Fashion Focus: Jennie’s ZEN

When focusing on women in fashion in this column, I concluded the article with a focus on Jennie, whom I celebrated for her work with high-profile brands and her influence over trends. Recently, Jennie debuted her solo album and, alongside it, released a handful of music videos in which her position as a style icon became solidified. The greatest evidence for Jennie as a style icon is found in ‘ZEN’, which presents a visually stimulating experience with diverse garments and styles, highlighting Jennie’s versatility.

The metallic elements, portrayed in a range of lightings, show the dynamic nature of this outfit, and the sleeveless high-neck style portrays Jennie as a dominant authority who commands attention

The opening outfit features a regal ensemble from LEJE. The garment features a golden sculptural element, “drawing upon the mythical ‘Jujak’” – a sacred red phoenix – “symbolising both ethereal beauty and unwavering strength”. This meticulously crafted element was paired with the lower silhouette drawing from the traditional Korean ‘Salchang Kojaengi’. Curved gold metal and jade accents, “inspired by the regal Silla crowns”, enhanced the cohesion of the outfit. Styled with gold flower-shaped hair pins, earrings, and cuff bracelets, mirroring the piece’s symmetry, the concepts of beauty and strength were emboldened. The complete look was “elegant and unyielding” while celebrating Korean culture.

The subsequent garment, initially presented in black and white before being highlighted in natural and then fiery orange lighting, maintains these themes. The outfit designed by Tanaka Daisuke features a baggy pair of white cargos with some layering details, but in the music video, the top is given the limelight. The bodice is reminiscent of a butterfly by applying stones, pearls, and silver. The metallic elements, portrayed in a range of lightings, show the dynamic nature of this outfit, and the sleeveless high-neck style portrays Jennie as a dominant authority who commands attention.

Similarly presented in black and white, the third look was a custom Chrome Feather Bodysuit from 604service paired with a Tanaka Daisuke headpiece from Spring 2025 and a Sally Sohn diamond necklace. She later wore this in the likeJennie Live Performance Video. The bodysuit was embellished intentionally to emphasise and accentuate her figure, and it is similar in an ombre towards the end of the sleeves for an aspect of toughness. This toughness is contrasted with exaggerated feathers throughout the outfit, from her shoulders to the skirt, calling back to the owl at the music video’s opening.

These three outfits present a story of evolution, strength, and beauty. After, numerous outfits are shown in swift succession as they receive their airtime throughout the video.

She presents diversity in style in a truly captivating way, defining her as a style icon

This delicate lotus-inspired outfit is one of my favourite outfits, which isn’t provided centre stage. The top is crafted with delicate layers of pink petals and a floaty green skirt. A green pendant necklace and a more natural down hairstyle contrasted with the more sculpted and artificial styles which dominate the music video. In doing so, the outfit presents a more feminine aesthetic. Jennie later uses the butterfly heels worn in the look by Sophia Webster in the music video for ‘Handlebars’ ft. Dua Lipa. Jennie wears the outfit as she is revealed from a blossoming lotus, aligning with the lyrics “midnight bloom”.

Jennie switches from her natural hair to a white blonde in two other outfits. In one, she appears in the previously mentioned Sally Sohn necklace. She sports a choppy bob in a white two-piece outfit paired with thigh-high black boots and a large baggy black floor-length jacket. On the other, she wears a sleek Ottolinger S/S25 black top with curved shoulders and a Feng System F/W24 blue skirt, matched with thigh-high blue socks. Fashion Insider George Hollins states these looks “make me think of the fifth element”. The vibrant deep blue of the skirt is paralleled with a light blue used in the nails and the makeup and is presented within the music video in a sci-fi-inspired way.

‘ZEN’ represents the visualiser for Jennie’s debut album, Ruby. The use of ZEN’s garments within alternate music videos and performances marks ‘ZEN’ as a catalogue for Jennie. She presents diversity in style in a truly captivating way, defining her as a style icon.