I’m on the other side of the K-pop craze. I slowly watch my friends be consumed by this take-no-prisoners phenomenon. I watch their Instagram Stories flocking to South Korea every so often to attend a concert. I am fascinated by how they pull-off K-beauty looks with blotted lips and glass skin.
I approach K-pop with caution because I know eventually it will take me too. I listened to Dua Lipa’s and BlackPink’s “Kiss and Make Up” song on repeat when it first came out. I eventually found myself dancing to “Kill This Love” in Zumba class.
On my slow journey towards K-pop indoctrination, I’m glad my favorite YouTuber Safiya Nygaard came out with “I Got a K-Pop Makeover” video. Safiya is a former Buzzfeed creator, one of the pioneers of their “Ladylike” series. Since leaving Buzzfeed and venturing on her own as a vlogger, she’s been very successful. Social Blade estimates that her channel rakes in up to $1.2 million a year.
Safiya’s latest fare features her trip to South Korea. In this video, she’s exploring K-pop’s influence in today’s trends: neon green, harness accessories, dad sneakers, and pastel hair shades.
It’s a good primer on K-pop culture for a noob like me. Safiya met with stylist Jung Boyoon who’s dressed Girls Generation, April, and TXVQ, to learn more about K-pop fashion. She got tried a few outfit choices at Boy + before settling for cargo pants and cropped top, topped with a multi-colored fringe jacket.
On the beauty front, Safiya stopped by Jenny House, where she got the popstar treatment from hairstylist Taesung Kim and makeup artist In Ha.
Added to these, Safiya made stops you can visit in South Korea if you further want to immerse yourself in the K-pop life including Laundry Pizza, SM Town, and the popularly geo-tagged Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
BRB, dressing up like K-pop star now!
Photo courtesy of @blackpinkofficial
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