Seventeen’s Mingyu talks personal style and his Dior ambassadorship

It only takes seconds to scroll through K-Pop fan spaces online to come across Seventeen‘s Mingyu.

The 27-year-old rapper, a member of the popular K-Pop boy group Seventeen, is an online favorite for his charming personality and cool Instagram posts. Seriously, social media account Pop Base should probably do that break out a dictionary every time he posts a photo.

Seventeen is in the middle of the American leg of their ‘Seventeen (Right Here) World Tour’, visiting five cities, including two stops in LA. Before they left, Mingyu chatted with The Hollywood Reporter on Zoom, where he takes a break from his hectic rehearsals for the tour and the 13-member group’s latest EP, Spill the feeling.

“It’s currently 11 a.m. in Korea and my whole body hurts,” the rapper says cheekily THR of the preparations for the album and the tour. Mingyu explains the rather complicated schedule of preparing for a tour, releasing the album and performing the concert in Seoul.

The tour ends next weekend in LA, where the group will perform two sold-out shows at BMO Stadium. It’s an exciting weekend for the group. Today, Mingyu’s bandmate Joshua, an LA native, accepted a certificate of appreciation from the LA City Council on behalf of Seventeen. The group also has a major subject popup scheduled in town for the tour’s finale.

In the middle of an already fully booked and busy year for Seventeen, Mingyu has dived into the world of Seventeen style. Earlier this year he achieved a brand ambassadorship at luxury fashion house Dior. In a social media post announcing Mingyu’s new role: Dior called him “the perfect embodiment of the Dior aesthetic.” He also starred in a new one Calvin Klein campaign, which shows its range in different denim looks.

Below, Mingyu talks about his own personal style on and off stage, his style inspirations and how he feels about his viral Dior Paris Fashion Week appearance.

How would you describe your style at the moment?

I am an athlete. I like sports, and I’m also an energetic person, and my job is a singer dancing on stage, so I guess I tend to go for casual outfits and comfortable outfits.

How do you feel about your style on stage versus your style off stage? Like you said, you’re a bit more casual offstage, and onstage your style is probably a bit over the top.

I think it’s very difficult to compare my style on stage and off. As you said on stage, you obviously have to be full of glitz and glamour. While off stage I tend to choose styles that don’t really stand out and that are subdued (but) that are unique to me.

How do you feel your style has evolved over the years?

To be honest, I think earlier in my career, right after we debuted, I overdid things because I really wanted to put myself out there and show what I had. I think I was discovering who I was. As I’ve learned now, I’ve found that what suits me best are things that are informal and natural. I’ve learned that outfits can be a channel to express myself, but in and of themselves they don’t equate to me. But even now, there are days when I feel like reaching for bold, flashy outfits.

You had a viral moment at Paris Fashion Week earlier this year with the Dior show. Do you remember what you felt at that moment? How did you feel after seeing your appearance being so well received?

Fashion Week is something I have always longed for and wanted to be a part of since I was little. I was beyond excited to be there with the Dior team, and I think I enjoyed every moment of it. I had a wonderful, fun experience from the moment I walked in to the moment I left after the show was over. It was an honor because I know it’s a big part of Parisian culture. When I heard that the video went viral and that I was getting a lot of attention, I was a little shy and embarrassed. But it was a very inspiring experience, because it was very inspiring to watch the show and think about what the creative thoughts and processes behind each of the outfits were and what meaning each of the garments carried. It was almost like watching an exhibition, so I guess I would say that every little part of the experience was very exciting and inspiring.

Congratulations on the ambassadorship. Why do you think Dior was the place for you in that space?

Dior has long been one of my favorite brands with its casual, simple, yet natural, graceful and glamorous vibe. In that respect, this is something the Dior brand and I have in common. Realistically, I think the day I went to Dior’s women’s collection… I mean, that moment was not only an inspiring moment for me, but a good starting point for both of us.

What do you hope will come from the ambassadorship? Do you have anything you really hope to do while you’re an ambassador for the brand?

The main thing I would like to do now is go to the men’s collection show. This time I went to the women’s collection. I’ve done a lot of photoshoots with Dior and I’ve made sure to wear Dior on important occasions, but I haven’t been to a men’s collection yet. I haven’t met Kim Jones (creative director of Dior Homme) in person yet, so I would love to meet him and talk about his creative process. That’s number one for me right now.

It seems like a rite of passage for celebrities to front a Calvin Klein campaign. How did you feel when you found out you were going to do one? What were you excited or nervous about when you started it?

It’s very hard to say what exactly, because it was all exciting and I felt nervous and excited about the whole thing. I think Calvin Klein is a brand that everyone, regardless of age, loves and enjoys. I know what a strong presence the brand has among the general public, so I was very nervous about whether I would be the best fit for the brand and whether I could embody the brand’s identity well.

Do you have a favorite moment during the shoot or afterwards? Did anyone in your life react when they saw the photos?

When we did the photo shoots, showing some skin was something that was very unique to me this time. There was a lot of staff on set from the global Calvin Klein team, which was also a bit nerve-wracking, but exciting. They were very kind and encouraging. I tried to stay calm and think about whether I was objectively doing okay. After we finished the photo shoot and the campaign, it was a little strange but very exciting to see it playing around, not just on people’s cell phones, but on billboards and in all the department stores across the country. It was a very, very enriching experience. I had a great time. But I haven’t seen the billboards or the ads in person, but I’ve heard a lot about it, so I’d like to see it in person someday.

Do you have someone who inspires you in the field of fashion?

I think I’m inspired by models working abroad because I wouldn’t call myself someone who really carries a lot of personality in my style. I’m also inspired by NBA basketball players, what they wear on the court. I consider outfits as a work of art and I like to imagine which outfits would be the best choice during a fancy dinner or when I go to the traditional market because I believe there are outfits that can really emphasize that moment and can add an extra layer. of energy at certain moments in time. Depending on the outfit, I try to imagine myself in different situations.

Do you have anything you’d like to say to Carats (the name for the group’s fanbase) right now, or just as you get ready for this next chapter?

We will soon celebrate our 10th anniversary. Every year we release a new album. We have been on tour and are going to tour a lot. So going forward, we just want to continue to pay attention to the smallest details when it comes to our albums and promotions.

And to the fans, Carats, who have sent us a lot of love and support, I just want to say that we will do our best to repay all the love and energy through great stages and performances. I just want to see them and contact them as regularly and often as possible, so even if we see each other for an hour and I have to make a 30 hour flight, I wouldn’t hesitate to do that because I love them so much .