Lingerie as everyday wear: Younger Koreans embrace ‘underwearing’ trend

BLACKPINK's Rose, left, and IVE's Jang Won-young / Captured from social media

Wearing underwear as outerwear — known as “underwearing” — is becoming a major fashion trend among Korea’s younger generation, with celebrities fueling its popularity on social media and in public appearances.

According to E-Land World, sales in the homewear category of its women’s underwear brand Evelyn jumped tenfold from January to July compared with the same period last year. The company attributed the surge to the launch of its “Natural Highteen Collection,” which blurs the boundaries between underwear and outerwear.

The collection features lace, frills and floral motifs on various garments. Unlike past styles that emphasized sensuality, the current approach focuses on comfort and practicality, an E-Land representative said.

U.S. teen-favorite brand Brandy Melville gains popularity with ultra-small tops that resemble children's T-shirts. Captured from Brandy Melville Instagram

Highteen-style celebrities have led the way. BLACKPINK’s Rosé and IVE’s Jang Won-young recently posted Instagram photos wearing lace camisole tops and baby T-shirts — designs that resemble lingerie while offering distinctive and functional fashion appeal.

The trend is also visible overseas. U.S. teen-favorite brand Brandy Melville has tapped into it with ultra-small tops that resemble children’s T-shirts but are made from soft, stretchy fabrics to fit a range of body types.

Celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid have gone bolder, pairing men’s boxer shorts with oversized shirts and sneakers, turning traditionally male undergarments into women’s fashion items. Luxury brands such as Miu Miu and Loewe have showcased boxer short-inspired looks on the runway.

Tarzzan of the group All Day Project showcases the layered "sagging" fashion style with multiple pairs of pants and underwear. Captured from MBC

The revival of “sagging” — wearing pants low to expose the underwear waistband — is further fueling the underwearing trend. On the July 26 episode of MBC’s variety show “Point of Omniscient Interfere,” Tarzzan from the group All Day Project drew attention for layering four pairs of pants and underwear in a sagging style.

Originating in the U.S. Black community as a form of cultural expression, sagging became a symbol of hip-hop fashion in the 1990s and 2000s. Now, it is making a comeback as a fashion statement.

“More consumers are viewing underwear as a styling item rather than just functional clothing,” an industry official said. “It reflects the demand for comfort while expressing individuality.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.