Aespa is back with ‘Lemonade’, and clearly, someone had fun in the styling department. For the music video, Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning move through another glossy parallel world, this time with the group’s usual cyber-pop image spliced into a wardrobe of retro colour and mod-girl silhouettes. The result is a full spread of looks that feels playful, while still carrying the futuristic finish that makes the girl group’s latest comeback such a visual treat.
Across the video, the K-pop quartet swings between candy-coloured styling and slicker performance looks, with each outfit adding another kick to the song’s fizzy mood. There are vibrant sets, lace-trimmed tops, skirt sets, fluffy textures and knee-high lace boots that bring a playful vintage touch into the frame, only for the styling to be finished with a glossier, more cyborg-coded edge through the sunglasses and make-up and styling details. The military-inspired looks bring in a more uniformed streak, with the members dressed in all black, over-the-knee boots and structured jackets cinched in with thick belts, not forgetting Winter’s peaked cap, a tiny detail that gives the trending aesthetic a distinctive Aespa twist.
The retro-mod looks are where the colour story gets especially fun. Winter’s black-and-white mini dress comes finished with a bold red bow and green ribbon detailing, made even cheekier with neon green heels and a matching cap, while Ningning goes straight for the colour clash in a blue-and-red mini dress with red stockings. Giselle’s purple cut-out mini feels just as playful with orange stockings and matching heels, and Karina rounds out the set in a yellow blazer-style mini dress, worn with a huge black bow, matching headband and yellow lace tights. Personally, this is the part of the video where the styling really brings out the concept for me because when you first hear of ‘Lemonade’ from Aespa, you do not exactly think old-school lemonade stand. Yet somehow, the styling makes that idea feel deliciously obvious, especially with a group like Aespa, who have already built a whole world around digital avatars and glossy future-girl styling.
As catchy as the beat already is, ‘Lemonade’ makes just as strong a case for the clothes. Aespa knows how to make a concept land, and here, the group turns retro styling into something cheeky and very easy to feast your eyes on. Below, peruse some of the best looks from the music video.
1 / 8
Ningning wearing a red lace-trimmed bralette with an asymmetric skirt, pastel purple tights, gloves and sunglasses.
2 / 8
Karina wearing a yellow blazer-style mini dress with a huge black bow, matching headband and matching lace tights.
3 / 8
Winter wearing a black double-breasted military jacket cinched with a chunky belt, styled with a cap and leather boots.
4 / 8
Giselle wearing a purple and orange cut-out mini dress, bright orange tights and matching purple platform heels.
5 / 8
Winter wearing a white cropped top with a pale pink lace-trimmed skirt, cropped fur coat and lace-up boots.
6 / 8
Ningning wearing a denim cropped jacket over a lime-and-denim strappy top, finished with a neon green lace-trimmed skirt.
7 / 8
Winter wearing a black mini dress with a white collar, red bow and black beret.
8 / 8
