At 25, She Carries Three Passports and Only Four Colors: The Minimalist Vintage Philosophy of Jeon So-mi

Jeon So-mi was born in Ontario, Canada in March 2001 to a Dutch-Canadian father and a Korean mother. She holds passports from three nations — Canada, Korea, and the Netherlands — a fact she's described on air as making her almost invincible in terms of cultural navigation. When she was six months old, her mother's homesickness brought the family back to Korea. They settled in Seoul's Yeonhee-dong neighborhood in Seodaemun-gu, a historic area where her father had once studied taekwondo. She trained in taekwondo herself, reaching the rank of 3rd dan before pivoting to entertainment.

At 15, she placed first in Produce 101 Season 1 and debuted as the center of IOI. She's now a solo artist under The Black Label, and unlike many former produce-show alumni, she's never stopped being the architect of her own work. She participates in songwriting, choreography, styling, and even nail art design. That hands-on approach bleeds directly into her off-duty wardrobe. Where most people her age chase trends, she chases worn-in authenticity. Lately, that means vintage band tees and distressed denim, worn in rotations that almost never deviate from four core colors: gray, khaki, black, and denim.

Vintage Band Tee + Distressed Denim Shorts: The Unfinished Edge

The anchor piece here is a ZZ TOP raglan-sleeved band tee with the logo oversized across the chest. The body is dark charcoal; only the sleeves shift to bright blue, creating a natural color break. Raglan construction has the seam running diagonally from the neckline down to the armpit, which makes shoulders read narrower while elongating the arm. The sleeve color variation keeps visual attention distributed rather than concentrated.

Paired with heavily washed denim shorts where the hem is frayed and the seams are actively pulling, she's left it authentically weathered. That's the vintage rule: don't hide the aging. Fading and loose threads signal intention, not neglect. A red string bracelet is the only color pop.

Charcoal Tank + Black Washed Denim Shorts: The Minimal Moment

In a car-seat mirror selfie, a scoop-necked charcoal tank reveals collarbones and upper chest. The neckline shape matters — a deep U-scoop reads more open and relaxed than a round crew neck. Dark gray sits somewhere between black and white in temperature, which makes it pair with almost any bottom without visual conflict. Black oval sunglasses are the only accessory against a bold red leather car seat — a background so strong that the outfit needs to stay quiet to keep the person in focus.

Khaki Beanie + Layered Tanks: The Streetwear Read

In an elevator mirror shot, a khaki beanie is worn with the front folded down short and the crown slightly lifted — the difference between sporty and street. Dark khaki tanks layer, and a darker outer shirt adds depth. When you wear a beanie, it covers your hairline and forehead, which naturally makes your face read smaller. Pulled forward short reads athletic; worn this way (slightly lifted at the crown with long wavy hair falling out) reads intentionally scruffy.

A brown suede crossbody bag in earth tones sits with the khaki and creates a monochromatic warmth — two colors born from the earth naturally belong together. Long waves down the back counterbalance the cap's potential stuffiness. The whole vibe reads like she grabbed what was nearby and headed out, which is probably exactly what happened.

Black Graphic Tee + Ivory Lace Skirt + High-Top Converses: Temperature Contrast

The fourth look breaks from the pattern. A black graphic tee meets an ivory ankle-length skirt embroidered with flowers and dense lace detailing. By rights, these pieces shouldn't work together — casual meets formal, streetwear meets romantic. The visual bridge is the shoe: high-top Converse. The moment you pair formal with athletic footwear, formality dissolves. The skirt becomes effortless instead of precious. A black mini bag echoes the shirt color and pulls the eye upward. The way the high-top sits just barely visible above the skirt hem is the ratio that makes this work.