A clip from an old award show is going viral, showing BLACKPINK seemingly “disrespecting” BTS.
BTS and BLACKPINK are two prominent K-pop groups that have a significant global following, but they are distinct in their member lineups, musical styles, and agency affiliations. While they have never officially collaborated, there is mutual respect and admiration between the groups. It was recently announced that Jennie was joining the lineup for the Melon Music Awards, the first in seven years.
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With the announcement made and the event approaching, a video from the 2018 MMAs has been shared, featuring BTS returning to their seats, and while all the idols bowed, it highlighted that the BLACKPINK members stayed seated.
Certain fans thought it was humorous that the video was being referenced seven years after the incident, with some claiming it wasn’t that significant. One netizen posted, “It’s been seven years and they’re still mad”
However, other internet users responded to the members, criticizing their lack of respect by not bowing, particularly given the seniority, while the rest were doing so. Some took it as a chance to emphasize BTS’s accomplishments relative to other groups, mentioning that those groups have faced criticism for comparable actions.
One fan posted, “Yes, it must have hurt them that BTS won so many awards”
We’re beyond ecstatic to see what the next chapter holds for BLACKPINK, and we’ll get to see what it holds for ROSÉ very soon! She just signed a global deal with the iconic Atlantic Records with THEBLACKLABEL handling management. Does this mean we’ll be getting new music shortly…? We have all of our fingers crossed!
Rosé also recently announced her fandom name, Number Ones (what a coincidence, supporting her is one of our number one priorities), and her @vampirehollie Finsta page to share more exclusive content with fans. So much is coming and we can’t wait to learn more! While we wait, let’s celebrate her Atlantic Records signing by imagining the perfect collabs with her new labelmates.
Bruno Mars
Much like Bruno Mars, we feel that Rosé has a timeless voice that could fit all sorts of retro vibes. Whether it’s a ballad like his Lady Gaga-assisted ‘Die With A Smile’ or an upbeat song like ‘Locked Out Of Heaven,’ we know they’d make a great pair! Their voices would be such a beautiful complement to each other and we’ll be dreaming of hearing them together until it happens.
Cardi B
Okay, we know we’ve technically gotten a Rosé x Cardi link-up because of BLACKPINK’s ‘Bet You Wanna,’ but let us dream a bit! We’d love to hear Rosie and Cardi team up again, especially if Rosé is going with a different sound for her solo work than we usually hear from her. The possibilities would be endless with these two talented ladies! We think a song about finding who you are and staying true to your most confident self would be fantastic, especially now that we’ll be meeting new sides of Rosé as a soloist.
Coldplay
Consider this our official petition to get one of Rosé’s ‘Viva La Vida’ covers out on streaming services. Or better yet, give us an official remix adding her vocals to Coldplay’s classic. Orrr give us a new song that has Rosie trading lines with Chris Martin. We’re not picky, we just want to hear them sing together! They can each move audiences so easily with their music, so a collab between them would change the world.
Kelly Clarkson
Much like Rosé, part of why we love Kelly Clarkson so much is because she’s a master at capturing emotion with her voice! A collab between these two would easily become one of our all-time favorite songs. We’d imagine it as a passionate, lower-tempo track like ‘GONE,’ which would let them show off their vocal and storytelling talents so well. And then we could get a Rosé appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show to see them sing it together!
Which of these collabs would you be most excited to hear? Do you have any predictions for Rosé’s upcoming music with Atlantic Records? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
“I love you and me” getting exciting JENNIE news, and let us tell you, honeybees: we have such a sweet scoop today! Jennie has officially signed with Columbia Records in partnership with her ODDATELIER label and entertainment company. This is huge news for BLACKPINK and JENNIE fans, and will definitely help her get the global recognition she so rightly deserves!
We’ll get to hear JENNIE’s first song with Columbia Records in October, so not too long to go! In the meantime, let’s run a little refresher on her solo work so far.
‘SOLO’
Of course, we have to start with JENNIE’s first foray into solo stardom! She was the first BLACKPINK member to release a solo track with the appropriately-named ‘SOLO’ in November 2018. The song’s empowering message of stepping into your power after a breakup helped establish JENNIE as one of the most confident It Girls in K-Pop, and we still have this song in our regular rotation years later. There’s no better way to hype yourself up when you need some motivation or a reminder that you’re that girl!
“Used to be your girl, now I’m used to being the GOAT You’re sittin’ in your feelings, I’m sittin’ on my throne…”
‘One Of The Girls’
JENNIE made her acting debut in HBO Max’s The Idol in 2023 alongside The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, who she also teamed up with in the musical department. Their collaboration, ‘One of the Girls,’ went viral in pretty much every corner of the internet, made Jennie the first female Korean soloist to have an RIAA-certified platinum track, and has racked up over a billion streams to date. If she wasn’t already an international household name, this definitely made her one!
“Trade my whole life just to be Top of the world, but I’m still not free…”
‘You & Me’
Simply put, ‘You & Me’ was a total cultural reset. We waited months for a studio version after JENNIE started performing it for her solo stage on BLACKPINK’s BORN PINK World Tour. Where ‘SOLO’ introduced us to a strong, independent JENNIE at the end of a crumbling relationship, ‘You & Me’ shows her finding a partner that fully supports her and the way she shines. It’s the kind of dazzling love everyone dreams of finding! An honorary mention goes out to the Coachella Version of the song, which includes a different rap verse.
“I don’t care about your first love This should be your last one, nothing like your last one…”
Which of JENNIE’s solo songs is your favorite? What do you hope her debut Columbia Records single sounds like in October? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
The solo career of Blackpink‘s Lisa, who has long been widely pegged for success outside the group, will get a bigger look in the U.S. when she plays a set in September at the Global Citizen Festival, becoming the fifth official headliner at that annual philanthropic concert event in Central Park.
Festival organizers are touting it as Lisa’s first solo performance at a music festival. But that’s only one of the qualifications by which it counts as a rarity, to date. She’s only made a handful of solo appearances, period, so far, the most recent of which was a three-song set in Paris in January. No touring plans have yet been announced, so her presence on the bill guarantees a big global streaming tune-in for the performance.
The announcement Tuesday morning about Lisa fills in the mystery that was left after a fifth headlining TBA slot was left publicly unfilled when Global Citizen announced the initial four headliners — Post Malone, Doja Cat, Jelly Roll and Rauw Alejandro.
Hosted by Hugh Jackman, the concert takes place Sept. 28. Tickets are free, albeit earned by “taking action” to further Global Citizen’s goals — which include “defeating poverty, defending the planet and demanding equity” for marginalized communities — on either the org’s app or at globalcitizenfestival.com.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Lisa for what will be her first ever solo performance at a music festival,” said Katie Hill, who serves as Global Citizen’s SVP and head of music, entertainment and artist relations, in a statement. “Lisa is not only an incredible performer, but also a powerful advocate, leveraging her voice and platform to drive action on some of the most urgent challenges our world is facing. We look forward to welcoming Lisa, and of course Lilies and Blinks, to Central Park in September.” Hill further implored fans to “join us by taking action on the Global Citizen app, and together we can make a huge impact to end extreme poverty.”
Lisa, the Thai rapper, singer and dancer who has emerged as a favorite among many of the South Korean girl group’s fans, has been having a good week with the successful international rollout of “Rockstar,” the first single released under the partnership between RCA Records and her management company, Lloud Co.
Billboard announced Monday that “Rockstar” debuted at the top of its Global Excl. U.S. chart. She became the third Blackpink member to have a No. 1 hit on that chart. On Billboard’s Global 200, which measures success in the U.S. alongside all other world territories, “Rockstar” bowed at No. 4.
In the seven days following the song’s June 28 release, Billboard says, “Rockstar” racked up 94.2 million streams in the territories that contribute to the Global Excl. U.S. chart.
Global Citizen has not yet unveiled full streaming details for music fans who want to tune in in September, but the org previously listed iHeartMedia as the concert’s exclusive U.S. audio partner. Live Nation is the production partner, with Done and Dusted and Diversified Production Services serving as the event’s producers.
The members of Blackpink suddenly seem like they’re almost angling for the title of Queens of Christmas, as the holiday season has seen a flurry of three big announcements or releases — including Lisa choosing Christmas Eve to drop her cover of a Britney Spears holiday perennial, “My Only Wish (This Year).”
The group has big plans for the day after Christmas, too, with a virtual-reality concert showcase, “Blackpink: A VR Encore,” set to stream on Dec. 26.
The third piece of Blackpink news came earlier on Christmas Eve when the group member Jennie announced directly to fans that she would be launching her own label and company, OA, in the new year
While fans who want in on Jennie’s product line will experience a bit of delayed gratification, Lisa’s Britney cover was something they could unwrap immediately. (Watch it below.)
Lisa is best known as Blackpink’s primary rapper and dancer, so her cover of Spears’ lone holiday song marked a vocal departure from her usual rapping persona.
“Christmas present for my Blinks… Have a wonderful holiday,” wrote Lisa on her Instagram account before dropping her Spears cover onto her YouTube channel, accompanied by a holiday-themed, romantic cinematic escapade shot in Paris.
The surprise cover revives a Spears song originally found on Jive Records’ 2000 all-label holiday album, “Platinum Christmas,” which additionally featured then-top label artists such as NSYNC, Santana, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys and R. Kelly.
“My Only Wish (This Year)” is Lisa’s first solo work since 2021’s “Lalisa” album and that year’s non-LP single, “SG” with DJ Snake, Ozuna and Megan Thee Stallion. Earlier this year, Lisa was a featured guest on “Shoong!” from South Korean singer-songwriter and dancer Taeyang.
For fans wanting to see the full group in action, “Blackpink: A VR Encore” is set to air Dec. 26 at 5 p.m. PT on Meta Horizon Worlds and features the final show from Blackpink’s global 2023 tour in support of “Born Pink.”
The K-girl group dropped a trailer earlier this week for the VR special, which will viewable by owners of the special headsets, teased with the legend “Take a front row seat as Blackpink performs some of their biggest hits and unlock a limited-edition K-pop inspired emote! To get rewarded, set off a confetti balloon on the dance floor in Music Valley.”
Singer-actress Jennie’s is apparently looking to start 2024 off with new product, not fresh recordings. After acting in the Weeknd’s much-maligned HBO series, “The Idol,” she dropped her own new song in October with “You & Me.” But at the moment, she appears to be focused on product lines apart from music.
“OA, which stands for Odd Atelier, is a space that aims to create new things that attract attention in a different way from what is usual or expected,” she wrote. before showing off several OA-branded hoodies.
It remains to be seen whether Jisoo and Rosé will make their own power moves in the near future.
Along with headlining Coachella earlier in 2023, Blackpink (only the third K-pop ensemble to top the Billboard 200 album chart, with 2022’s “Born Pink”) renewed exclusive contracts as a quartet and as soloists with YG Entertainment, the South Korean talent agency, record label, production company, concert group and music publishing house.
The is no scarcity of fascinating documentaries on Netflix. And, a substantial chunk of them are about the music industry. In 2023 alone, the streamer released several documentaries, and each and every one of them is unique and one of a kind.
A brilliant documentary is not just about a band, an artist, or a concert. It is about the essence. Furthermore, it is also about the fact that at one point in time, a person went from a mere musician to an immortal legend.
Here are some unmissable projects on Netflix, if you are a fan of music and documentaries.
Miss Americana
Miss Americana showcases the life of singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. This documentary not only sheds life on her musical journey, it also talks about the issues she faced in her personal life. These issues involve her mother’s illness, her sexual assault trial, etc.
The synopsis of this documentary according to Tudum reads, “The documentary revolves around Swift, a 12-time Grammy winner and 40-time American Music Award winner. The film also features Panic! At The Disco lead singer Brendon Urie; Swift’s mother, Andrea Swift; record producer and musician Jack Antonoff; and actor and Swift’s then-partner, Joe Alwyn.”
Miss Americana is directed by Lana Wilson. Furthermore, Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers, and Christine O’Malley produced it. It was released on the streamer on January 31, 2020.
Robbie Williams
Netflix released Robbie Williams on November 8, 2023. This four-part documentary series focuses on the life of the English singer and songwriter. Williams is often considered one of the greatest British artists of all time. However, his life too had a fair share of tragic instances.
The official synopsis of Robbie Williams according to Netflix’s official YouTube channel reads, “ROBBIE WILLIAMS… A four-part documentary series which features up to 30 years of never-before-seen archive footage behind the star, coming only to Netflix, Nov 8. Directed by EMMY and BAFTA nominated, Joe Pearlman, and produced by Ridley Scott Associates and executive produced by Academy Award, BAFTA and Grammy winning director Asif Kapadia.”
This four-part documentary series is one of the finest Netflix releases from the ongoing year.
Blackpink: Light Up the Sky
South Korean music is no stranger to fame and accolades. One of the most popular acts from the country, at this moment, is the girl group, Blackpink. They are not just adored by millions as a collective, but also as individuals. This documentary sheds light on the journey of every member.
According to the streamer’s official YouTube channel, the synopsis of Blackpink: Light up the Sky reads, “Proving that music knows no borders or language barriers, BLACKPINK: LIGHT UP THE SKY offers a personal look at the four members of BLACKPINK, from their years as trainees to their current global success as the most popular K-pop girl group of all time.”
Blackpink consists of four members – Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. Caroline Suh has directed this documentary. Its producers were Zara Duffy, Jon Kamen, Dave Sirulnick, and Cara Mones.
BLACKPINK has just unveiled some new music, the group’s first of 2023.
The new track, “The Girls”, was written for BLACKPINK’s new mobile game, “The Game,” and marks their first single since releasing their second album, Born Pink, last year.
According to a press release, via People, “this new song celebrates the quartet’s unstoppable rise to the top and perfectly encapsulates their defiant, fun-loving attitude.”
Accompanying the single is a new music video, in which group members Rosé, Jisoo, Jennie and Lisa are all depicted as their animated avatars in the game.
The group also held a special viewing party for the video’s debut, which was posted on YouTube.
I don’t know what’s happening this week, but you may have picked up that every living, breathing artist is releasing new music. Seriously, name a heavy hitter in the industry and they’re probably dropping a new song on August 25. Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, and more will grace our sound systems soon enough.
On a day that BLACKPINK, Zach Bryan, SZA, Iggy Azalea, and many, many more are releasing songs, there’s almost a guarantee that this may be my best playlist yet. The odds are, for once, in my favor and I’m confident we are pulling out a weekend playlist worthy of repeatedly listening to.
For Ariana Grande, we are getting the 10th anniversary edition of her Yours Truly album, which was her debut. It’s been a hectic week, considering Ariana left resident evil manager Scooter Braun, who is seemingly retiring from managing in general. And while the public may be listening to “Karma” by Taylor Swift, we have a few new tracks to cover instead.
That’s right: another weekend, another playlist. And with this much good music, we have no time to waste!
Let’s get listening.
Joe P- “Don’t Wanna Love U”
I need everyone to listen up: if there’s one song you listen to from this playlist, make it this one. Ever since I first heard it, I have replayed it at least five times daily. Stream Joe P for instant serotonin, I guess! When I interviewed him a few months ago, Joe P mentioned he was bringing his production to a studio for a bigger sound…and we got it.
It’s a sunny, dance-y song that I bop down the street nodding my head along when listening. I’ve liked every song he’s released, but this is by far my favorite. The synth-heavy sound and tortured lyrics about not wanting to love someone who is bad for you, but loving them anyway make for a near-perfect song.
Miley Cyrus- “Used To Be Young”
We’re looking forward to a potential Vol II of Miley Cyrus’ Endless Summer Vacation album just a few short months after its release. To confirm these rumors, Miley released ballad “Used To Be Young” today, and the promo has been equally exciting. With lyric posters popping up everywhere next to old lyrics from hits like “Party in the USA” and “Wrecking Ball”, everyone is referencing their different eras.
The song itself is a hit, which is no shock when it’s from someone with the range and vocal capacity that Cyrus does. She can do any genre, any type of song, and her voice will shine through. More importantly, the song will make sense. Just like fine wine, Miley only gets better with age.
Ariana Grande – Yours Truly
Fans have been anticipating new music from Ariana Grande, especially since she paused for Wicked filming – a scandal studded event that dominated headlines on its own…And while we love The Good Witch, we need to hear Grande’s voice again. The Yours Truly album was Grande’s intro to music, but now she gets to put her more mature sound and production abilities into it…so big things were expected.
We hold these singers at a high regard for a reason, it’s so easy for us to forget how hard it is to sing, songwrite, and produce. That’s why we are so harsh on the songs that aren’t so good, so when artists like Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, and Ariana Grande rework their old albums, it’s impressive, it’s worth the listen, and it’s normally flawless.
Selena Gomez- “Single Soon”
Selena Gomez is making a return to music with “Single Soon”, a fun-loving, carefree track about how exciting it can be to be single. There’s been a lot of speculation about Selena’s dating life recently, which makes this song even more perfect, because it’s truly her message to us all: she’s in her IDGAF era and we’re here for it. It’s great to dance to, and just reminds me of classic Selena.
A contrast to Miley Cyrus’ ballad, the Disney gals are showing their range. It’s good to see Selena having fun with her music, and just not listening to whatever the hell the outside world has to say.
Zevia- “something I can’t do”
Zevia’s voice fills your ears like a coo, gentle and calming, beautiful and equally heartbreaking. With notes of Billie Eilish, Zevia can make a sad song feel like a hug. She makes you feel seen, putting unspoken heartache and emotion into song, “something I can’t do” is about taking away that deep depressive pain that some experience. Zevia says,
“When someone’s been sad for a long time and bad things happen to them continuously, good things that come unexpected could be just as bad, as they’re not used to it. Sometimes depressed people pray for good, but for me even the good can be bad. I can’t allow myself peace otherwise I don’t know who I’d truly be.”
Chloe Stroll- Pedestal
Our feature artist of the week, Chloe Stroll has been breaking into the music industry with her raw voice, an emphasis on the piano, and most importantly, her honest lyrics. Writing about real life experiences, “Pedestal” sums up heartbreak in any form – whether it be a friend, a significant other, or even a family member.
A powerful follow-up to her debut single, “Run”, based on a break-in Stroll and her husband, snowboarder Scotty James, experienced. It’s a summation of Chloe Stroll: resilient in her lyrics, in the way she creates an honest track, and honest beyond measure.
Joel Corry, Rita Ora, MK- “Drinkin”
Recently, I had the privilege of seeing Joel Corry live in Atlantic City. Not only does he have some of the biggest club hits right now, but he can put on an equally exciting show. Now, with a highly-anticipated debut album, Another Friday Night, is on the horizon and he’s here with yet another major collab with Rita Ora and MK.
“Drinkin” takes the beloved sampling used in Chance the Rapper’s “Zero Problems”, and it makes you want to dance the night away. You can already hear this song shooting its way to the top of every bar playlist, it’s another soundtrack to your night out from Joel Corry. I’m convinced he’ll never disappoint, and I’m excited for the album.
Yungblud- “Hated”
You can’t get much more personal than “Hated”, which is Yungblud’s recounting of being molested by a doctor as a child and dealing with internal hatred. The punk-rocker has a way of making catchy hooks and capitalizing on guitar and a hard drum that makes you release any pent-up stress and anxiety. Few times do we get to see an artist bare their entire soul into a song, and be so open and vulnerable.
Not only is Yungblud’s song a testament for survivors of assault everywhere, he’s opening a necessary conversation about men’s mental health. It’s a mixture of anger, pain, sadness, and healing all in one.
Audrey Nuna- “Locket”
Audrey Nuna is a musical maverick, someone who creates larger-than-life music and it just works perfectly. For her new song, “Locket”, she is releasing a video directed by the late Valentin Petit, who tragically passed away in an aircraft accident this year. It’s the last video he ever directed, making the song that much more significant. Audrey says,
“He was gifted in all the ways his work vividly illustrated, and with such a sense of refreshing humility towards his collaborators and crew that can often times feel rare to find in this industry. This is his final music video of this lifetime – I’m sure he’s already getting started, some place, somewhere, gathering ideas and crafting wildest and freest visions to life.”
At the Bulgari jewelry show in Venice, Italy on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, nobody was looking at the accessories. After all, what good are jewels when the girls are the girling?
All eyes were on the parade of party guests, pulling out all the stops in custom designer gowns. I don’t know what it was about this jewelry launch, but the crowd of celeb guests was dressed to the nines. Some of these looks rivaled the Met Gala 2023 looks — which is why they instantly went viral.
As Bulgari brand ambassadors, the trio brought their best — posing for a flurry of now-viral photos while they were at it.
The photos were giving peak Hollywood glamor — no subdued Sofia Richie style in sight. Bold cuts and bright colors were paired with big Bulgari statement pieces. They are the moment. They are the It Girls.
Anne, who is still sending her major fashion renaissance and prepping for a film with Michaela Coel, continued her streak of custom Versace looks. She donned a Donatella Versace design, just like she did at the Karl Lagerfeld-inspired Met Ball. In contrast to the white tweed of two weeks ago, this look was metallic gold and silver with a boho-inspired hood.
Priyanka Chopra — whose latest role is a sexy spy thriller Citadel, starring her and Richard Madden — wore her signature red lip with a deep pinkish, almost-red gown.
In contrast, Zendaya wore a black, sleek look inspired by old Hollywood glamor. Zendaya’s elegant custom Richard Quinn gown made us anticipate the Dune press tour even more — if that’s possible.
Also dressed in bold black, Lalisa Manobal (aka Lisa from Blackpink), who is another Bulgari jewelry ambassador.
All this to say — mothers are mothering. And if this is what red carpet summer looks have in store for us, I can’t wait.
Photo: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
There’s truly no stopping the K-Pop takeover this fashion month. The latest idol to send stan Twitter into a tailspin is none other than Blackpink‘s Jisoo (née Kim Jisoo), who attended the Christian Dior Spring 2023 Haute Couture show in Paris on Jan. 23.
The singer and Dior ambassador arrived at the venue in a dress from last season’s haute couture collection — a sleeveless gown layered atop a tulle button-up blouse with an opaque collar and cuffs. A floral embossing upon the bodice is met by a billowing pleated skirt, which evoked the romantic nature of a Audrey Hepburn‘s classic style.
She leaned into the Hepburn aesthetic with an updo, paired with a jewelry-free approach, allowing the crisp, white look to speak entirely for itself.
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To top it all off, Jisoo carried a white Micro Lady D-Joy bag painted with lavender flowers, and wore lace J’Adior slingback pumps (which she masterfully walked across grates in).
This was Jisoo’s sixth time attending a Dior show. She’s been its global ambassador since March 2021 and has been described by the luxury house to capture the spirit of “liberated femininity channeled and portrayed by Maria Grazia Chiuri.” The idol has also been featured in Dior beauty campaigns, and there are no signs of an end to this high-fashion relationship.
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There are perfectly good celebrity style moments, and then there are the looks that really stick with you, the ones you try desperately to recreate at home. In ‘Great Outfits in Fashion History,’ Fashionista editors are revisiting their all-time favorite lewks.
If you, like me, also can’t wait for Blackpink to headline Coachella again this year, you’re probably reminiscing about their history-making — and stylish — 2019 performance. Beyond dominating the music industry, each member of the quartet has become a certified style icon, down to the blue-chip brand ambassador contracts.
Jennie Kim, in particular, is known for making waves with her sartorial choices, frequently modeling for the likes of Calvin Klein, Gentle Monster and, of course, Chanel, just to name a few. And her look for Coachella 2019 was no exception.
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For the day one performance, each member wore black, white or silver outfits with intricate accents and detailing, styled by Kim Wook in complementary ensembles. “The costumes were prepared in a hurry, so I remember all the team members hustling and working hard in their hotel rooms right until the night before the performance,” he told Rolling Stone.
Hard work certainly paid off, because Jennie looked like nothing short of a pop princess on stage in an elaborate white bodysuit with lace detailing — an edgier departure from the preppy and feminine style she was known for. The textured one-piece featured shoulder pads with dangling bead tassels. She finished off the look with a pair of white combat boots. She wore her hair down in loose waves that flowed effortlessly throughout her performance.
It was a bold fashion statement for a band making its festival debut, but for these “It” girls, it was just another day in the life of Blackpink.
Emulate Jennie’s look with the pieces below.
Revolve Remi One Shoulder Bodysuit, $58, available here (sizes XXS-XL)
Oséree gem-embellished sheet bodysuit, $222, available here (sizes M, L)
Wolf and Badger All Mesh Shape Thong Bodysuit, $128, available here (sizes S-XL)
Siedrés Dixie Lace Bodysuit, $240, available here (sizes XS-L)
d.bleu.dazzled Milkyway Black Mesh Bodysuit, $222, available here (sizes S-XL)
Curvy Sense Chiffon Plunging Bodysuit, $31, available here (sizes 1X-3X)
The annual music festival announced its star-studded list of performers, which includes Bad Bunny, Blackpink, and Frank Ocean, as headliners for the show. Other notable performers include Becky G, Björk, Gorillaz, Idris Elba, Jackson Wang, Calvin Harris, and others.
The show will return to the desert at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
Jennie might be on tour right now, but that won’t stop her from showing up for her friend, Simon Porte Jacquemus.
Despite having a concert at 7:00 p.m. in Paris, the Blackpink star was at Jacquemus‘ Le Raphia show (which, luckily, took place in Le Bourget, right outside of the French capital) on Monday. She arrived wearing an oversized boxy white jacket, before taking it off to reveal a white, off-the-shoulder, asymmetric-hem mini dress underneath. She accessorized with white heels and a raffia-accented bag, her hair in loose curls, intermixed with tiny braids and adorable pink bows.
After runway on a Hawaiian beach, against the salt flats of southern France and among the rolling wheat fields of French countryside, Jacquemus returned to Paris for its latest off-calendar show. The “Le Raphia” collection maintains the muted color palette (this time, tones of wheat) the brand is known for, accented by textured inspired by natural fibers and presented against a striking backdrop: a creamy runway, with sprinkles of raffia raining down like confetti. Other celebrities in the audience included Pamela Anderson, Emma Chamberlain, Tina Kunakey and Manu Rios.
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This is Jennie’s second Jacquemus show — she was among the exclusive crowd at the Spring 2022 Hawaii show. She’s become a friend and muse to the designer, so hopefully there’s more Jennie for Jacquemus to come.
In the past decade, Korea witnessed a boom, both economically and culturally, thanks to the “Hallyu wave,” which consists of everything from the estimated $13 billion K-beauty market, the appeal of K-pop idols and global attention to the nation’s film industry. Fashion’s role in this, though, has been a slower burn.
While you’ll most likely recognize a few brands from popular dramas, your favorite Korean celebrities or Seoul Fashion Week street style, many of Korea’s top designers are looking to cement themselves in the global market. On the cusp of international recognition, they’re pushing to advance K-fashion beyond the guise of the pop-culture craze.
According to Kaimin — the designer behind the brand of the same name, which has been worn by the likes of Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Björk — the growing popularity of the Korean music industry has been integral not just to bringing attention to the country’s fashion scene, but also to inspiring creatives on the ground.
“Musicians and other trendsetters have been dictating what’s fashionable and driving change from the top down and, while that may seem like a recipe for convergence, I think it has actually spread self-confidence and this broad expression of individuality that you see among the younger generation today, which is fabulous,” says Kaimin.
But other designers are looking to go beyond that pop-culture mold. “Until now, Korea has been sticking to the ‘existing fashion powerhouse,’ but I think it would be better to approach it in the way that Korean designers exceed even more,” The Studio K’s Hye-Jin Hong tells Fashionista. “Looking at successful cases such as ‘Squid Games’ and BTS, I think brands should strive to [overcome this method] and cement our identities into the world.”
Ahead, meet seven rising brands that are doing just that.
Blossom
Hea-Won Park had an affinity for clothes from a young age, which grew into an admiration for design, colors and textures that eventually lead her to found Blossom in 2016.
“I made [Blossom] for myself, but I also wanted to show it to others,” she says. “There are real main characters who sharpen and polish their own weapons — I wanted to be their supporter.”
The Seoul-based womenswear label makes ready-to-wear staples that are irresistible, sleek and even daring: oversized blazers and matching voluminous trousers, smart knitwear, boxy T-shirts, and flow-y silk blouses.
“I tend to pay a lot of attention to the quality [of our clothes] so that people can wear them for a long time,” Park says. “The fabric and color are carefully determined, and the quality is always discussed with the companies we work with, that have been in the industry for a long time. The design also is prioritized to be timeless rather than following a certain trend.”
Blossom’s been touched by the Hallyu Wave: It’s been featured on popular Korean shows like “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” and worn by celebs like singer Krystal Jung. Park argues that a healthy consumption of Korean culture — one filled with positive energy — will be vital to the industry’s success.
“Blossom gets a lot of compliments from those markets, and sometimes those shops buy our products,” she says. “The number of orders from individual customers has also increased a lot, too. I’m always thankful for that love.”
Through its pieces that can be worn by anyone at any time, Park ultimately wants to bond with the customer through Blossom.
“In a way, my clothes are my alter ego, and the people who wear them become friends with me,” she says.
Clove
Before becoming the CEO and director of Clove, Ju-Hyun Juen worked on the promotional team of a fashion brand for eight years. She’d think about changing jobs, but it wasn’t until she started learning how to play golf and tennis that the idea for her clothing brand came to be.
While searching for the right uniform — before people even coined the words golfcore and tenniscore — Juen had a difficult time finding pieces that fit her needs, budget and style.
“There were only expensive and ultra-fancy brands at the time,” she says. “The collections often had colorful details that I personally believed weren’t as versatile to wear in my daily life… I started with some core items according to my needs.”
That exercise birthed the recipe for what became Clove’s signature sporty look: chunky cable knits, cozy fleece pullovers, loose-fitted bottoms, embroidered fitted caps. It’s meant to fit into your wardrobe, whether you’re athletic or not.
“The reason why I chose our Instagram name as a ‘Clove Club’ and not just the brand name is that I wanted to create an online space where people can just enjoy this sort of lifestyle through our clothes,” she says.
Juen is confident that Korean fashion brands will continue to become more recognized in the future. But for now, she’s happy where things are headed.
“[The industry] is changing a lot to the point that when I meet people on work trips abroad, they know how to say ‘hello’ in Korean because they like K-Pop singers,” she syas. “I think [the Hallyu wave] helps to promote Korean brands in other countries, and I’m proud to see many of them doing well overseas. It makes me want to keep up with them.”
Eenk
Photo: Imaxtree
Hye-Mee Lee loves word play: Eenk, the name of her brand, plays on the word “ink” in English, and was inspired by watching her father work in the printing press.
In the age of fast fashion and endless trend cycles, Eenk aims to bring refreshing pieces that customers can always have in their personal archives — anything from fuzzy colorful knits to vintage-inspired phone accessories. Lee’s love of language trickles into her designs, too: Eenk recently launched “The Letter Project,” which is series of styles around keywords designated for each letter of the alphabet, from A to Z. The brand has unveiled pieces for letters like B (for Beanie), C (for Clutch/Cap) and D (for Darling) – and so on. Once it hits Z, it’ll circle back to the very start to present a total collection titled A for All, A for Archive.
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Like many during the pandemic, Lee was scared and at times felt that fashion was useless in the face of disaster. She wanted to create something hopeful through Eenk — and so, “S for Somewhere” was born.
“Since we couldn’t travel during that time, I remember I wanted to create looks that people would want to wear to go out or travel in,” Lee says. “We touched on the theme that satisfies that fantasy.” It was the brand’s best-selling collection yet.
Seoul’s fashion industry — and the Asian clothing market in general — is growing rapidly, and Lee’s not afraid of that expansion. If not anything, she wants more of it.
“I really hope that K-fashion brands will become more popular in the global market because I don’t see much of them right now in the ‘world stage,’” she says. “I’m looking forward to this growth and the time for it to happen is right now, in this moment.”
Expired Girl
Grounding its roots in Seoul, Expired Girl is a ready-to-wear brand inspired by memories from when designer Seohyun Lee was a teenager during the early 2000s.
“I wanted to mix the pop culture I’ve experienced during my school years and my interest in a variety of subcultures, and create a new mood,” Lee tells Fashionista. “The 2000s play a key role when planning for each season.”
Those nostalgic references translate to the silhouettes: Knit boleros, halter tops and pleated mini skirts are staples in the EP catalog. You’ll find a few punk-inspired tees in the mix, too. Its latest collection, “School Girl Goes Punk,” drew from the era’s rock culture, specifically, and utilized leftover fabric from the previous season to create pieces Lee thought a teenager obsessed with punk would wear.
Korea’s music landscape plays a huge role in the trend forecast, says Lee. “We wanted to give off a different mood from the existing K-fashion or the variety of styles of K-pop stars. Because Korean fashion trends are more conservative than in the west, some could think our clothes are more revealing than the existing trends,” she explains. “But with celebrities like Blackpink’s Jennie, Red Velvet’s Joy, and IU wearing our clothes, we were able to see the start of the Y2K fashion trends here in Korea.”
Kaimin
Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Warner Music
By Kaimin‘s own telling, the story of her namesake brand is a bit funny.
The Korean-Japanese designer created her very first capsule as an experiment, as part of a multi-sensory art project called Zero Zero Vol. 02, which she worked on alongside Nicola Formichetti, Miles Aldridge and Daniel Arsham’s Snarkitecture. Then, Beyoncé ended up wearing some of the pieces in her music video for “Grown Woman.” That gave her the confidence to create a full collection.
“Since then, I’ve been fortunate to work closely with many of my idols,” she says, listing off a few: Björk for her tour and an Art Basel Miami performance, Lady Gaga for various concerts and music videos, Nicki Minaj, Blackpink.
Kaimin’s design is rooted in a few core principles: innovation and technology; diversity and inclusivity; unrestricted creative community and cross-functional collaborations that reach far beyond fashion. Currently, she’s interested in the intersection of reality, VR/AR, digital art, 3-D printing and more.
“Fashion is directly influenced by the culture it originates in, and I love that every place on our planet has its own unique style,” she says. “I don’t really think about changing the Korean or any other fashion landscape.” What’s more important, she argues, is to simply share her creations with the world: “There’s plenty of room for all of us, and I love joining forces with local trendsetters to create something new and fun together!”
Kimhekim
Photo: Imaxtree
After working at Paris’ Studio Berçot and honing his skills at Balenciaga, Kim In-Te Kimhekim birthed his namesake brand, which is based in Seoul, in 2014.
Kimhekim draws inspiration from traditional Korean costumes (think Hanbok-style shapes), as well as Renaissance art motifs. While you can find wardrobe staples like turtlenecks, dress-shirts and trench coats, the brand is also rooted in sculpture and volume: oversized collars, larger-than-life ribbon bows, fluffy gowns — everyday items elevated through craftsmanship and surprising materials (like fake hair for Fall 2022 and upcycled denim for Spring 2023).
Over the years, Kim’s designs have been worn by the likes of Blackpink’s Rosé, Ho-Yeon Jung, Gigi Hadid and other renowned celebs. More recently, it’s landed on the new class of rising starlets — specifically NewJeans.
“I love their energy and their potential,” he says, noting that after the girl group wore Kimhekim pieces in a photo shoot, “we got a lot of attention from their fans. I’m looking forward to seeing how K-Pop continues to affect the fashion industry.”
The Studio K
Photo: Imaxtree
Hye-Jin Hong didn’t always plan on starting a fashion brand. In fact, when she was young, her dream was to be a scientist.
“Even while attending art school, I always thought that science and design are basically similar,” the RISD alum says. “It’s all about making concrete ideas — verifying, modifying, learning, feeling and producing results in the process. I wanted to create a fashion brand that also thinks like a scientist.”
Ever since her first collection for The Studio K in 2009, she’s worked towards achieving a modern sensibility that marries design and technology by always looking towards the future (AR try-ons, holographic catwalks, parametric fabrication) and while remaining rooted in classic silhouettes, like sleek blazers, puffers and knits.
“From the beginning of the brand, various K-Pop stars like Girls’ Generation, CNBLUE, AOA and others have worn our designs for stage costumes and in music videos,” she says. “It would be good to think about ways to create synergy between Korean designers and K-pop stars.”
It is with an apprehensive and tired sigh that I announce: the 2023 Grammy nominations are out.
The Grammy Awards are music’s most exhilarating and disheartening night of the year. Year after year, we’re all forced to sit through hours of pomp and ceremony. At the end of it, stars are disappointed by losses and audiences are disappointed by the boring spectacle the show has become.
There was a time when The Grammys felt relevant and important. I believe that era ended in 2013 when Macklemore beat out Kendrick Lamar for Best Rap Album. Now, we’re questioning how much authority the Grammy Awards actually hold. Major stars like Drake, The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and more have stopped submitting their tracks for consideration. And even more musicians have spoken out about being unfairly categorized or snubbed.
This is especially true of Black Artists. While Jay Z and Beyonce now hold the record for most Grammy nominations of all time, their list of wins deserves to be higher. Sure, their trophy cabinet is already heavy with awards. Let’s not forget that their daughter, Blue Ivy, has a Grammy of her own — but the annual event often comes with major snubs. For example, Beyonce’s never won Album of the Year. Despite the fact that Lemonade exists … much to think about.
In fact, only 11 Black artists have ever won Album of the Year. Since 2000, there have been only four Black winners: Outkast in 2004 for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below; Ray Charles, posthumously in 2005; Herbie Hancock in 2008 for a Joni Michael cover album; and, most recently, Jon Batiste in 2022.
On Tue, November 15th the 2023 nominations were announced. Once again, they’ve prompted equal parts celebration and confusion. It’s a fool’s errand to try to guess what the Grammy voters are thinking. And this year is no exception. The disappointment starts early.
But here are the biggest snubs and surprises of the season:
Snub: Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version)
Yesterday, Taylor Swift fans were fighting a war with Ticketmaster, virtually fighting and clawing for tickets to her upcoming The Eras Tour. And it’s a good thing they were distracted because Taylor’s Red (Taylor’s Version) was notably missing from nominations for the Album of the Year.
Swift is one of four artists to win Album of the Year three times — along with Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, and Frank Sinatra — but since she was shut out of album categories this season, this year will not be one of them. While the original recording of Red was nominated for AOY, the latest version was not. The 30-song tracklist consists of new songs — some of which were given nods like song of the year for “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” and best country song for “I Bet You Think About Me. But even if Red (Taylor’s Version) wasn’t considered Album-of-the-Year-worthy, it deserves a shot at Best Country Album.
Her most recent offering, Midnights, doesn’t qualify for this year’s Grammys, but we better see it in 2024. Next target on Taylor’s next revenge album: The Grammy voters.
Surprise: Jack Harlow
It seems the Grammys have fallen victim to the Jack Harlow trap, an affliction that usually befalls college girls in their Nike Air Force Ones. Harlow recieved a nomination for his sophomore album Come Home the Kids Miss You for Best Rap Album. And his single “First Class” — which samples Fergie’s “Glamorous,” went TikTok viral landed a nom for Best Melodic Rap Performance. Honestly, this is simply humiliating. It only proves that the Grammys still know nothing about rap music. And they’re starting to prioritize streaming, charts, and — heaven help us — TikTok in their considerations.
Surprise: Gayle
Another TikTok surprise was Gayle’s nod for “abcdfu” — nominated for Song of the Year. If the TikTok star’s already wondering how to follow up that viral hit, the bar has been raised. So, I bet you a buck, we’ll be seeing a lot of TikTok songs among future Grammy Award noms. Choose your TikTok sounds wisely.
Snub: Megan Thee Stallion
Megan is not just one of our favorite rappers, she’s one of the best. Indisputably. The only people who don’t understand that are Academy voting members. They awarded Megan Best New Artist in 2021 … but since then they haven’t found her albums worthy of nomination. Her striking debut only received one nomination in 2022. And despite the acclaim for her sophomore album, Megan was ignored this year. Traumazine was poignant and electric, and deserves better.
Snub: The R&B girlies
Other neglected Black female artists include Summer Walker and Tems. Summer Walker is now on her second album, but it seems the Grammys haven’t heard. They’ve never even whispered her name, despite her established place as an R&B mainstay.
Tems is one of the most fantastic artists to emerge over the past few years. We all expected her to earn a Best New Artist nom at the very least. She wrote Rihanna’s smash-hit for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. And worked with artists like Drake, Future, and Beyonce on chart-topping tracks. So what does it take?
Snub: Charli XCX and Florence and the Machine
Other industry mainstays include Charli XCX and Florence and the Machine, and Mitski. All are veterans of the indie/alternative scenes, and all released career-defining projects this year.
Charli is one of the hottest names in the industry, not just as a performer but also as a writer. Yet, the Grammys love to ignore her — despite her “considerable impact on the music landscape” and her own genre-bending, soaring work. She was nominated for Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” in 2016 but since then, silence.
Florence is an indie darling, and her most recent album is a stunner — which is saying a lot. Yet, this indie-alt triumph got scarcely any love from the Grammys. Astounding.
Snub: Where are the Indie girls at?
A number of our favorite indie/alt albums of the year were nowhere to be found in the nominations list. Artists like Maggie Rogers and Lizzie McAlpine dominated the indie scene but when it came to the nominations? Crickets.
Another major snub? Mitskian — an indie-alt favorite foreverrr. But after touring with Harry Styles, she certainly “achieved a ‘breakthrough’ into public consciousness and impacted the musical landscape” this year reaching a thrilling new fanbase. So she should be a shoo-in for the Best New Artist category. Justice for Mitski.
Snub: Blackpink
Arguably the most famous girl group performing right now, Blackpink deserved some kind of recognition. C’mon. They’re selling out global stadiums and they can’t even get a stinkin Grammy nomination? Someone introduce the Grammy voters to KPOP, stat.
Surprise: Viola Davis
This Grammy season, the actress is on the precipice of an EGOT. She’s nominated for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording for her memoir, Finding Me. Hopefully, we’ll have something to celebrate come the 65th Grammy Awards.
Jennie Kim and Lily-Rose Depp cover the December Issue of Elle Jennie Kim of Blackpink and Lily-Rose Depp grace the cover of Elle in Chanel ensembles styled by Patti Wilson. Depp tells writer Véronique Hyland about growing up in the public eye, specifically recent headlines surrounding her family. “People have really wanted to define me by the men in my life, whether that’s my family members or my boyfriends, whatever. And I’m really ready to be defined for the things that I put out there,” Depp says. As for Jennie Kim, she talks with Laura Sirikul about her first acting gig, the Blackpink world tour and answers burning questions from Blinks. “It was my first time ever doing anything close to being an actor, so hopefully they like it,” the K-pop idol shares. The two are set to star in HBO’s upcoming and highly anticipated series, “The Idol.” See more images below.{Elle}
Gabriela Hearst wants you to know about nuclear fusion Chloé Creative Director Gabriela Hearst has always been environmentally conscious in her work, having been credited with the fashion industry’s first carbon-neutral runway in 2019. Nowadays, Hearst is taking her passion to the next level with her research into nuclear fusion, a cleaner (yet presently unattained) energy alternative. Heart’s Spring 2023 collection is inspired by visits to nuclear fusion labs across the country and the globe, her runway featuring physics-inflected designs and chemical patterns across clothes. Meanwhile, Hearst’s latest resort collection was aimed at spreading fusion literacy to the public, through motifs like laser-cut stars and spangled leather jackets. “What I can do is to use whatever platform I have to communicate about this energy,” the designer says. {Vanity Fair}
