Imagine these looksā¦
Jelly pump shoes with an asymmetrical suit – because, why not?
Using parts of your mumās old flip phone as a hairclip to pair with your Y2K inspired bubble skirt – because standard accessories are just not enough for your desired look.
If it suits your style, then there is no limit to your wardrobe and the many possible outfit combinations you can wear. This is what South-Korean girl group ILLIT promotes as they explore the deconstruction of strict confines within fashion throughout their performances. With a concept that consists of styles that exist in fantasy media, like that of Sailor Moon, members (Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee and Iroha) embody the magical girl aesthetic. They live up to their group name – pronounced Iāll it – as it is an abbreviation of the phrase āI Will Do Itā.Ā
The world needs more people with the confidence to express their unique fashion; ILLIT’s comebacks are paving the way for an acceptance of bringing back fun and whimsy to experimental fashion.
Last year, ILLIT came out with their song āJellyousā. The MV highlights the ‘dreamcore’ aesthetic, focusing on surreal visuals as the members jump realities to be characters in an array of video games; allusions are made to Just Dance, Wii, Brain Train, Subway Surfers and the Horror Simulator genre.
A theme in their fashion throughout the MV is the patterns. They combine polka dots and stripes, matching the patterns without making it look like they are clashing. All outfits are layered, bringing together bits and pieces that would otherwise not be considered to be arranged together. A lot of ILLITās wardrobe is sourced from small brands, accessorised with an array of adornments to create an outfit that rivals designer clothing.Ā
Every outfit is fun and unconventional, and every look is finished with the colours of their makeup. After the first chorus, when they are dancing in a market, the members each wear a custom-made tracksuit in a different colour. Minjuās yellow outfit matches with her blush. The bright colour is not typically used for blush, yet it quickly became trending after this comeback. Its release saw a wave of makeup transformations inspired by this look made popular by the ILLIT member. It made clear that any colour blush has the potential to look great and tie together a look where a drop of whimsy is needed.Ā
After āJellyousā, ILLIT dropped the song āNot Cute Anymoreā. You may have heard it from the viral audio snippet used in videos on social media, featuring a 0.5 angle of someone pinching the hood of someone else while they pretend to run like a cartoon character on one leg. It makes them look like a dangling keychain, which actually relates to the photoshoots taken for their album jackets as they focus on trinkets for decorative purposes. The concept photos are taken of the back of the members heads with Mokaās picture being used for the cover of the record.
On the back of their heads are items that are not commonly used as hair accessories:
Yunah – transparent sticky notes with gem stickers
Minju – a pink cap with wired headphones wrapped in a bow around two pigtails, as if they are hairbandsĀ
Moka – decorated combs and an Ipod player clipped into her hairĀ
Wonhee – retro flip phones closed on her hair
Iroha – pens/pencils and what looks like scissors sticking out of a bun
The theme here is practical items used as decorative pieces. It blends the line between what is seen as having function and what is considered pure aesthetic, suggesting that anything can be used to facilitate a style as there is beauty in everything around us. ILLITās outfits really stand out due to how they accessorise. They balance between two methods: having these pieces match their clothing, and having it be its own statement piece.Ā
When asked by DAZED Magazine what makes her feel most confident, Iroha replied, āI feel confident when wearing beautiful clothes with accessories. When my outfit is meticulously styled with gorgeous pieces of clothing and accessories, it boosts my confidenceā.Ā
The experimental track matches their experimental style. The song has a deep and mellow sound, which contrasts precious comebacks which are characterised by their bubbly beat and energetic choreography. The MV starts with a quote typed in yellow, āBeing cute doesn’t define who I am. Thereās a lot more to me than thatā. It is a direct response to the criticism that the group has had in the past for having a consistent ācute conceptā. They emphasise the nuances in fashion, stating that people can be cute as well as embodying other styles.Ā
ILLIT is one of my favourite music groups. Their concept encourages complimenting various fashion elements to make a bespoke outfit that speaks to your unique style. They have inspired me to have confidence with dressing in line with maximalism, without the fear of being called ātoo muchā; in particular, I have started wearing more accessories. Having that freedom with fashion should be normalised, instead of rejected due to it not conforming to current trends.