Style Inspiration from IU’s Album “The Winning”

March 30, 2024

1 mins read

Shopper

As the opening track of the album, Shopper sets an uplifting tone with dance-worthy synth beats and dreamy vocals. IU toes the line between a satirical jab at reckless consumerism and a playful ode to retail therapy, using the metaphor of a bottomless “shopper” to express her aspiration to take all she can from life.

In the music video, IU plays the proprietor of an enchanted store that sells extraordinary items (a call-back to the unforgettably classy hotel owner Jang Man-wol she played in hit drama Hotel del Luna). She saunters into an auction sucking on a lollipop and singlehandedly performs a heist for a magical item. After a quick costume change, she hops into DPR Ian’s car to make her getaway.

For her desert-escape outfit, IU dons a 90s-esque long-sleeve top under short-sleeve graphic tee combo, paired with comfortable wide-leg dark wash jeans. Her look is topped off with a messy blonde shag roughly braided with ribbons.

IU’s tomboyish and adventure-ready aura is completed with leather elements. She wears heeled square-toe leather boots, clutches a leather duffel bag to hold her stolen goods, and playfully nabs an oversized brown leather jacket off her partner’s back.

Holssi

Holssi, meaning “spore” in Korean, perfectly reflects carefree optimism. IU embraces the metaphor of being a tiny spore drifting in the air, rising to the top of the blinding sky. The MV is aptly set in sunny Los Angeles, and features dreamy visuals of Tweety floating in the clouds and people levitating and twisting into jelly.

Between a fluffy co-ord and hippie crochet knit, Holssi’s wardrobe is characterized by playful experimentation with textures. IU is first dressed in a furry ensemble of a matching mauve striped cropped sweater and mini skirt, paired with a striped brown and mustard yellow earflap hat and striped leg warmers. In her second outfit, IU layers an oversized and open-back white crochet knit cardigan over a black cropped tank top, and pairs with wide-leg black cargo pants and platform loafers. She accessorizes with layered purple beaded and feathered necklaces and a cream-colored print braided headband.

Take a page from IU’s look book and experiment with the Y2K silhouette. For a tonal look, layer a green loose crochet knit sweater over a black halter crop top, and pair it with an army green lace-up mini skirt. Complete the look with the indispensable combo of knit leg warmers in matching earth tones and chunky platform shoes to give an elongated illusion to the legs. Top it off with a matching braided headband.

Love Wins All

Love Wins All is a powerhouse ballad whose MV gripped the K-pop world with a dystopian romance between IU and BTS’s V. In the sweet but tragic ballad, IU proclaims love as the ultimate victory, providing yet another twist on the theme of chasing after desires.

In the MV, as the doomed sweethearts flee from ominous cube-shaped enemies, they discover a camcorder that creates a blissful filter of the world. Escaping reality through the camcorder, IU and V enjoy a brief reverie of sweets and merriment as a wedded couple, but their fantasy is cut short by the approach of a sentinel. They eventually meet a tragic end, still clad in the dreams of a romantic happily-ever-after.

IU dips into the alternative grunge aesthetic with a dark neutral palette and distressed textures. She wears a cropped black hoodie over a gray T-shirt, paired with dark denim shorts layered over sheer tights. IU achieves the rough survivor look with a silver faux lip ring, so accessorize with more silver-toned jewelry for extra edge!