NCT, TXT, ENHYPEN and More: Male Groups Who Broke the Gender Stereotypes by Wearing Skirts
From BIGBANG G-Dragon to SHINee Taemin to NCT to BTS to ENHYPEN, K-pop boy groups continuously break the gender stereotypes with their stage outfits, proving that there's no male or female when it comes to fashion and self-expression.
On October 18, Korean media outlet SpoTV highlighted the history of male K-pop groups who continuously challenge gender stereotypes with their unconventional outfits.
BIGBANG G-Dragon, SHINee Taemin, BTS, EXO Kai, and More: Male Artists Who Donned Crop Tops and Tweed Jackets
In the K-pop scene before, crop tops and tweed jackets are considered women clothes. This clothing was commonly used by female idols, not until 2014. In this year, BIGBANG G-Dragon changed the game and became the proprietor of wearing this kind of jacket.
Since then, BTS and ASTRO also encompassed the style with their stage outfits.
Later on, EXO Kai introduced crop tops in 2018 during the "Tempo" promotion which became his trademark, continued by SHINee Taemin and Kang Daniel in 2021.
ALSO READ: 9 K-pop Idols Who Shut Down Gender Stereotypes With Their Genderless Image
NCT 127, BTS, ENHYPEN: Male Groups Who Broke Gender Stereotypes by Wearing Skirts
Although these scenarios are well accepted now, male idols wearing "women's clothes," especially skirts, were criticized in the past.
The first attempt of introducing the skirt fashion started with NCT 127, who wore skirts through its debut track, "Fire Truck."
However, fans responded negatively, and not only they were hugely criticized but as well as their cordi.
But their efforts weren't put to waste as five years later the concept of gender seems more flexible. BTS Jimin styled himself with a checkered skirt through the "Butter" teaser in May.
NCT DREAM's Chenle also showed a checkered skirt in the music video of "Hot Sauce" in the same month.
Since then, TXT also wore skirts as a group on the stage of "LO$ER=LO♡ER" in August, bravely conquering the K-pop scene with their feminine style.
In October, ENHYPEN then represented the 4th gen of K-pop as well through their comeback stage in skirt fashion, realizing a social atmosphere in which the boundaries over gender classification have been blurred.
On October 12, ENHYPEN performed the title song "Tamed-Dashed" wearing skirts as a group at the showcase of its first full-length album "Dimensions: Dilemma." The boy group performed in costumes reminiscent of school uniform skirts.
Belift explained, "ENHYPEN's new song "Tamed-Dashed" is a new wave genre song of the 1980s. As such, the costume was inspired by the fashion of the 70s and 80s when the genderless culture was prevalent and the men's skirt trend that recently appeared on the runway of luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Celine, and Burberry."
The group added, "We wanted to capture the aspect of an artist who enjoys the freedom of expression without being wary of style."
READ MORE: BTS V, GOT7 Bambam, and More: Fashion Publication Picks Male Idols Who Look Amazing in Earrings
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Written by Eunice Dawson
