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For a K-pop enthusiast like me, 2022 has become something of a tipping point as travel restrictions are lifted and artists seem to be flocking over to – finally – perform live for their fans. (Virtual concerts just don’t quite hit the spot, speaking from personal experience.) Few K-pop groups are livelier than LOONAa 12-piece group that embarked on their first-ever world tour last August and rocked stages in 14 North American cities with hits like “So What”, “Butterfly”, “PTT (Paint the Town)” “Spin That .”
LOONA’s styling has always fascinated me because their music is so colorful that their looks have to match. While LOONA have mastered the art of the “girl crush” concept (darker, more mature themes and sounds associated with female “baddassery”, if you will) with powerful anthems like “PTT (Paint the Town)”, are themselves she’s not insensitive to the tide of bright concepts that wash over the K-pop industry each summer. And because it’s LOONA, the ladies (and their makeup teams) went all out.
Their latest single “Flip That” is a blast of sunshine and good vibes, and even the name itself is a nod to the switch in concept and styling. This comeback is a bit reminiscent of the innocence we saw in LOONA’s debut song “Hi High”, but it’s been taken up a few notches – with elevated, more experimental looks that underscore the women’s confidence.
In the music video, everyone is wearing what I associate with classic Korean eye makeup. All of the members (who look incredibly angelic, by the way) wear halo-style eye makeup in pastel colors – mainly coral and pink – and delicate black streaks. As accents, some have sparkles around the eyes, colorful jewels on the cheekbones, and even hearts instead of blush.
In terms of beauty, there was so much to uncover that I re-watched the music video just to focus on the individual members and their looks in the various sets. I would never play favourites, but YeoJin’s look is arguably the most eye-catching as she sports two orange-lined hearts on either side of her face. (Got to copy this look, stat.)