The first wave of K-pop mania descended upon us just a little more than a decade ago. Since then, we’ve witnessed the rise and fall of groups and soloists alike—but perhaps no one has had a journey quite as sensational as Sunmi’s. Lee Sun-Mi, better known by her stage moniker Sunmi, originally debuted as part of Wonder Girls way back in 2007. The girl group was known for popular hits ‘Tell Me’ and ‘Nobody’ which gained inspiring success not just for its extremely catchy tunes but also for its captivating dance moves. With constant reconfigurations of the active members within the group however: Wonder Girls finally took their final bow in 2016, in between Sunmi’s solo debut ‘24 Hours’ and hit dance pop track ‘Gashina’ that propelled her to international charts.
But sans her musical overtures, the soloist resides in yet another hall of fame: for knowing how to play the sartorial game. A significant player in the field of fashion, the K-pop superstar regularly peppers her Instagram and our social media feeds with her stellar style moments—ranging from off-duty ensembles to her exquisite wardrobe choices meant to shine on stage. Defined by a strong feminine aesthetic with an edgy twist, the singer-songwriter expresses her steadfast interest in a compelling range of brands: from streetwear-led Stretch Angels to high luxury collaborations in the vein of Fendace.
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Her influence in the musical and sartorial realms are quite possibly beyond refute. Few artists remain standing strong from the “Golden Era” of K-pop, purported to be between 2005 and 2012: when the likes of Big Bang, Super Junior and Girls’ Generation were thriving before the camera. But Sunmi has only shone brighter—with artistically composed track releases and fantastical stages that transport her fans into her outer-worldly concepts. The fashion heroine makes sure to blend perfectly into her landscapes as well: sporting a royal blue The Attico number in the dreamy purple city of ‘Pporappippam’ or committing to the early ‘00s zombie dystopia mood with a bout of Y2K in ‘You Can’t Sit With Us’. In her latest summer pop release, she swivels into an old-school cottage core aesthetic for ‘Heart Burn’ with flowered frocks and heavy ruffle details.
Since it’s safe to say that Sunmi has been acing the style game on all fronts, Vogue Singapore takes a trip down memory lane with the K-pop star. Scroll on as we chronicle her most memorable music video looks from over the years.
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July 2022: 'Heart Burn'
For her latest release ‘Heart Burn’, Sunmi switches to cottagecore—a far cry from the sultry, cool girl aesthetic she usually opts for. The ethereal summer mood is definitive. where we see the K-pop star sporting mini flowered frocks and Victorian era headscarfs. The Sunmi we’re used to seeing—in form-fitting midis and silhouettes of sex appeal—is dotted throughout the rest of the music video when we travel back in time with her persona.
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August 2021: 'You Can't Sit With Us'
‘You Can’t Sit With Us’ is a fun reimagination of a zombie apocalypse, infused with a strong early 00’s mood. It’s no surprise then, that Sunmi takes her cues from the resurging Y2K trend, sifting into two-piece gingham ensembles, halter necklines and butterfly dresses.
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February 2021: 'Tail'
Known for her sultry stage performances, Sunmi took it up a notch with ‘Tail’—showing off the true potential of her physique in skin-baring bodysuits and bold latex bustiers, creating the ultimate femme fatale on screen.
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June 2020: 'pporappippam'
Sunmi models an entire music video after its name, taking on the literal color theme of ‘pporappipam’ which translates to ‘Purple-hued Night’. The dreamy scape is met with more feminine details in her outfits–with lace ruffles and slinky midi dresses that still showed off some skin.
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August 2019: 'LALALAY'
When Sunmi opted for a blonde, Harley Quinn look, her fans already knew that ‘LALALAY’ would present a more alternative and quirky side of the K-pop star. This was channelled through her outfit choices as well, where she opted for heavy floral prints on babydoll dresses that displayed exuberance in structure. The custom Germanier look designed for Sunmi in this comeback doubles down on her love for abstract prints with the high drama of ruffles and free fabric.
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March 2019: 'Noir'
A nod to the edgy sentiment communicated in ‘Noir’, Sunmi’s wardrobe choices for this music video moves away from her usual choice of bodycon dresses. Think vintage, oversized shirts with chunky, lace-up boots and colour-coordinated ensembles.
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September 2018: 'Siren'
‘Siren’ infuses her preferred taste for quirky, old-school details that had been all the rage before—from leopard prints to ruffles and metallic moments of sequins and glitter.
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January 2018: 'Heroine'
We see Sunmi’s on-screen aesthetic begin to fully form here: especially her clear draw to abstract prints on mini dresses, as she effortlessly pulls off the Vogue Print Dress from Versace.
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August 2017: 'Gashina'
‘Gashina’ was Sunmi’s hit release 3 years after her solo debut. Instances of a chic, retro attitude are stamped in as she takes to storybook glamour with monochromatic looks, Barbie-esque separates and sailor-inspired dresses.
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