The ENHYPEN members—Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki—are on a roll. Not only did they become the fastest K-pop boy group to cross the 1 billion streams mark, but they were also named brand ambassadors for Prada earlier this year.

During a recent trip to Los Angeles, they sat down with Women’s Wear Daily to talk about their fashion journey. When asked about their experience at Milan Fashion Week, Jay said, “It was our second Prada show, but the first women’s show we’ve been to. We were curious about it and after the show, too, there were a lot of things to experience, like exhibitions.” Sunghoon added, “We were able to have some free time while we were there, so we got to enjoy ourselves. And at the show, we saw many actors and fellow artists, so it was really fun.”

At fashion events, the ENHYPEN members find a unique blend of fan interactions and style inspo. Jake reminisced about their European visits, saying, “We’ve now been to two in Europe, and we don’t normally have much opportunity to see our fans in Europe. Being able to see them after so long is really memorable. They welcomed us so warmly in Milan.” For his part, Heeseung loved the immersive experience of attending fashion shows in person. “I think the best thing is just the fact that we get to attend these fashion shows. It’s so different when you’re there in person compared to just watching a video. You can really feel what the designer is trying to convey,” he said.

The ENHYPEN members’ styles

For ENHYPEN, fashion is a form of expression. Each member has a distinct style that sets them apart. While Sunoo prefers to keep it simple, Sunghoon leans towards a more embellished look with plenty of accessories. Ni-ki‘s style is hip with a touch of vintage, and Jungwon is known for his love of oversized clothing. Jay, on the other hand, shared, “There are a lot of things I like, but recently I’ve been into retro and newtro… Like ’70s and ’80s styles. Rockstuds, things like that.”

They know that fashion and K-pop are inextricably linked. Jake said, “Being on stage and showing yourself is a major element of K-pop, so we put a lot of thought into fashion and what we wear. And I think the public also keeps a close eye on the fashion and visual aspects.” Heeseung added, “That and it’s also a big part of how we portray ourselves. A certain outfit can make you look a certain way, according to the style. Because we’re able to change that based on how we want to be perceived, I think it’s a really important part of being an idol.”

A lot of effort goes into curating looks that align with the theme of their music. Sunoo said, “For DARK BLOOD, we had outfits that are similar to what vampires wear, like suits. In the music video, we had pearl vests, and we tried a lot of new things. Things that had a vampire vibe to it.” Jungwon elaborated, “We had an artisan create the clothes custom for us. I think the fans may have been intrigued by the outfits at first, but we were so proud of them. It was heavy but we loved it.”

Stylish and talented

Their ongoing U.S. tour is another testament to their global appeal. The tour began in Los Angeles, where they mesmerized fans with their performances. Sunghoon expressed his excitement, saying, “Doing a show in a stadium in L.A., it felt really different. I think the ENGENEs really enjoyed themselves too, so we were also extra excited. It gave us strength. It was so fun on stage.” The members also shared their favorite songs from the setlist, with Sunoo choosing “Karma” and Jay picking “Blockbuster.”

When WWD asked about their favorite tour outfits, Ni-ki shared, “The encore outfits. I think compared to the other outfits—the other outfits were created by our label to match the songs, but for the encore, I requested the style that I wanted, baggy jeans and a shirt. I was glad I was able to wear that. It was my favorite.” Sunghoon, sounding a bit surprised, responded, “I think only Ni-ki requested. I didn’t know we could do that.” He also mentioned that they updated the encore outfits for the U.S. tour. Jungwon added that they change those outfits for each tour leg. Ni-ki then pointed out that similar changes are made to the merchandise as well.

The WWD interview proved that the ENHYPEN members aren’t just talented, they’re stylish too. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Noted photographer Michael Buckner shot ENHYPEN for WWD. Source: WWD.