What to wear to a K-pop concert
We gathered some outfit inspiration from ATEEZ’s fans, ATINY, to help you dress for your next K-pop concert.
We take a look back at fan outfits from the ATEEZ concert in London 2022. Image: Gabii Rayner for Cherry Chu.
K-pop fans love to dress up, and a concert is a perfect opportunity to do so! Whether you’ve attended many a K-pop concert, or none at all, it’s likely that you know just how much of a runway the event can be. But where should you begin? How should you dress for a K-pop concert and what inspires fans? We’ve got you covered, with a little help from the ATEEZ fans (ATINYs) at the Fellowship: Beginning of the End concert back in London 2022.
1. Copy a member's style/outfit
Aside from their talent and performances, K-pop idols are often known for their unique style, whether it’s their own personal choices (as seen in airport snaps) or shaped by their team’s professional stylists to suit each comeback. To inspire an outfit of your own, you can look straight to the artists themselves! Try to recreate a look from a live comeback stage, a photoshoot, or a concert — or perhaps try analysing a member’s personal tastes.
This fan took her inspiration from TWICE’s Tzuyu, recreating her own version of the concert outfit seen on their North American shows. Image 1: Gabii Rayner for Cherry Chu. Image 2: Pham (@tphamBU) on Twitter.
2. Match with your bestie
Concerts are a great time to draw up a matching costume with your best K-pop friend. Long gone are the days of ‘BFF’ bracelets and matching necklaces from Claire’s, friendship fashion is where it’s at. Whether it’s matching in colour or style or matching by being complementary opposites, show off your connection through your clothes. It will make for some great photos too!
The K-pop fans above show off their matching ‘angel/devil’-esque outfits. Image: Gabii Rayner of Cherry Chu.
3. Explore the vibe of your favourite song
Another more flexible option is to create a look based on a certain song. Perhaps your favourite track has a particular kind of energy or evokes a certain colour or feeling in your head.
For example, “Surfin” by Stray Kids brings to mind images of a tropical holiday with its use of steel drums and upbeat melodies, so a brightly coloured outfit with lots of floral or sunshine motifs could work. Or maybe you’re after something darker, suiting a song like “Red Sun” by Dreamcatcher. The track is eerie with a hint of magic, perfect for conjuring up something witchcraft-esque, with long black lace and heavy, smoky makeup.
4. Utilise the group's concept
With some K-pop groups, their fashion style is incredibly distinct, particularly if they have a personal storyline or lore that is woven into their music videos and tracks. This is especially so in the case of the eight-member boy group ATEEZ; the team have had a pirate-inspired concept since their debut, which often deviates into themes of anarchy, warped realities, and self-conflict.
This is great for fans hoping to attend a concert, or simply looking to shape their looks around the members. Outfit possibilities include pirate motifs (corsets, hats, ruffled shirts), ‘HALATEEZ’ based looks (the alternate version of ATEEZ, decked out in chains and black blazers) or even punk-influenced pieces to tie in with the anarchic themes (torn shirts, hand-painted trousers, safety pins).
Other ideas for conceptual groups and corresponding looks include Kingdom’s medieval group concept, aespa’s futuristic A.I. group concept, WJSN’s astrological group concept, Red Velvet’s ‘red vs velvet’ group concept, and KARD’s playing card group concept.
These fans at the ATEEZ show in London have utilised elements of the group’s concept, donning corsets, chains, and lots of black. Credit: Gabii Rayner for Cherry Chu.
However, if you’re looking for something simpler, there’s always colour. Most groups within the K-pop industry will assign themselves an official colour, usually seen on album covers or lightsticks. For example, SHINee as ‘Pearl Aqua’, Girls’ Generation as ‘Pastel Rose Pink’, and NCT as ‘Pearl Neo Champagne’. Others have colours simply associated with them (BTS with purple, Blackpink with black and pink) and this is always a great route to go down, dressing as you feel comfortable but in the group’s representative shade.
5. Take inspiration from a music video
Arguably the most popular choice for a K-pop concert is to duplicate a particular outfit or style seen in a song’s music video — these looks can be iconic to a lot of fans and it’s great fun to see all the title tracks walking around outside the venue! Simply pick your favourite or most easy-to-copy look, and make use of the items in your wardrobe to play dress-up. If you’re looking to shop cheaply, there are loads of great second-hand websites and shops to get hold of specific items you need, maybe even being sold on by a fellow K-pop fan post-concert.
The left-hand fan above drew inspiration from ATEEZ’s “Deja Vu” music video, recreating member Wooyoung’s look.
Image 1 credit: Gabii Rayner of Cherry Chu. Images 2 & 3 credit: KQ Entertainment.
Many ATEEZ concert-goers looked to the group’s music video for “The Real (Heung Version)” for their outfit inspiration.
Image 1 credit: Gabii Rayner of Cherry Chu. Image 2 credit: KQ Entertainment.
6. Be confident no matter what you wear — you look amazing!
Ultimately, K-pop concerts are about having the time of your life; the outfit can just be a bonus if you wish. If you choose to dress in a way that you feel happy (whether that’s dressed to the nines or in a simple T-shirt and jeans) you will have the best K-pop concert experience that you can.
Edited by Abby White.
