Few beats in and I’m already whisked away to a nostalgic time where candy-coated hip-hop was wrapped in loud jerseys and colourful baggy shorts. You know the era—where energy was everything and nobody was scared of a primary colour.
The last time I remember being treated to such a visual feast—and a sound that bounced with the same kind of sugar rush (literally) was when I first watched H.O.T perform Candy—that delightfully chaotic mix of colourful hoodies, jerseys, and too many accessories (yet somehow never enough). There’s something so comforting about that era of K-pop, like it never took itself too seriously, but still delivered cultural impact in spades. And now, Babymonster’s ‘Hot Sauce’ music video brings it all right back.
The girls burst onto the screen like a living moodboard. Fun, vibrant pieces, accessories of all kinds, chunky sneakers—it’s all here. There’s a real commitment to the mismatched primary colours too: cherry reds clashing with bright yellows and greens, all complemented by blacks and whites for that pop-art contrast. It’s messy in a fun way, just like someone raided the kids’ crayon box and turned it into a old-school streetwear lineup.
Bandana headscarves, matching jerseys layered over t-shirts, and contrasting combos tie-in to the sports-inspired looks. And one of the best parts about the fashion world is that every now and then, we do revisit the past—remixing the same core elements in newer, shineier packaging, but still bursting with that same nostalgic spirit.
Below, shop Vogue‘s curated selection on how to cop the old-school hip-hop style from the cheeky music video.
