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An Insider’s Guide to Buying Korean Fashion & Accessories

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An Insider’s Guide to Buying Korean Fashion & Accessories
Sheryll Donerson
Sheryll Donerson

Jul 03, 2019


When we’re not scrolling through pages and pages of K-beauty, we’re drooling over all the K-fashion. And what’s not to love? It’s super cute, really affordable, and makes you feel like an off-duty K-pop star. Here, an insider’s guide on how to make buying K-fashion work for you.


 

My obsession with all things Asia extends far beyond skincare and cute sheet masks and Daiso (the only dollar store that matters tbh). I’m also a huge fan of K-fashion. Have you ever scrolled through the #Kfashion hashtag on Instagram because … listen. Everyone is dressed impeccably, and they all look like they are headed to a chic coffee shop where a latte costs $9. Monochromatic colors are always paired with dainty jewelry. Athleisure looks runway-worthy, and don’t forget about the amazing bags, shoes, and other accessories. Swoon! I don’t know about you, but I aspire to look like a girl who’s headed down to Gangnam on a Saturday afternoon.

 

I wanted a dose of K-fashion in my life (because I currently live my life like a sloth in the same sweatpants and hoodie sigh) so I thought I’d ask my friend Tiffany from tiffanyandlupus.com to show me the ropes and give me tips on Korea’s #1 fashion website, yesstyle.com. One of my favorite things about YesStyle is that there is a seemingly endless amount of clothing to sift through. There’s sportswear, maternity wear, dresses, sleepwear, pants, skirts, shoes, not to mention all of the homeware, accessories, makeup, and skincare. It’s a literal treasure trove. But all of the choices can sometimes make things overwhelming, so I thought I’d ask Tiffany to help me (and all of you!) out by giving some tips.

 

According to Tiffany, Korean fashion (in general) is “predominantly focused on boxy, shapeless, casual, everyday wear. It’s fashion that looks chic, super comfortable, and flattering on every body. I love that YesStyle makes it accessible by being affordable.”

 

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For tomboys like me, K-fashion and YesStyle are a match made in heaven. If you’re a super girly girl, there’s tons for you, too! If you want to look like your favorite K-pop star, well, you’re in the right place. Here are a few tips on how to make your K-fashion buying experience a success.

 

1. Always read the reviews

 

Tiffany’s #1 tip for using YesStyle is to read the reviews before you put anything into your cart. In general, Korean clothing is going to be sized a lot smaller than something you’d find in the States, but a lot of Korean fashion is “one-size,” meaning, it’s one size fits all.

 

Of course, we know that this cannot possibly be true, so that’s where the reviews really come in handy. For example, I LOVE this cropped sweatshirt that’s in one size only. In the photos, the material looks to be on the thicker side and it fits the model with a pretty baggy fit. Most of the reviews are favorable, but more than a few mention the fact that the material is very lightweight/thin, feels inexpensive, and the colors aren’t true to what’s shown in the picture. No thanks!

 

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However, this adorable, oversized shirt with an embroidered avocado and the words “let’s avocuddle” has incredible reviews. People say it fits well, feels and looks more expensive than what it costs, and the material is comfy. People have even taken pictures of themselves in the shirt! So I feel much more confident adding this to my cart than the previous shirt.

 

If an item doesn’t have a review, I most likely won’t put it in my cart, unless I’m 100% sure that I’m willing to take a risk, since returning something is not the easiest thing in the world to do.

 

2. Check the Cheap & Chic section first

 

This tip from Tiffany changed my life. Your first stop on YesStyle should be the Cheap & Chic section. This is where you’ll find all the items that are deeply discounted but also the styles that are really trending in Korea. Currently, there are lots of cropped tees, oversized sweatshirts, adorable printed socks, dresses, underwear, and bralettes … the list goes on and on.

 

This is my favorite section to shop in because you get an overview of everything, instead of having to go list by list. You can snag so many great items that won’t break the bank and will really add that necessary bit of K-fashion flare to your life. It’s hard to keep adding everything to your cart, so you’ve been warned! I may or may not have 10 pairs of avocado and dog socks in my cart (are you sensing a theme here?!).

 

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3. Patience is a virtue

 

All of the items from YesStyle are shipped directly from Hong Kong, so shipping can take anywhere from five days to three weeks to the U.S. The minimum purchase for free shipping is $35, so even though it’s coming from the other end of the world, you don’t have to buy one million dollars worth of stuff to make it worth your while.

 

If you really can’t deal and have to have those corgi printed socks immediately (true story), they do have an expedited shipping service that is free with any purchase over $99 and $12.99 for any purchase under $99. Pretty affordable, imo! If you live in other parts of the world, shipping times change, but most countries still have free shipping for carts over $35.

 

4. Don’t forget the home and lifestyle section (and accessories!)

 

It’s not K-fashion, but the home and lifestyle section is a MOOD. I am in love with all things cute and adorable yet functional, and somehow Korean home and lifestyle things just seem to tick all of the boxes. I have my eyes on the makeup sponge stands, these spongy cotton pads (!!!!?!?!) and this travel toiletry bag for the gym.

 

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And don’t forget the accessories! I’m not a big fan of super big and flashy jewelry, so Korean jewelry has always been my favorite because it’s so light and dainty and unassuming. My ears aren’t pierced, so I can’t wear regular earrings, but no worries, these adorable cherry clip-ons are calling my name. Clip-ons have a tendency to hurt my ears, but all the reviews say these are light and comfortable to wear. Did they make it to my cart? Probably.

 

Are you into K-fashion? Where do you like to shop? Let me know in the comments because I am always down for an online browse!

 

 

 


Author:

Sheryll Donerson
Sheryll Donerson

Sheryll Donerson got her start as a beauty writer by writing K-beauty reviews for her blog, The Wanderlust Project. These days, she's lifting heavy weights, eating tacos, drinking (too much) coffee and is 1/4 of the beauty podcast, Beauty Beyond Basics (or Triple Bees for short). You can find her on Instagram and Twitter at @sheryllrenata.


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