K-pop star G-Dragon’s distinctive “auntie style” has been a massive hit with his army of fans. -- Photo: SCMP composite/X.com/IG@8lo8lo8lowme
BEIJING (SCMP): The K-pop superstar G-Dragon, who made a major comeback in October with Power, his first new song in seven years has become an “auntie” for many social media users across Asia, thanks to his new avant-garde style.
In November, the 36-year-old singer and rapper was spotted at the Incheon International Airport wearing a red cardigan and an eye-catching pink flower-patterned scarf draped over a baseball cap that reportedly relates to the traditional Korean Bojagi wrapping cloth.
The Chanel ambassador was on his way to Hong Kong to attend the brand’s show.
His look at the event, a pink Chanel tweed jacket over a floral blouse and a pair of sparkling loafers, once again evoked a style commonly seen in middle-aged Asian women.
His new androgynous look has sparked a wave of memes and copying.
Asian fans of the K-pop icon imitate their hero’s “auntie” style in the street. -- Photo: Instagram/eyopkr
A Chinese online observer jokingly posted a photo of a group of peasant women wearing colourful cardigans and headscarves, with the prompt “please find G-Dragon in the photo”.
The meme was reposted elsewhere and was liked by G-Dragon himself.
Many, regardless of their gender, also copied the “auntie” look on social media.
Hong Kong model and actor Jacky Heung, who recently generated sales revenues of more than 52 million yuan (US$7 million) in two live-streaming sessions thanks to his newly adopted drag style, was also said to be inspired by G-Dragon.
The leader of the boy band BigBang and so-called King of K-pop released the new single Power after a seven-year hiatus.
In less than an hour it broke the record on Melon, South Korea’s largest music subscription platform, with 84,000 play counts and 23,000 likes.
The song topped the Melon chart on the day it was released. It also topped China’s QQ Music chart with over 800,000 in sales.
G-Dragon has always been a fashion icon and trendsetter and is notable for his androgynous style that defies gender stereotypes.
A pink and crown clad G-Dragon performs at the 2024 MAMA awards. -- Photo: YouTube/Mnet K-pop
While collaborating with Italian footwear designer Giuseppe Zanotti on a limited-edition collection of shoes in 2015, he noted that men can “get excited and worked up over pretty shoes” just like women.
He constantly changes the colour and style of his hair, each time sparking a wave of mimicking.
He was dubbed a “fashion chameleon” and was said to dwarf “peak-era Lady Gaga”.
G-Dragon’s comeback received much support from international fans who waited patiently for him.
After he was discharged from mandatory military service in 2019, he had been working as a model, fashion designer and university lecturer, and seemed to have adopted a more carefree attitude to life.
“My appearance and tones have become less sharp than before, but I like it,” he said on a talk show in October. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
