Celeb Style File: 2NE1

Welcome to the tenth edition of Celeb Style File, where we give you a close-up look at a celebrity’s personal style!  This week, we’re covering 2NE1, whose music video for the brand-new single “I’m the Best” will be released in just a few days!  We can’t wait!

Can you think of another girl group quite like 2NE1?  Somehow these four ladies have managed to fill a niche in an oversaturated market; even with the overwhelming number of idol groups who have debuted in the past five years, 2NE1 maintains a musical and sartorial style that’s completely unique.  While other girl groups tend to reside somewhere along a two-dimensional spectrum of cute versus sexy, 2NE1 came out of left field and staked out a space that no one even realized existed — the formerly unoccupied realm of sassy, confident, crazy, and (this word is such a cliche by now, but it has to be said) fierce.  And not that fake, watered-down kind of fierce that comes from simply donning a zany outfit.  2NE1 is the real deal, inside and out.

Style Profile and Evolution

Everyone knows what 2NE1 style is, right?  Tons of metal hardware, acid-washed denim, eye-popping neon colors mixed with lots of black leather, shiny metallics, and the most outrageous prints you can imagine!  2NE1’s debut look was pretty iconic: the neon-highlighter colors and fun hairstyles mixed with a hip-hop vibe.  But they didn’t settle, quickly proving themselves adept at transforming themselves into any image you could possibly conceive: hardcore hip-hop, space-age, heavy metal, sporty — but always putting their own crazy stamp on it!  In their latest reincarnation, the girls alternate between futuristic metallic dresses and a tough rebel vibe.

And the brands?  Let’s just refer to the opening lines of “Can’t Nobody”: “Balmain to KTZ / Many styles from A to Z / Jeremy Scott, Givenchy”.  Those aren’t just empty lyrics, as 2NE1 have worn in their recent music videos designs from Balmain, Balenciaga, and Burberry Prorsum (“Lonely”); Gareth Pugh (“I’m the Best”); and Alexander McQueen (“Don’t Stop the Music”).  And for their off-screen appearances, it’s much the same.

Individual Styles

Unusually for an idol group, it seems that the 2NE1 girls are encouraged to show off their individual styles while still maintaining a cohesive appearance as a whole.  Let’s break it down.

Bom definitely has the most girlish style of the four.  She loves, loves, loves her minidresses — the better to show off her fantastic gams!  If they’re not short enough, well, she has no problem cutting up $1000 dresses until they’re at the point of shocking.  Long hair and heavy false eyelashes help Bom play up her femininity, but she has no problems going casual, accessorizing with crazy scarves when the occasion calls for it.

To us personally, CL more than anyone else defines 2NE1’s concept.  We don’t question why this young girl manages to be the leader of 2NE1 when that honor is usually given to the oldest member of the group — if you’ve ever seen CL in action, the answer is obvious.  This girl radiates charisma!  Every adjective we used to describe 2NE1 earlier also describes CL’s style to a T.

Sandara definitely has the cute tomboy thing going on, doesn’t she?  We always forget that she’s older than CL and Minzy because her appearance and demeanor are so youthful and adorable.  However, just as Bom can dial down her killer girly getups, Dara has proven to be able to bring on the glam!

Minzy has the edgiest style — and in this particular group, that’s really saying something!  How does she manage to pull it off?  Let’s see.  Spiked chokers, spiked hoodies, lots and lots and lots of black.  You don’t want to mess with this girl!  However, Minzy also changes it up a bit, alternating the goth getups with a fun, hip-hop style that calls to mind the early days of 2NE1.

For this week, we’re shelving the judgments on favorite and least favorite outfits — there are four girls, tons of outfits, and it’s just too much for us to pick and choose!  As always, if you have suggestions for celebrities to feature, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate!  See you next weekend!