Top Stylist to the Stars Gives Fashion Tips

Stylist Kim Sung-il works with top stars who lead the fashion trend. Kim Nam-joo in "My Wife is a Superwoman", Son Ye-jin in "Personal Taste" and Kim Sa-rang in "Secret Garden" were all dressed by this much sought-after professional who works in TV series, films, magazine catalogues and commercials.

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Kim says he has been interested in fashion from a young age. "I wondered what work I would enjoy the most, and it came down to fashion", he says. "I went to a fashion institute and then was hired as a displayer for Michiko London. Then I wanted to make clothes by myself, so I worked as a designer and a merchandiser at Sungdo Apparel. In the meantime, I learned English in London as well as the fashion style there. When I came back to Korea, I worked in a studio and a fashion advertisement agency. I naturally became a stylist as my job required a lot of photo shoots for magazines and catalogues".

In order to dress well, "it's important to know your body. You can accentuate strengths or hide weaknesses only when you know what they are. So if you're a woman, pay careful attention to underwear. Underwear can make a huge difference", he says.

He also stressed the importance of shedding preconceptions about certain styles. "If you start imposing limits on styles that would suit you, like 'this color doesn't fit me', or 'this design doesn't suit me', you only end up with a pile of similar clothes in your wardrobe. Try to choose clothes that suit your image, as clothes are sometimes the best means of expressing yourself".

Kim likes classical items. "This may sound surprising, but I have 50 white shirts in my wardrobe. Although they all look the same, they aren't because they differ subtly in material and design", he says.

Many fashion items have become a huge hit under his hands. "Considering the time and effort I put in, the financial reward isn't great when I work on a TV series. But you can't describe in words all the joy that I feel when a fashion style I create becomes a nationwide hit and can be spotted in the streets. Especially when I worked with 'My Wife is a Superwoman', some said the fashion industry in Korea, which was really hit by the recession, had been revived. This gives me a sense of fulfillment and pride in being a fashion stylist", he says.