Korea’s style trendsetter Irene Kim:
"I wasn't always confident, but I use fashion to express a confident version of myself."

For those familiar with the fashion world, her name might not be unfamiliar. Korea’s style trendsetter Irene Kim, who debuted as a model, made a name for herself at the 2012 Seoul Fashion Week with her tall, 178 cm frame and signature unicorn-colored rainbow short hair. She first appeared on the runway for top Korean designers Steve J & Yoni P, sparking a wave of discussion in Korea and quickly gaining attention across the Asian fashion scene. She rapidly became active in major international luxury fashion weeks and now boasts 2.85 million followers on Instagram. Her influence in the fashion world led her to become a Chanel brand ambassador, and she continues to be a front-row guest at Chanel's Paris Fashion Week shows—a testament to her significant impact in the fashion industry.

Irene Kim brings confidence and comfort through her fashion choices.

Fashion-conscious Irene Kim pays great attention to how her daily outfits make her feel confident and comfortable. She believes that choosing clothes that suit her is important, and that’s why she emphasizes the quality and fabric of the garments—these are the essentials that can last a lifetime. Studio Doe, known for its “Doe Minimalist Philosophy” brings confidence to everyone through design details, trendy silhouettes, versatility, and the comfort of wearing their pieces. To celebrate their 12th anniversary, Studio Doe specially invited Korea’s style trendsetter Irene Kim to showcase their anniversary collection in a styling video. Irene shared, “The first time I wore Studio Doe’s clothes, I immediately felt comfortable and very much like myself. Even though these are fall and winter pieces, I don’t feel their weight—they’re so comfortable!”

A well-invested piece can last a lifetime.

In private, Irene enjoys various styles of trousers, whether wide-leg, high-waisted, or low-rise. She believes that the key to bottom wear is having a pair of basic trousers that can be dressed up or down and still offer comfort. Irene considers basic pieces that combine good tailoring with comfort to be worth investing in, and she even continues to wear some garments passed down from her mother’s wardrobe. Irene said, “I think what makes Studio Doe unique is that even though their pieces look simple, you can feel the difference in fit and sensation when you wear them. They’re comfortable, look stylish, and I can even wear them to dance—it's that simple!”

"Be like a unicorn—fearless in trying new things, and you shouldn't dress for anyone else."

In the past, Irene Kim attended major fashion weeks with her rainbow-colored hair, giving off an image of fearless confidence. However, she reveals privately that she wasn’t always so confident. She would pretend to be confident until she succeeded, especially when finding her style—it’s like a journey of self-discovery, reflecting different stages of life and influenced by her mood and feelings at the time. Although she no longer sports the wild rainbow hair, she still embodies a fearless spirit and maintains an inner vibrancy, now evolved into a “more advanced unicorn.” Irene said, “I believe we should be like unicorns—fearless in trying new things and not dressing for anyone else. We should always be satisfied with what we wear, and fashion should be about finding joy and making ourselves happy. I don’t take it too seriously; what’s important is that it’s fun!”