From IZ*ONE Maknae to IVE Leader: Watch An Yu-jin Shed the Cute, Claim the Cool

Every fashion conversation in Korea these days seems to land on IVE leader An Yu-jin. She was born in September 2003 in Daejeon, which makes her just 23 years old now. She came through Produce 48 in 2018 and debuted as the maknae of IZ*ONE, then when that group wrapped up, she joined IVE in December 2021 as the official leader. That's a lot of responsibility on someone who was technically a minor, and she admits it weighed on her at first. But somewhere along the way she picked up a nickname—Bright-eyed Crazy Person from the show Pop the Earth Amusement Park—and three years running she won Best Variety Star. She's been in two seasons of Crime Scene, the mystery show that's become a cultural thing in Korea. But the real shift happened in January 2023 when she got tapped as a Fendi ambassador. After that, she was in Milan shooting campaign photographs, and suddenly her whole presence changed. She's 173 centimeters tall, which makes her and Jang Won-young the two tallest members in the group. She claims she got this tall because she loved jump rope more than milk when she was young. She's got that dancer frame, and the way she moves in clothes is completely different depending on what she's wearing.

Let's look at how four very different pieces tell four very different stories on someone who's only 23.

① Black bomber jacket with 1988 Seoul Olympics patch

First photo is sitting on stairs. Black bomber jacket with a Lacoste crocodile logo and a 1988 Seoul Olympics emblem patched together. The jacket is cropped, so her midriff shows. Underneath is a black crop top, and below that, light-wash wide-leg denim. The colors are deliberately dimmed. Her hair is pulled up high in a ponytail, and the shape of her short silhouette head contrasts with the bulky jacket, which makes her face read smaller. When you're wearing an oversized outer layer, if you keep your bottom half bright, it balances the weight. That's the move for anyone tall and don't want to look heavy.

② White shirt with black suspender-style layered piece

Second photo is a white short-sleeve collared shirt with a black suspender-style dress layered over it. The vibe is almost like a school uniform, but the crop hits her waist to show the skin, and her fingernails are fire-engine red to keep it from reading too innocent. Long black hair, cat-eye liner, even a wink. You can tell she's an idol even when she's off-camera. But the genius part of this look is the color discipline: just black and white, with red appearing only on her nails—the smallest possible place. One accent color in one location. That's the An Yu-jin playbook.

③ White halterneck tank top with studded details

Third photo against a wine-colored wall, and it's all white. Halterneck tank top with a choker collar that wraps studded bands around her neck, white trousers, and a silver-studded belt cinching her waist. This is not a design everyone can pull off—you need defined shoulders and a strong back line. At 173 centimeters with those wider shoulders, she completely owns it. The studs repeat on the neckline and the belt in the same silver, so it reads as one cohesive outfit rather than chaotic. The wine-colored wall behind her makes the white even brighter. And honestly, this is a chance to point out something: the choice of wall color when you're shooting matters. Look for that contrast.

④ Oversized ivory linen trench with transparent umbrella in the rain

Final photo is a rainy day look. Ivory double-breasted linen trench coat, collar popped up, belt tied loosely so the coat wraps around her body. White trousers underneath, brown suede tote bag. This time her hair is shorter, a bob cut. The hair length alone completely changes the vibe from every other photo—it's the shift from performing on stage to a totally composed, mature moment. You could never see this look during her IZ*ONE days. At this exact moment, she looks like an adult version of herself.

Put all four together and the pattern is unmistakable: two or three colors maximum, single accent point, silhouette does the talking. She went from being a bright, youthful maknae to a leader who carries authority without saying anything. Her transformation from IZ*ONE to IVE is written all over what she chooses to wear. What's next for this 23-year-old? I'm already curious.