Mo Kim

Anybody who knows me knows how much I love K-pop girl groups. I love awkwardly following K-pop choreography and miming high notes in my shower. I’ve lost hours of my life breaking down LOONA’s music videos frame-by-frame and falling down Twitter conspiracy theory rabbit holes. I literally wrote a 20-page college paper on Produce 101 and girl group survival television (easily the best assignment I ever did in school). All of this is to say that today’s theme was a real treat – I was excited to see if I could successfully pull off a K-pop music video look.

My favorite new K-pop group is currently NewJeans. I’m obsessed with everything about them, from their clever blend of retro aesthetics and forward-thinking production to their trippy universe-building (and, of course, the members’ incredibly charming presences as musicians and performers). The group’s latest single/video, “OMG,” plays perfectly to all of their strengths. While the song’s bright, bouncy production and frenetic sense of pace capture the all-consuming giddiness of a crush, its accompanying video reminds us that these feelings are best shared with others. Even when the five members are literally being evaluated for various delusions (Hanni thinks she’s an iPhone; Hyein lives in a Disney-princess alternate reality; Danielle, who has it worst of all, seems to believe they’re part of a K-pop group called NewJeans), they find company in each other’s flights of fancy, turning the walls of their mental ward into a dance hall for the lovesick. “I’m going crazy, right?” asks Hanni on the chorus. “OMG” affirms her question: Yes, but it’s not just you, so join our conga line and spill the beans about this guy already!

Anyway, here’s the outfit I pulled together! (Big props to the Inkistyle blog for breaking down the many different outfits in the video – it was a huge help.)

Truth be told, it was a struggle finding time to get this outfit together today. Not only did I end up sleeping in, my work schedule was packed with meetings and catch-up work, meaning that I barely got time to eat, much less change out of my pajamas. By the time I got dressed, it was 6pm, and the sun had already set. Part of me wanted to stay in and hibernate under my sheets, but I also knew that I would feel better if I spent at least a few minutes. In the end, I ended up treating myself to boba at a nice shop a few blocks from my place!

I’m glad I got to dress up today – especially since I got to pay tribute to one of my favorite groups in the K-pop world right now. Now I just need to find time to learn that choreography…

Steal the look:

• White Denim & Flower T-shirt from TJ Maxx (This is one of those weird brands that only seems to exist for budget department stores! They make some very cute shirts, though, and this one’s no exception. Thanks for the birthday gift, mom.)
• Lacheln Plush Polar Bear Hat (In college, my dorm mascot was the polar bear, which explains why I have this hat, and also why I spent my sophomore and junior years moonlighting as a volunteer member of the Pfoho Polar Bear Cavalry. Best years of my life.)
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons Fruit Icon Mini Backpack (Very cute bag…that has mostly existed as a storage bag for all of my Nintendo Switch gear. It’s a nice bag, though, and would be fun to take on a day trip or a fun summer outing!)
• DKNY slim-fit jeans from TJ Maxx (New jeans for NewJeans!)
• Vans Era Multi/Bright (This was the first pair of Vans I ever owned, and likely the reason why I’m such a big fan of their shoes now. Vans are so comfortable and come in so many different styles! If only they were on sale more often…)

Coming tomorrow: I got to work and match with the unofficial student mascot!