How do you style a group of six young women to seem coordinated yet distinct, cohesive but still individually recognisable? As contradictory as these goals might seem, Katseye is absolutely nailing the assignment so far.
Following the global pop sextet’s debut in 2023, they’ve developed a loyal following of fans and gained international appreciation for their fierce approach to music and style. Much of the group’s sartorial cohesion can be attributed to the singular vision of their creative director, Humberto Leon. The American designer, who founded fashion retailer Opening Ceremony and was formerly the co-creative director of Kenzo, is responsible for curating and designing Katseye’s outfits, image, and overall brand. Some fittingly refer to him as the group’s “fashion fairy godfather”.
Leon draws from a multitude of sources—see Devon Aoki, early 2000s Anna Sui, and a young Shakira—to create Katseye’s feisty, feminine, Y2K-meets-rocker-chick aesthetic. The heart of his approach, though, lies in highlighting each girl’s individuality and personality. He encourages them to incorporate subtle nods to their cultures into their looks, with Lara Raj and Manon Bannerman’s being the most evident examples. Manon, hailing from Switzerland with Ghanaian and Italian roots, is rarely seen without a delicate string of beads wrapped around her waist, a symbol of femininity and womanhood in her native Ghana. Similarly, Indian-American Lara frequently sports a diverse collection of bindis as well as gold jewellery given to her by her grandmother.
There is much to note about how Katseye differs from other girl groups—their youth, their diversity, their blend of the rigorous K-pop system with Western individuality. Ultimately, all of these factors combine to form a picture of girlhood that is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s fierce, edgy, feminine, and unpredictable, and it’s uniquely Katseye.
In their short time on the global stage, Katseye’s bold approach to fashion has already captured our hearts. Below, get a closer look at some of the group’s most iconic style moments and the stories behind them.
Denim Dreams In Gap
Katseye’s collaboration with Gap, with its snappy choreography and earworm soundtrack, seemed destined to go viral. Aside from its marketing success, the ad also highlights the group’s ability to look coordinated while maintaining their own distinct styles. Manon’s custom denim bralette subtly showcased her waist beads, while Lara’s understated bindi and gold jewellery were a nod to her Indian roots. Daniela, as the group’s main dancer, paired a white tank top with baggy, low-slung men’s jeans in an outfit that emphasised movement and freedom—whereas Yoonchae opted for slim-fit jeans and a moto jacket, sticking to her trademark aesthetic of clean lines and simplicity. The addictively watchable ad left us with a Kelis song stuck in our heads and a very long Gap denim wishlist.
Scarlet Fierce At Lollapalooza
Katseye’s stage outfits are the fiercer and flashier versions of their off-duty style, designed to move in and command attention at the head of a crowd. Clad in bright red leather as they lit up the stage at Lollapalooza Chicago, the girls looked every bit as edgy and powerful as the beats they danced to. The outfits were accented with metal studs, fringes, and knee-high socks that only added to the fierceness of the look.
Boho Chic At Wango Tango
These ethereal off-white ensembles for Wango Tango were designed by Rupaul’s Drag Race alum Gigi Goode, whose goal was “to do something fresh and light that the girls hadn’t been seen in before”. The look’s soft drapes and muted colours might seem the polar opposite of Katseye’s usual leather and metal stage uniform, but the mix of flowy fabrics perfectly accentuated the girls’ dance prowess on stage.
Juicy Off Duty
Katseye’s off-duty looks are effortlessly cool, a blend of oversized streetwear and edgy accessories. The group was also recently spotted leaving the airport in matching Juicy Couture-esque tracksuits, each girl clad in a different eye-popping colour, illustrating the group’s commitment to the Y2K aesthetic and growing ability to generate a viral moment.
Decking The Halls At Jingle Ball
Leon’s creative background and vision for Katseye are clearly visible in the group’s look at their 2024 performance for the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball. The girls were decked out in sparkling red festive glam, with custom fur and feather-lined mini-dresses inspired by flouncy and feminine 2000s Anna Sui silhouettes. The effect was eye-catching, blending bubblegum pop with couture—like a high-fashion, grown-up take on the Plastics’ iconic Jingle Bell Rock outfits in Mean Girls.
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