If you’re an avid fan of Korean dramas, you would have been blessed with many productions lately. These range from historical drama Snowdrop featuring Blackpink’s Jisoo to Our Beloved Summer withItaewon Class‘ Kim Da-mi. Gianna Jun Ji-hyun’s recently concluded Jirisanwould likely be something you tuned in too.
And there’s one thing these dramas have in common: The female leads wore affordable, stylish sneakers below $250 that we can add to our collection.
Playing the role of a PR expert, Kim Da-mi wore various fresh and elegant styles with shirts in Our Beloved Summer. And her footwear of choice for her corporate look is actually a pair of comfy sneakers.
The pair she wore is from New Balance. The sneakers are not only breathable and comfortable, but the versatile grey colour is also easy to match with work outfits.
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Kim Da-mi once stated that being “ordinary” is her greatest weapon as an actor. She has also stripped away age restrictions to play various roles, including a high school bully.
The sneakers that Kim Da-mi wore at the sports centre comes from the French label Veja. The simple design is accented by a V logo, for a touch of recognisability.
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Have you been keeping up with Jisoo’s debut drama Snowdrop? Jisoo wore many soft, retro-looking knitted sweaters in the show, so sneakers seem like a natural pairing to create everyday outfits that we would all wear.
Jisoo wore a red cardigan, black and white striped top and jeans to match these white shoes in the show. We like how the perforated detailing gives a vintage look to the pair.
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Starring Gianna Jun Ji-hyun and Ju Ji-hoon, Jirisan depicts the life of mountain park rangers working in Korea’s Mount Jiri. So while Gianna wore many mountain climbing footwear, she sported leisure sneakers when her character was off work.
One pair she wore is the Converse Chuck 70 high-cut sneakers. She paired it with various outfits such as a suit, and a wool shirt and jeans combo.
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Im Soo-jung of Melancholia has been in the industry for over two decades, and she looks ever-youthful and radiant.
Im Soo-jung also wore a pair of Converse Chuck 70 sneakers in the show — this eye-catching sunflower yellow pair. Pairing bright colours with softer shades are another way to create a unique aesthetic.
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Han Hyo-joo marked her return to the small screen five years since W(2016) with the apocalyptic thriller Happiness. She plays a member of a Special Operation Unit police squad, and wears many relaxed and natural outfits featuring pullovers, hoodies, T-shirts, knitted vests and more.
Both Han Hyo-joo and the aforementioned Kim Da-mi wore New Balance mesh sneakers. This pair has more composed colour pairings, and you can pair with a hoodie, T-shirt and jogger pants to create a casual Korean look.
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Text: Dolly Dai & Ho Guo Xiong/NuYou