Fashion is all about making a statement – whether it’d be bold, unique or eccentric. As the world evolves, people seek ways to challenge the norm of this world. However, In 2020, a debate sparked within the Kpop community when a picture of Yeonjun (연준) from TOMORROWXTOGETHER (투모로우바이투게더) with the hem of his colourful sweater resting just at his waist circled the internet.
At that time, the rookie group TOMORROWXTOGETHER wanted to highlight their youthful nature of “being a boy yet still not a man” concept for their “EP Minisode 1: Blue Hour”. It was considered brave of them to appear in such a manner despite being new to the industry. Yeonjun’s impact was powerful and soon after, almost every other boy group would dress in similar crop tops, including Monsta X (몬스타엑스)’s Shownu (손현우) during a performance of “Love Killa” and NCT’s Taeyong (이태용) for Super M’s “Tiger Inside” performance.
According to fashion archives, men’s crop tops or also known as ‘midriff’ were already popular during the late 80s among Western culture. It is traced back to American football athletes who would crop their shirts for proper ventilation during football practice. Soon after, it became a thing and was seen worn by celebrities like Adam Sandler in “Airheads” (1994) and Will Smith on “Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air” (1990). R&B singer Ginuwine even donned a red velvet cropped suit during appearance at an award show.
Yet, despite the Western influence, all of this isn’t relatively new in Asia as the fashion can related back to the late 70s to 80s. At this time, rock bands dominating the era were not just known for experimental music but also playing around in fashion with things like leather, pins and asymmetrical cuts – and of course, crop tops. The spread of Visual Kei (ヴィジュアル系), a subculture pioneered in Japan focusing on extravagant feminine-like costumes for rock bands, further broadened the space for everyone to experiment.
So, what’s the current crop top situation? For now, the trend has grown widely with male idols seen experimenting with cropped fitted suits, pairing it with leather strap tops and distressed jeans jackets. The shift in this current style is meant to make these idols look ethereal while retaining that “masculine” energy through its shape, texture & fitting.
Additionally, the rise of male idols in crop tops has sparked conversation about body positivity and self-confidence. This signifies a shift towards greater acceptance and inclusivity within the industry, promoting self-expression and individuality.
Check out this recent performance by Taemin (태민) of SHINEE (샤이니) during Seoul World Cup where he rocked a crop top!
Plus a compilation of male idols in crop tops:
Sources: South China Morning Post, The Guardian, Time Out.
Ariani Soraya contributed to this article.
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