BTS member Jimin’s ‘genderless’ fashion just went viral – so why is androgynous style trending among K-pop stars?

- Ahead of BTS’ hit song Butter, Jimin made waves with a kilt and fur boots; Exo’s Kai and Shinee’s Taemin have showed off gender-fluid fashion and dance moves
- The trend may be thanks to more interest in LGBT issues, plus millennials’ and Gen-Zers’ desire for self-expression
Jimin of K-pop juggernaut BTS is no stranger to the spotlight. But instead of his music, it was his wardrobe choice that recently created buzz among K-pop lovers and fashion enthusiasts.
In a teaser image unveiled on June 28 – a few days before the release of BTS’s new CD “Butter” – the red-haired Jimin donned a black-and-red plaid kilt with fur boots and posed for a photo in a small, orange room equipped with a black lamp and minimal furniture.

“Jimin is breaking gender norms for fashion and art,” one of his followers commented on Twitter. Another fan wrote, “He has shown us that fashion has no boundaries or gender, and that it is used for self-expression and to pass on a message.”

“Youngsters these days are striving to figure out what they truly want and what kinds of styles speak for them. They value their identities and uniqueness, so they are reluctant to conform to any standards that hamper them from freely expressing themselves. That is no exception for K-pop stars, who are quick to set or follow new trends.”
Kim also pointed out that before the rise of gender-fluid fashion, there was another remarkable phenomenon.