Park makes simple fashion statement
By Rachel Lee
President Park Geun-hye greets the crowd at her inauguration ceremony held Monday outside the National Assembly building in Seoul. Park appeared in a gold-buttoned A-line khaki coat with matching accessories. / Yonhap
President Park Geun-hye appeared at Monday’s inauguration dressed in a neutral-colored knee-length coat and matching accessories.
Her gold-buttoned khaki coat, black pants and lavender scarf with a butterfly brooch were thought to be the fruit of much consideration, according to fashion experts.
“Khaki usually represents integrity and toughness but with the light purple scarf and brooch, Park Geun-hye gave a soft impression at the same time,” Kim Choong-do, CEO of Andre Kim, told The Korea Times Monday.
When she served as first lady after the death of her mother in 1974 and after her re-entry into politics in 1997, she wore long skirts and colorful outfits in shades of yellow, purple, and even pink. These days, she is usually clad in neutral tones as navy blue, khaki or camel with some red accessories.
“I think the black and khaki color match is appropriate for this special occasion. She looked classy yet friendly, which is a good expression of her own style. I can see her careful consideration in the selection of the clothing,” designer Lee Chung-chung of LIE said Friday in a telephone interview. Lee is the son of well-known Korean designer Lie Sang-bong.
A jewelry designer said Park’s butterfly brooch added a feeling of “femininity and elegance” to her rather plain clothing.
Park kept her trademark coiffed hair Friday, the hair-do that is seen as a reminder of her late mother.
“Her side parting and controlled volume looked comparatively stable, which also shows her commitment to trust and principle,” Eric, a hair stylist at Avenue Juno, said Friday.
Park’s traditional clothing worn later in the ceremony was seen as reminiscent of royal robes, made with red silk shades previously worn by kings. A fancy red outer coat and blue skirt underneath looked as if the costume represented the national flag, “taegeukgi.”
“Her choice of traditional clothes implied that she tried to escape from the existing conservative, static image of the ruling Saenuri Party and showed her strong will instead to show a promising start of her term. And we guess she chose red as it is the color of her party,” said IN THE F fashion designer Cho Min-kyung.