[🇺🇸] Short Sleeves and Shorts in Winter? Korea's New Cold-Weather Fashion Trend

Conventional winter fashion stereotypes are shifting in South Korea, with short-sleeved knits and shorts emerging as key trends among the youth.

According to the fashion platform ZigZag, transactions for short-sleeved knits in December rose by 158% year-on-year.

This popularity stems from the "layering" trend, where these pieces are styled over shirts or under coats for both warmth and style. Nordic-patterned short-sleeved knits, in particular, saw a massive 696% growth.

The trend extends to bottoms, where sales for wool shorts skyrocketed by 1006%. Despite the freezing weather, there is high demand for shorter lengths made of heat-retaining materials like wool or napped fabric.

This movement has also fueled a 694% rise in "illusion stockings"—which give a bare-leg look while providing warmth—and a 144% increase in over-knee socks, reflecting a growing consumer preference for expressing personal style through versatile coordination.

Industry experts noted that as more consumers seek to express their individual tastes regardless of the weather, items with blurred seasonal boundaries are gaining traction. The focus on highly versatile items like short-sleeved knits and shorts suggests that the trend of enjoying unique layering and personal styling will continue throughout the winter season.

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