2021 is the 12 months that the vogue environment really embraced K-Pop stars. BTS was named ambassadors of Louis Vuitton, Blackpink’s Lisa walked for a Celine manner exhibit, and her fellow users fronted strategies for luxurious makes like Chanel and Tiffany & Co. But nobody has still left a bigger impact than Kai, the sensational “dancing machine” of EXO.

This 12 months, Kai was the only South Korean idol in Lyst’s spherical-up of superstars whose fashion options have resulted in the largest spikes in lookups and profits. According to the vogue shopping platform, he rated at fifth position, creating him a lot more influential than stars like Harry Models, Girl Gaga, Rihanna, and both the Biebers.

To K-Pop enthusiasts, the information may not completely appear as a surprise. Due to the fact debuting as part of the boyband EXO, Kai has set himself apart with his charismatic stage presence, dancing competencies, and feeling of design and style. He was mentioned for his impeccably polished airport vogue, which integrated blazers, turtleneck sweaters and perfectly-reduce trousers that suited his svelte figure. It was not very long in advance of he caught the attention of Gucci, who named him as brand name ambassador in 2019.

Now that Kai has just built a comeback with his second solo album, Peaches, it may perhaps be quick to overlook his fashion qualifications in favour of his musical and efficiency kinds. That is why we’ve highlighted some important times in his job that solidified his rightful position as a manner icon.

5 times Kai proved that he was the K-Pop king of manner:

His to start with marketing campaign for Gucci

Gucci Eyewear F/W 2019 campaign (Photo credit: Gucci)
Gucci Eyewear F/W 2019 marketing campaign (Image credit: Gucci)

Kai built his debut as Gucci ambassador in the Italian manner label’s Slide/Wintertime 2019 eyewear marketing campaign, starring together with Chinese actress Ni Ni. The illustrations or photos, shot by American filmmaker and photographer Harmony Korine, available us our to start with glimpse of Kai as the facial area of an international luxurious model. He quickly embodied Gucci’s distinctive, vintage-encouraged aesthetic as he sported the brand’s retro glasses and tailoring. He would again be tapped by designer Alessandro Michele to front Gucci’s S/S 2020 eyewear marketing campaign, this time exhibiting off his modelling abilities in a trend film.

His collaboration with Gucci

Kai x Gucci collection (Photo credit: Gucci)
Kai x Gucci collection (Photograph credit score: Gucci)

Just after sitting front row at runway demonstrates and modelling for manner strategies, Kai took points to a different stage in 2021. He teamed up with Gucci for a confined-version capsule assortment, making him the first Korean celeb to at any time do so. (In fact, couple other Gucci ambassadors have ever been provided the honour.) The Kai x Gucci assortment, as it was known as, revolved all-around his fondness for teddy bears the childhood toy motif was stamped across monogrammed purses, leather merchandise, sneakers and garments for equally gentlemen and girls. When the collection introduced, it sold out practically instantly. In accordance to Lyst, it also led to an improve in lookups for Gucci by 264 per cent — proof of Kai’s international affect on trend tendencies.

Seoul Fashion Week

Kai ambassador of Seoul Fashion Week 2022
(Photograph credit score: Seoul Manner 7 days)

In September 2021, Kai was preferred as the ambassador of Seoul Fashion Week. It’s no little feat to be picked between numerous celebrities to characterize South Korea’s most important fashion occasion, a lot significantly less for its 21st anniversary. In a video promoting the function, Kai remarked on his very own romantic relationship with vogue: “I use garments to categorical myself. I used to only feel about how to sing or how to dance, but now that I’ve been a singer for ten decades, I came to feel about how to express myself as an artist.”

His Gucci Aria marketing campaign

Kai wears a red velvet suit, inspired by the iconic one designed by Tom Ford for Gwyneth Paltrow in the '90s. (Photo credit: Gucci)
Kai wears a red velvet suit, influenced by the iconic just one developed by Tom Ford for Gwyneth Paltrow in the ’90s. (Image credit score: Gucci)

Gucci all over again chosen Kai to star in its campaign — not just for eyewear, but for its Aria Fall/Wintertime 2021 assortment, which marked the Italian vogue brand’s 100th anniversary. For it, Kai was photographed among a dreamy winter season landscape carrying noteworthy kinds, these types of as Gwyneth Paltrow’s legendary crimson velvet go well with. He also did additional than model for the accompanying vogue film, which featured him doing what he does very best: dancing.

His solo songs promotions

A look from Kai's Peaches album. (Photo credit: SM Entertainment)
A search from Kai’s Peaches album. (Photograph credit history: SM Leisure)

Due to the fact making his solo debut in 2020, Kai has explored this connection with style even additional. The singer performs an lively job in styling his tunes movies and album principles, functioning alongside his workforce. “I go all over finding garments myself,” he claimed. “Concept is the most important matter. We have to imagine about irrespective of whether we want to engage in it harmless or choose up a challenge.” Obviously, he’s absent for latter. When advertising Mmmh, Kai’s outfits leaned towards androgynous, and bundled customarily feminine parts like lace blouses and corsets. He has ongoing to press style boundaries in his Peaches era, for which he has boldly worn skirts by buzzy trend manufacturers like Peter Do. With a daring and unconventional tactic to type, it’s no ponder he’s 1 of K-Pop biggest manner influencers.

 

Header picture credit history: SM Enjoyment