K-pop girl group Illit takes on the Lolita concept
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Illit made history as the first K-pop group to attend Paris Fashion Week even before they officially debuted. They’ve been tapped to be the faces of the spring/summer 2024 collection of Acne Studios. The group launched a campaign for the Swedish brand even before they launched their first single. If anything, this only shows the peak of K-pop’s influence on global fashion. Illit officially debuted March 25. They were formed through the reality TV show “R U Next?” Their group name came from the phrase “I will be it,” hence it’s pronounced as “I’ll-it.” They are the first girl group of Belift Lab, the same company of K-pop powerhouse Enhypen. They dropped their first album “Super Real Me” in Seoul.
Yunah, 20, Minju, 19, Moka, 19, Wonhee, 16 and Iroha, 16, were presented to the press dressed in white and peach clothes. Iroha came out in a short satin off-shoulder dress with lacy shorts peeking underneath. Minju wore a peach vest over a white top and a peach skirt. Moka wore a white sailor top with a rosy bow and a short skirt and Wonhee had a long-sleeved mod dress on. Yunah wore a sleeveless number with a huge bow on her chest. All wore platform Mary Janes and white tights.
They channeled the Japanese-style Lolita concept—a bold one to take on. Previous idols and girl groups who tried it were heavily criticized for “taking it too far.” But time and exposure to global culture are on the side of Illit.
Victorian dressing
If the idols before were criticized, this will only make Illit standout from fourth generation groups and their Y2K fashion.
The term “Lolita” often comes with a negative connotation, because it is associated with sexualizing young girls. The Japanese concept, however, is rooted in Victorian dressing. Think lace, ruffles, big bows, layered skirts, puffed sleeves and headdresses.
Lolita is seen as a resistance to the expectations of young women to act and dress in a certain way. It has a subgenre that can be sweet, gothic and cute.
The Lolita aesthetic is also utilized in the music video of their title track, “Magnetic.” It shows them with superpowers. Wonhee can control light, Minju can see through walls, Iroha has telekinesis, Yunah has super strength and Moka can stop time.
Illit is kawaii (cute) Lolita in their braids or long black hair, blue gingham dresses and layered skirts. Their aegyo (or acting cute) while doing their choreography is heart-melting. The details celebrate their youth. There are toy puzzles, unicorns on the wall and the girls jump gleefully on the bed. Even the walk-in closet where they dance reminds viewers of little girls dressing up.
So far, this concept has been successful. The group started strong by bagging their first music show win within their first week of the album drop. “Magnetic” quickly became viral on different platforms. Actress Park Min-young has participated in the “Magnetic” Dance Challenge. Illit is showing a lot of promise for a rookie group, making them one to look out for in K-pop and the runway.
