.
• Dope snapback for a bit of flair.

What did y'all think of BTS's comeback? Do Korean boy bands inspire your fashion choices? Who's your bias in BTS? :)

K-pop Style: BigBang - Bang Bang Bang

Too fierce, just like our boys! Click on the image or the link below for shopping info ^^

BigBang - Bang Bang Bang

BigBang just had a massive comeback this summer with a whole host of fierce songs! I love them all, but my personal favorite has to be the bombastic "Bang Bang Bang!" The fashions are spectacular, the beat is on fire, and the MV looks like it was directed by someone coming off a week long anime and coke bender (don't play, GD, we know it was really you). "Bang Bang Bang" represents everything I love about BigBang and what makes them completely irreplaceable in the K-pop landscape. Above I've tried to make their outrageous awesome outfits wearable for even a girly girl like me kkkk.

Let's look at some elements of the look from left to right:

• I love pink hair on pretty much anyone and everyone, so I won't question Taeyang's choice on this! If you want pink hair yourself hair chalk is great temporarily, or if you're forbidden to have pink hair for some reason (I'm looking at you, BF) pick a nice pink matte lipstick that makes an impact. 
• Some cute heeled Timberlands are a good alternative to Taeyang's suede...Uggs? What even were those?
• I'm not a huge fan of camo in general, but a cute camo top echoes the tank scene nicely!
• There are some fabulous black leather jackets in this MV, so pick a flattering one like this biker jacket! 
• The white Dr. Martens are a wearable alternative to GD's crazy boots in the car scene. I love the bright white point on an all black outfit!
• Lots of studded and spiked jewelry. Go!
• Dark denim, the more distressed or destroyed the better!
• If you wanna really commit, get a collar necklace to echo GD's gurl-on-a-leash fashion. That was honestly my biggest wtf moment in this MV...but I love him for always bringing me those moments! 
• Cute clutch reminiscent of the title ^^
• The best I could hope to come to rocking GD's epic fur coat is a fur vest.
• Yessssss my favorite look was the crazy sequined red devil look GD sported! Channel it with an embellished red dress and these wicked sequin heels! And then...go get...a man on a leash? O.o
• Add a spritz of some sultry but feminine Givenchy to balance everything. See what I did there? Givenchy...Giyongchy? *dorky high fives*

And that's that! What did y'all think of the MV? I liked it! Visually it was kind of a hot mess, but when is that ever not the case for BigBang? I even liked all the glitter! Sooooooo much glitter. 

Well if y'all haven't guessed it, my bias is a certain Kwon JiYong. Who's your bias?? What was your favoriye BB song this summer? Let me know in the comments! 

Kisses,

Angela