How K-pop's Outfit Standard Changes: Sulli's 'No Bra' vs. Jennie's 'Underboob'
From the late Sulli and Hwasa being criticized for their "No Bra" movement before, a media outlet highlighted how the idea of wearing underwear shifted following BLACKPINK Jennie's "Underboob" fashion trend.
On May 10, the Korean media outlet Ten Asia pointed out how the perception of wearing underwear in the K-pop scene changed through the years.
K-Outlet Highlights How Sulli, Hwasa Were Badly Criticized for Their 'No Bra' Movement ko
Until a few years ago, female celebrities who wear no bra or have their chest exposed were socially taboo. In the K-pop scene, female idols were expected to conform to the pure and reserved image. Thus, "too sexy" clothes are not socially accepted.
The media outlet then cited the strong women who broke this stereotype and bravely showed up with their "No Bra" outfits, including the late Sulli and MAMAMOO Hwasa.
As soon as both idols slightly showed the shapes of their nipples behind their clothes, Sulli and Hwasa immediately received unfavorable attention and dominated the top real-time search keyword for negative reasons.
ALSO READ: March is as Warm as Sulli: An Inspiration for Fighting for Females' Rights and Preferences
Little did the haters know, Sulli posed with no bra to support women's freedom and health. Similar to her, Hwasa in 2019 appeared at the airport without wearing a bra in celebration of No Bra Day for breast cancer patients.
Despite this, they were called attention-seekers, and some even left malicious comments about their bodies.
Jennie's 'Underboob' Fashion in K-pop Ignites Fire of Having Women's 'Freedom'
About three years after the aforementioned idols were criticized, the standards of evaluation cannot always be the same.
In 2022, BLACKPINK Jennie got off to a good start when she relive the fashion underboob style during the 2022 S/S Paris Fashion Week in Hawaii. This is a fashion style that slightly reveals the lower chest line by shortening the hem of the top.
Following her, LE SSERAFIM Chaewon, BIBI, HyunA, Ash-B, Gong Minzy and more also pulled off the "underboob" fashion that emerged as a trend in the K-pop scene.
Although there are still people who are raising their brows over this trend, the reaction of netizens is better than three years ago.
Women activists even used "underboob" as part of their campaigns saying it symbolizes "female freedom." They also shout "Free the Nipple" to secure women's freedom from wearing underwear and opened social discussions about this "taboo" before.
Cultural critic Ha Jae Geun said:
"Until recently, it was a very oppressive society for not wearing underwear. However, recently, a culture that does not want to infringe on each other's subjectivity seems to have emerged.
Whether you don't wear underwear or reveal your bottom chest, you proudly create fashion. It's a culture and fashion that was already popular in the West. These days, young people seem to have accepted such Western freedom."
READ MORE: 5 Female Idols Who Rocked Underboob Fashion: BLACKPINK Jennie, BIBI, More!
For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.
KpopStarz owns this article.
Written by Eunice Dawson
