Photos and interviews by Soeun Kim, Kahyun Lee and Getty Images; Text by Oscar Holland, CNN.
·3 min read
The “big four” fashion weeks — New York, London, Milan and Paris — may still dominate the industry’s calendar, but Seoul’s biannual showcase is gaining traction amid an explosion of interest in South Korean culture.
The Fall-Winter 2024 edition of Seoul Fashion Week, which wrapped up earlier this week, saw runway shows from more than 20 established and emerging brands. Hoping to “lead the growth of K-fashion,” organizers put on a five-day schedule opened by fashion week veteran Sooy Park’s Julycolumn and closed by avant-garde label Maison Nica,
Much of the buzz was reserved for appearances from major Korean celebrities including K-pop band NewJeans, which served as official ambassadors for the event. Some of the boldest looks, however, were found outside the shows, as attendees braved chilly temperatures in a flurry of wide-legged pants, long structured jackets and elaborate accessories.
Scroll down for some of the best looks from Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
Oh Se-ha in a Fruits Family pink sweater with wide-legged jeans. - Jean Chung/Getty Images
A Fashion Week attendee in all-black, complete with hoodie, bomber jacket and chunky futuristic footwear. - Kahyun Lee/CNN
A guest at one of Friday's shows wears a padded coat over a blue-and-white patterned dress. - Kahyun Lee/CNN
Parnika said she had been inspired by the Victorian era after seeing Maison Margiela's latest runway show. “I feel like fashion should be wearable art.” - Kahyun Lee/CNN
An attendee wearing traditional Korean clothing, or hanbok - Kahyun Lee/CNN
Ha Bin in a pair of black Balenciaga shorts. - Jean Chung/Getty Images
Choi Heui-seung (also pictured top) wears a pair of metallic-colored Maison Margiela boots. - Jean Chung/Getty Images
Jeong Yoon-gyeong, left, and Lee Yosep, right, wear gray bags from South Korean label Nos Couleurs. - Jean Chung/Getty Images
Models (from left) Yun Mi-young, 58, Choi Soon-hea, 80, and Kang Seun-hee, 64, on the first day of Seoul Fashion Week. “Because of the cold weather, we didn’t get to show off much," said Kang. "But we tried our best to dress like models.” - Soeun Kim/CNN
Wu Qin Qin wears a black Prada triangle bag over a black 4mile coat. - Jean Chung/Getty Images
Wearing a black dress and adorned with lipstick kisses, model Shlee Nau was excited to see South Korean brand Ulkin's show. - Kahyun Lee/CNN
An attendee in a graphic sweater by French label Forever Vacation. - Soeun Kim/CNN
Kang Hyun-soo wears a silver Gucci-Swarovski ring. - Jean Chung/Getty Images
Jeong Gun-ha wears a silver cross earring. - Jean Chung/Getty Images
An attendee in an eye-catching black suit and a pair of platform sandals. - Soeun Kim/CNN
Attendees dressed for chilly temperatures in South Korea’s capital. - Kahyun Lee/CNN
An attendees pairs her denim-trimmed skirt and striped shirt with a white lace choker. - Soeun Kim/CNN
Jade Bachalas wore a second-hand fur jacket from Seoul's Dongmyo Flea Market. “I wanted a cowboy vibe for this look — with a bit of Y2K.” - Kahyun Lee/CNN
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