Style Profile: LAPILLUS’ Shana Talks Dressing for Happiness, Minimalist Skincare, and Teen Crush Concept
In the series “Style Profile,” celebrities exclusively share details of their fashion and beauty with EnVi. For the first installment, the members of the K-pop group LAPILLUS offer a picture of their personal style, sartorial inspirations and favorite trends.
Six-member girl group LAPILLUS debuted in June 2022 with the explosive track “HIT YA!” Marking their debut with clean vocals, synchronized dancing, and confident rapping, the sextet went on to further prove their abilities in their sophomore release, Girl’s Round: Part 1.
During her two-year evolution from trainee to striking K-pop idol, LAPILLUS’ leader, Shana, has developed a solid understanding of her personal style. In this installment of the EnVi-exclusive Style Profile series, the rising star discusses her approach to fashion, her seasonal staples, and where she draws inspiration from.
On Personal Style: A Positive Approach to Fashion
From her initial appearance on Mnet’s survival show Girls Planet 999 to LAPILLUS’ latest comeback, “GRATATA,” Shana has embraced a variety of aesthetics. In real life, however, the singer’s mellow off-duty outfits and soft-spoken demeanor stand in sharp contrast with LAPILLUS’ girl crush concept. At the time she joins EnVi for a one-on-one interview, she seems to have embraced the soft girl trend. Wearing a cozy cardigan decorated with a beige and baby blue diamond pattern on the late-night Zoom call, Shana confesses that as of late, her style go-tos are knitted pieces.
EnVi: What is your approach to fashion?
Shana: When I wear clothes, it has to be something that makes me happy and it has to be fun. You have to have an item that shows your unique identity. Nowadays, I’m into clothes made of wool, that look like a grandmother made them.
How would you describe your personal style?
Cute. When I wear clothes, I want to feel comfortable.
What are your favorite fashion accessories to wear?
My favorite accessory is a necklace. I have one that was given to me by my grandmother. I feel like even if you’re wearing comfortable clothes, with a necklace you can look more mature and elegant.
Photos courtesy of MLD Entertainment
On Trends: Staying Trendy
To sum up her personal style, Shana only needs one word: “cute.” But in addition to adorable aesthetics, she tends to lean towards comfortable clothes. Fittingly, something she has been loving lately is the retro revival. With the popularization of past trends, Y2K style has resurfaced as one of Gen Z’s go-to sources of inspiration. Everything from low-rise jeans to baby tees is back in the spotlight. One of her favorite items, Shana shares, are light-colored pants.
What is your go-to look for each season? Which is your favorite?
Spring: light cardigans or outerwear
Summer: crop tops
Autumn: knitwear or more loose-fitting pieces
Winter: long puffer jacket styled with cute scarves and hats
My favorite is the autumn look.
What trends are you into right now?
These days I really like Y2K fashion, so clothes that were trendy 20 years ago. I like the pieces that are vintage and cute.
Please share some of your style tips.
First, while it’s nice to try many different things, I feel like you have to have the simple things first. From there you can prepare like a ‘point’ item that suits everything and can give you a unique identity.
On Beauty and Skincare: Simplicity is Key
Shana’s approach to beauty and skincare places emphasis on simplicity. Her skincare routine consists of cleansing her face thoroughly and applying products diligently. But rather than focusing on products only, Shana recommends going beyond the surface level. For her, that means adopting wellness-oriented habits that prioritize her health.
How do you approach beauty and skincare?
First, I make sure to clean my face well. When I do skincare, I put products on until I feel like they’re not absorbing anymore. I think you have to sleep well, eat healthily, and try your best not to be too stressed.
What are your beauty essentials or favorite products?
I use products from the Japanese brand MUJI. Rather than buying stuff that is expensive, I think it is better to buy something with good quality and simple ingredients.
Do you have a go-to fragrance?
I don’t usually wear fragrance, because it makes my head hurt when I spray too much perfume. I tend to go for scents that are more natural, like wood, instead of manufactured or man-made scents.
On Stage: Shana of LAPILLUS
During her tenure as a K-pop idol thus far, Shana has tried two concepts for “HIT YA!” and “GRATATA.” In the group’s debut music video, Shana wears a white dress decorated with blue lace, a gold corset over a shimmering skirt, and a green plaid set with a grunge touch courtesy of fingerless black gloves and thigh-high black socks. As she mimics the shape of the classic accessory with her hands, Shana tells EnVi that her favorite part of the styling was the harness.
When you perform, how do your stage outfits and makeup looks impact your performance?
I’m not the type to be picky, so I usually wear what the stylist gives me. I feel like I have to look pretty when I wear the outfits, so I try to make myself suit the clothes well.
Do you have a favorite concept in your career?
Between “Hit Ya!” and “GRATATA,” I liked the “Hit Ya!” concept better. I liked the harness, and other outfit points that were really cool. Overall, our concept was “student” look, which really matched the teen crush concept.
What concept do you want to try?
I want to try something with royal, celestial influence. Something with gold and emerald colors, and crowns.
When she’s not on stage, Shana turns to social media to keep up with fashion. The star reveals that she draws inspiration from users who share their outfits and keeps up with current trends by checking what other people are wearing. From there, she adapts the looks she likes based on the pieces she has in her closet and her personal style.
At the end of the day, fashion is an individual experience. For Shana, clothing should be comfortable and inspire confidence in whatever situation you take on. Adapting trends to suit your personal taste keeps your closet fresh and uniquely you. Regardless of where you take style inspiration from or how you craft your outfits, the way you feel should always be a priority. “Most importantly,” Shana says, “you have to be happy when you wear your clothes.”
LAPILLUS’ Get Ready With Me Playlist
Shana’s Picks
Anticlimax – Mae Muller
Matsuri – Fujii Kaze
Interested in more EnVi-exclusive content? Read about CRAVITY’s style preferences in the third installment of our “Style Guide” series here.
