Bella Kaczmarek is a TEAN South Korea alumna and current ISA/TEAN Global Ambassador at the University of Florida. In the following blog, Bella shares her observations of the prominent fashion scene in Seoul.
Wearing Hanbok at the Gyeongbokgung Palace
If you are a fashion lover like me, you probably are interested in what South Korea has to offer in this area. Before going to South Korea, I was so excited to shop for Korean clothing and accessories. I especially fell in love with Korean accessories, from the various types of earrings, to stylish bags. Every day, I looked forward to doing my hair and makeup and choosing an outfit to wear.
Korean fashion first started with a traditional outfit known as Hanbok (한복). Traditional Hanbok originated during the Three Kingdoms period in Korea. Nowadays, Hanbok is worn for formal occasions such as weddings, ceremonies, festivals, and celebrations. Hanbok can also be seen incorporated into modern clothing types other than for formal occasions. In addition, it’s common to see tourists dive into Korean culture by renting traditional Hanbok to wear to famous palaces and villages, something I took part in during one of TEAN’s excursions.
There are many fashion styles throughout Seoul that you will see, from traditional and modern, to simple, edgy, cute, and luxurious. I found it interesting to see differences in styles based on the location of Seoul I was in. For example, if you stumble into Hongdae, you step into a more edgy and street type of fashion while also consisting of very trendy styles. You will see people wearing mostly darker colors and silver jewelry. Clothing items vary from parachute pants and stylish skirts to leather jackets. Walking the streets of Hongdae, you will pass many clothing stores with styles that reflect the Hongdae vibe. I really enjoyed shopping in this area and loved the style of the clothes, along with the variety of accessories to choose from.
If you visit Gangnam, you will see a shift in clothing attire. In this area, people are dressed more classy and sophisticated, yet trendy. More high-end clothing and accessories are also very common in this area of Seoul. In this setting, you may see women wearing dresses, heels, and pastel colors, while men wear well-fitted, put-together looks that blend formal and casual elements.
Each person in Korea of course has their style, but if I were to describe Korean fashion as a whole, I would say overall the style is simple, trendy, and modern. Popular colors include black, white, beige, brown and grey as well as pastels. Common clothing types include blazer jackets, slacks, dresses, skirts, loafers, cardigans, and collared shirts. There are also accessories like jewelry and bags that are important items to pair with an outfit.
Are there clothing rules in South Korea? Restrictions/ Etiquette?
A common question that is asked before going abroad is what clothing should I pack? What do people wear in this country? Are there any restrictions or clothing etiquette?
As I have spent time in South Korea and done a good amount of research before going I feel I have some helpful answers to this.
First off, I don’t think South Korea is too restrictive as to what you can wear. I think it is common to hear that certain styles aren’t worn or things such as showing your shoulders will get you stares, but you will have people looking at you simply because you are different and not from there.
In all honesty, I would recommend just wearing what you are comfortable in. If it makes you feel confident you shouldn’t keep yourself from wearing it. While in Korea, you may even explore a whole new style you never knew you could have. Oh, and make sure to leave a lot of room in your luggage for all the new clothing and accessories you will buy!
Bella studied abroad at Korea University for the Spring 2023 semester.
