Lia Kim on Dancing, Taste and Fashion Faux Pas

South Korea’s most formidable dancer and choreographer, Lia Kim, talks taste, signature scents and fashion faux pas. 

Staying stylish and navigating a career as a full-time dancer is something few can pull off with as much ease as Lia Kim, the YouTube sensation and founder of South Korea’s famed 1Million Dance Studio in Gangnam. Although renowned for her popping dance moves and urban hip-hop meets funk style of choreography, her effortless fashion choices outside of the studio have also attracted the attention of the fashion community – she counts megabrands such as Chanel and Valentino as collaborators.

While in Hong Kong to host a dance workshop and masterclasses at Carlyle and Co, we catch up with Kim on her signature style, the brands on her radar and the big plans she has for her dance wardrobe.  

Describe your personal style.

I used to be more daring and wear avant-garde pieces, but recently my style has changed. I now tend to gravitate towards  a more classical and minimal style. Perhaps it’s because I’m more conscious of my consumption and want my clothes to be more timeless.

Which brands are your go-tos for dance wear and choreography?

I don’t have a particular brand that I prefer when I dance; what’s important is that what  I wear is comfortable and easy to change out of, as I sweat a lot. I guess the brands I wear are Nike or Adidas, something very comfortable, but I don’t really care about labels too much.

Has your career shaped your taste in fashion?

Being a dancer, I tend to spend more time around younger people compared to my peers, so naturally, I get more familiar with the newer trends. Although I prefer a classical style, I still mix it with something that allows me to move and be active. 

Where do you look for inspiration for choreography? Are you ever inspired by fashion?

Definitely. Quite often when I’m performing, I’ll choose my outfit first and then decide on the choreography and dance moves afterwards to suit the flow and movement of my look.

If you weren’t a dancer, what would you be?

Probably a visual director or film director.  I always feel like I belong on sets, and I’m very attuned to creative expression and how that translates to body movement, whether through gestures in film or dance. 

Do you have a signature scent?

Wherever I go, I love to have incense burning, particularly sandalwood. I find that it grounds me when I’m in a new place; even when I arrived at my hotel last night, it was one of the first things I started to do! I also have two perfumes I wear on repeat. The  first is Paradoxe by Prada – I love how it combines floral notes with deeper hints of Amber. The second is Black Orchid by Tom Ford. I first discovered it when I smelled it on someone else and chased them down for the name before I got it for myself. I love that it feels very fresh, but then it leaves a very subtle, smoky scent that reminds me of sandalwood.

What’s a style uniform we’re likely to find you in?

When I’m in meetings, you’ll typically find me in a relaxed blazer and jeans, but when I’m dancing, it will always be something easy: joggers and a crop top are my go-to.

Your biggest fashion faux pas?

When people wear clothes with big logos from different brands. I can’t stand it!

Are there any Korean designers you have an eye on right now?

At the moment, I’m really interested in upcycling and zero-waste clothing brands, and a label that does this really well is Ul:kin. It’s a young Korean brand that specialises in upcycling handbags, and some of the ready-to-wear is reworked from vintage clothing, but it’s still very stylish.

The last book you read and loved?

Omni Reveals: The Four Principles of Creation, by John L Payne, I read the Korean translation and it really opened my mind. For anyone who wants to learn how to attract things into their life, this is for you.  

Do you have a style icon?

For me, it’s always been Princess Diana and her ability to combine smart and casual clothes and still look polished. One of my favourite looks is when she was wearing loose jeans tucked into cowboy boots worn with a blazer and a cap at the Guards Polo Club. She looks free, but it’s still classy and luxe. I love this kind of mix-and-match style.

Does anything in your wardrobe tell a story?

Many! Quite often, for important performances or certain projects, I’ll work with a designer to create custom pieces specially for me, which is always such fun, as some of them are quite flamboyant. I collect them all because one day I’d love for them to be featured in an exhibition and tell the story of my work life, or I’ll just give them to my kids.

Do you have a favourite piece of jewellery?

I’ve worked with Chanel before on the Coco Crush campaign and afterwards they sent me and my boyfriend the matching jewellery. So that will always be a very special moment for me.

Is there a style mantra you live by?

On stage, I normally have to follow what people want me to wear or what I need to wear, but in everyday life I have more control over my wardrobe and try to stick to wearing just one or two colours. 

Read more: Style Folio – Imogen Kwok On Creating Multisensory Installations

The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.

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