I am loving it, my lady !
North Korean first lady Ri Sol-ju is making waves even among
fashion experts here. They are praising her use of accessories to cover a
slightly plump figure and applauding her classic, feminine style. But
they also note that her fashion sense is a little out of style by South
Korean standards.
Kan Ho-sup, who teaches fashion design at Hongik University, said, "The base color is black with green, yellow or beige highlights. It's classic and elegant and a bit reminiscent of Princess Diana in her youth."
Ri wears flower-shaped brooches, clothes with ruffles, ribbons and beads, and slightly see-through lace jacket. But overall, she seems to try not to be over-dressed.
She also seems to favor luxury brands. She wore a W4.8 million
(US$1=W1,135) Tiffany necklace when she visited the statues of Kim
Il-sung and Kim Jong-il on Aug. 29. She often carries a Christian Dior
clutch bag worth W1.8 million. Stylist Seo Jung-eun said, "Ri sometimes
shows off with a flamboyant hair band, but it seems she tries not to
give the impression that she is not a luxury addict.
Han Sun-hee, an executive with fashion consultancy Creative Factory, said, "I see a clash between her desire to be a responsible and well-behaved first lady and her desire to be a bolder fashion icon." Han cited her sleeveless tops and peep-toe shoes as the examples of the latter. "It seems she wants to be formal yet trendy, like a woman who just started working after graduation rather than a first lady."
Kan Ho-sup, who teaches fashion design at Hongik University, said, "The base color is black with green, yellow or beige highlights. It's classic and elegant and a bit reminiscent of Princess Diana in her youth."
Ri wears flower-shaped brooches, clothes with ruffles, ribbons and beads, and slightly see-through lace jacket. But overall, she seems to try not to be over-dressed.
From left, a Tiffany necklace, Christian Dior clutch bag, and Swiss Movado watch.
Han Sun-hee, an executive with fashion consultancy Creative Factory, said, "I see a clash between her desire to be a responsible and well-behaved first lady and her desire to be a bolder fashion icon." Han cited her sleeveless tops and peep-toe shoes as the examples of the latter. "It seems she wants to be formal yet trendy, like a woman who just started working after graduation rather than a first lady."
North Korea's first lady Ri Sol-ju has been grabbing the
spotlight with her frequent public appearances with her husband Kim
Jong-un since she was first spotted by the international press in July.
The North Korean leader has made 23 public appearances since then, and
she has accompanied him to 15.
She has been spotted wearing the same watch as Kim (Aug. 29), eating popcorn with him (Sept. 1) and wearing pants (Sep. 2), long considered taboo among women in North Korea.
A government source here attributed Ri's frequent appearances as a means of overcoming the drawbacks of the leader's young age. "Kim's greatest weaknesses are his lack of leadership experience and the perception that he is just a kid," the source said. Kim was born in 1984.
"The fact that he keeps appearing in public with his wife, while keeping his age under wraps is part of a strategy to make him seem more mature."
Her appearances seem the product of careful planning by the North Korean propaganda machine. According to another government official on Sunday, Ri began to accompany Kim on public events in May, around two months before she was first spotted by the international media at a concert.
/Yonhap
A photograph distributed by the official KCNA news agency which shows her standing behind Kim, just a few steps from Kim next to
late leader Kim Jong-il's widow Kim Ok.
"The photo was taken by mistake by a KCNA reporter," the official said. Ri is wearing the same black, two-piece outfit she wore to the concert in July.
Ri is likely to become more influential than Kim Jong-il's wives, who were never seen in public. Kim Song-ae, nation founder Kim Il-sung's second wife, wielded tremendous power in the 1970s and clashed with Kim Jong-il.
An informed North Korean source said it was Ri's idea to feature Disney characters and the theme song from the Sylvester Stallone film "Rocky" during the July concert. It looks like Ri already has enough power to break taboos.
She has been spotted wearing the same watch as Kim (Aug. 29), eating popcorn with him (Sept. 1) and wearing pants (Sep. 2), long considered taboo among women in North Korea.
A government source here attributed Ri's frequent appearances as a means of overcoming the drawbacks of the leader's young age. "Kim's greatest weaknesses are his lack of leadership experience and the perception that he is just a kid," the source said. Kim was born in 1984.
"The fact that he keeps appearing in public with his wife, while keeping his age under wraps is part of a strategy to make him seem more mature."
Her appearances seem the product of careful planning by the North Korean propaganda machine. According to another government official on Sunday, Ri began to accompany Kim on public events in May, around two months before she was first spotted by the international media at a concert.
/Yonhap "The photo was taken by mistake by a KCNA reporter," the official said. Ri is wearing the same black, two-piece outfit she wore to the concert in July.
Ri is likely to become more influential than Kim Jong-il's wives, who were never seen in public. Kim Song-ae, nation founder Kim Il-sung's second wife, wielded tremendous power in the 1970s and clashed with Kim Jong-il.
An informed North Korean source said it was Ri's idea to feature Disney characters and the theme song from the Sylvester Stallone film "Rocky" during the July concert. It looks like Ri already has enough power to break taboos.
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