For some, the 1990’s were the peak of grunge and emo. For Korean fashion designer Munsoo Kwon, his Fall 2016 collection was an opportunity to “REMIND REWIND” with an all-out dance party reminiscing over the start of the K-pop phenomenon. (Interestingly, that inspiration was a mere visual reference to the fashion and the show. The actual runway soundtrack included songs by Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force, Redlight and Charlie Puth instead of ‘90s K-pop bands like pioneering hip-hop and reggae group Roo’ra, a stated influence for this season.)
White balloons dotted the seating space, while the backdrop featured a screaming, cheering mob of young adults waving even more balloons – this time in hot pink. These were not just a celebratory cue; K-pop idol groups actually have official balloon colors connected to their fan clubs.
The cheering section, which screamed throughout the entire duration of the Munsoo Kwon Fall 2016 show, greeted a model about to exit the runway. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)
Sure, the dapper clothes sideswiped gimmicks, but the reason for this is because they go back to a time when K-pop fashion was simpler and based on solid colors. Kwon went for a variety of shades, including gray, navy blue, pink, fuchsia and off-white. He also wanted to combine elements popular at that time, such as angled shoulders and oversized silhouettes, into more styles more typically worn today. It all manages to work: business suits take on a retro-modern vibe, and streetwear successfully pays homage to this loose-fitting clothing without drowning out the wearer in piles of fabric, as has been seen in a number of shows this Seoul Fashion Week.
An outfit from the Munsoon Kwon Fall 2016 show in Seoul (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)
Credits:
Make up: HERA
Hair: AMOS
Shoes: UNDERGROUND, NIKE
Sunglasses: ALO x MUNSOO KWON
Accessories: QUANTEZ
Photos: Munsoo Kwon Fall 2016 – Seoul Fashion Week
all photos by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine
Rapper Kisum (left), and BTOB K-pop group members Lim Hyunsik (second from left) and Yook Sungjae (center) at the Munsoo Kwon Fall 2016 show. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)
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- Rapper Kisum (left), and BTOB K-pop group members Lim Hyunsik (second from left) and Yook Sungjae (center) at the Munsoo Kwon Fall 2016 show. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)
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- An outfit from the Munsoon Kwon Fall 2016 show in Seoul (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)
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- This cheering section screamed throughout the entire duration of the Munsoo Kwon Fall 2016 show in Seoul. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)
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- The cheering section, which screamed throughout the entire duration of the Munsoo Kwon Fall 2016 show, greeted a model about to exit the runway. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)
Video: Munsoo Kwon Fall 2016 – Seoul Fashion Week
video by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine