THE SOUTH KOREAN AESTHETIC

You type Korean aesthetic on YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok, Pinterest and what comes up? Bright, well lit rooms full of neutral or pastel colors, cute girls in baggy clothing or tons of videos of people eating in trendy cafes or studying on what seems to be professionally decorated desks. 

The Korean aesthetic seems to be everywhere and is slowly taking over but what really is the Korean aesthetic? According to the aesthetics fandom wiki (and yes that's a real thing) Korean aesthetic can be defined as: 

"The Korean Aesthetic fashion consists of comfortable clothing with soft colors (beige, light pink, white, ext.). You will see a lot of big, chunky sweaters, mini skirts, boxy graphic tees, and high waist mom jeans. Some people like to add plaid or bright colors."

Clearly this definition refers to clothing style but somehow the idea of this aesthetic has been passed on to various other aspects including home decor, lifestyle, education and to some extent personality.

So in this post we're going to explore each aspect a little more in depth and see what are the common trends in this wave that is clearly taking Asia and maybe even parts of the western world by storm. 

DECOR

Go on any website and type Korean room aesthetic and tell me what comes up. You will be flooded by pictures of generally white rooms accompanied by neutral and earthy tones and sometimes gentle pastel touches. This is the Korean aesthetic: clean, minimal, simple. 

There are even videos that show you how to have an aesthetic Korean desk set up. 

This video by Retrobelle goes into more detail about things you need in order to achieve these kind of rooms. Check it out!

FASHION 

South Korean fashion has always been a source of inspiration for many so it comes as no surprise that it's popularity is continuously growing. 

For girls, the aesthetic includes softer tones and often baggy or loose fitting clothing that still give a feminine touch. 

Learn more about Korean fashion from Basiclub's video here and get some more ideas and inspiration from Meemee's video here.

The fashion for males often varies between that casual but put together look or that dark k-pop idol vibe.

Also guys. I didn't forget you, get inspired here

SKINCARE, MAKEUP AND HAIR

Well it's no secret that South Korea is one of the leading countries when it comes to skincare. Does the 10 step skin care ring a bell? Koreans seem to take their skincare very seriously which plays heavily into their lifestyle. 

When it comes to makeup, less is definitely more. Following the Korean aesthetic theme of clean and minimalist, Korean makeup style can be defined as just that. A clean base with accented eyes and cheeks and rosy lips and there's really not much more to it.

If we are discussing skincare and makeup we might as well throw in hair. If it's one thing I've noticed is that their hair is always on point. Even if it's supposed to be messy, it's still looks effortless and chic. I think all of this plays into the appeal of the aesthetic as well. Some popular styles for girls include beachy waves, the blunt bob, curtain bangs and up-dos using claw clips or scrunchies.

Check this article from Her World and this one from Beauty Insider if you are ready to get that Korean inspired trendy hair cut.

 FOOD

Not really sure if this counts but for some reason there seems to be an aesthetic for Korean food. These can range from pastel colored cakes and drinks to iced coffee or traditional Korean food such as tteokbokki and kimbap. Either way, anytime I see pictures, I am immediately hungry.

WHAT'S IN MY BAG?

I know this is a random section but go on YouTube and you will find tons of videos of Koreans showing what's in their bag. I don't know if it's a big trend across there or what but I found myself watching video after video without even understanding a word they were saying. 

I do have to say that the majority of what's in my bags seem to be well off Koreans though, who flaunt designer bags and makeup, air pod pros and $25 hand creams from Aesop...

Check out some examples of what I'm talking about here and here.

OVERALL LIFESTYLE

There seems to be a surge in videos on YouTube about the daily lives of Koreans. I'm talking about people who have gained thousands of followers without having even showed their faces or spoken in not one video. 

The fact that these people have gained and are gaining more traction on a daily basis is evidence that the curiosity for Korean culture and lifestyle is growing. The idea of seeing what they do, what they eat, how they live proves that overall, the Korean aesthetic is on the rise. 

If you're looking for some suggestions of these lifestyle vloggers, Preview gives you some great recommendations in this article.

So there you have it, my little break down of the Korean aesthetic. Surely not every single Korean will be embracing all aspects of the aesthetic and I think that's what makes it beautiful. Beauty in the uniqueness.