NCT 127 Reflect on Personal Style Backstage at “Neo City – The Link” World Tour
Jaehyun #Jaehyun
It’s early in the new year when NCT 127 travels to a bitterly cold Atlanta, Georgia, for the continuation of their Neo City – The Link world tour, where Teen Vogue caught up with the members to chat about all things fashion and beauty. After kicking things off in late 2021, the nine-member group took the tour to new heights in 2023, with sharp outfits to match a setlist full of powerful choreography and iconic tracks like the classic “Cherry Bomb” and more recent hit “질주 (2 Baddies).”
Atlanta is their last stop in the U.S. before heading to Latin America for the fifth and final leg of the tour. With less than an hour to go until they hit the stage to perform for NCTzens, NCT 127 are all smiles as they enter the room backstage at State Farm Arena. They’re dressed in variations of monochrome ivory-colored suits and white Puma Slipstream sneakers, accessorized with chunky silver jewelry and a dark purple smokey eye. These are the outfits they’ll be wearing to perform “Kick It,” the hit song that launches the concert, which, as Taeyong shares with Teen Vogue, are his favorite outfit to wear on this tour.
Oftentimes when talking about style, fashion dominates the conversation. NCT 127 are not immune to this, but, like their music, they contain multitudes. Going into this interview, they are not shy to announce that all pre-show routines have been completed, which they later reveal include energy drinks for Johnny, a meal that Mark and Jungwoo share, and a power nap for Taeil. Much like clothes and pre-show rituals, hair can also make a big impact on an idol’s overall look, and no one knows this better than Jungwoo, famously known as “the member with the best hair” — a quote from an old interview that he referenced when mentioning the new style he debuted for his return to the United States. Going from his signature floppy, structured cut to a choppier, edgier look for this tour was a major transition for Jungwoo, but he’s satisfied with the change. “It’s been a while since I changed my hairstyle, so I feel like it was a bold move to make. Honestly speaking, I was quite worried, but I think a lot of people actually like it,” he tells Teen Vogue.
Speaking of bold hair changes, rapper Mark shares one specific style he wishes he could try: a buzzcut. “I’ve always wanted to shave my head at least once, but I don’t know if I’d be able to do it.” Some immovable obstacles might be standing in the way of that, though. For starters: his own mother. “My mom had a conversation with my hair stylist once and said, ‘he really wants to get a buzzcut; please do not let him do it.'” As he contemplates the decision aloud, he decides that it’ll be better saved for when he’s older. “Maybe when I’m really far into manhood. Maybe.” Jaehyun admits that he, too, has a style dream for his older self. “I want to get a fancy, neat mustache.” Naturally, the group is intrigued by this picture of a mustached Jaehyun and erupts in “oohs” and “aahs” while he reassures the members that it wouldn’t happen until he turns at least 60. “He’s giving people something to look forward to,” Johnny immediately quips in response.
Johnny’s style bucket list item brings the group back down to Earth from their visions of fashion futures, as he’s hoping to one day work on a concept where each member’s individual style gets to shine. “I was thinking that, for one album, we could all just buy our own clothes,” he elaborates. “Because each member has such a different style and personality, what we all like to wear is different. Everyone can go shopping here and there, style their own outfit, and we’ll come together to show how much variety there is in the group because I think that’s one of our strong points.” So, according to each member, what would this kind of experimental concept look like? They have all the answers.
Jaehyun’s style, as explained by Johnny, prioritizes comfort and is rooted in street style, which keeps him looking “hip.” On days when he’s dressing up, however, he emphasizes “a very masculine side” that shows off his physique. “I mean, what else can I say? He’s Prada’s ambassador,” Johnny says, winking at Jaehyun. In turn, Jaehyun describes Yuta’s style as “rock and roll and punk” with his closet full of distressed jeans. Yuta reacts to this descriptor with a tiger-esque growl, complete with a claw hand gesture. “I wish we got that on camera,” Mark cries out in response to Yuta’s cat-like moves while the group erupts in laughter.
After settling down, it’s Yuta’s turn to describe Mark’s style, which he says is sporty and cool, rooted in a love for basketball. “He wears a lot of hats and beanies,” he shares, as Mark nods in agreement across the table. Next is Jungwoo, who Mark says “has good body proportions, so even a t-shirt would look good on him.” His outfits give “hip-hop vibes” while being “striking, yet nonchalant.” He doesn’t wear a lot of colors and doesn’t tend to do much fancy dress-up, but he does have some solid blazers in his closet — “which I bought for him myself, by the way,” Mark makes sure to note.
When it’s Jungwoo’s turn to talk about Taeyong, he immediately exclaims that the rapper has a “very special face.” Beyond the unbeatable face card, Jungwoo explains that Taeyong is skilled at taking any outfit to the next level and isn’t afraid to be experimental with fashion. “He goes out of his boundaries by trying out new styles. It shows he’s up for a challenge yet still has a solid style of his own, which I get a lot of inspiration from. He’s my fashion role model.”
When it’s Taeyong’s turn as a fashion critic, he describes Doyoung as a “model student” because his clothes are usually comfy, proper, and well-fitting. “His physique is really good, too, so a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt, like a university student vibe, looks good on him,” Taeyong shares. Of vocalist Taeil’s style, Doyoung says it’s cuteness and comfort over everything. “Because he has a very cutesy look, everything that he wears has a cute vibe to it.”
As the oldest of the group, Taeil has been given the extra responsibility of speaking to both Haechan (who isn’t currently touring with the group due to health concerns) and Johnny’s style. “Haechan loves his legs,” Taeil shares, noting that he accentuates this feature by wearing skinny jeans with tucked-in shirts to show off his legs. Last but not least is Johnny, who Taeil instantly says is a “fashionista” who can pull off any style. “When he needs to look flashy, he looks flashy; when he needs to look formal, he looks formal. He knows how to match the occasion.” The group nods in agreement, and Johnny takes it in stride: “He basically said I’m the best dressed in the group.”
Even while still on the road, NCT 127’s sights were already on promotions for their new project, the full-length repackaged album of 질주 (2 Baddies) titled Ay-Yo. Ahead of the release, the group reveals that some of the album’s visuals were captured in Brooklyn, New York, perfectly matching the slick feel of the new single. Taeyong also shares that the accompanying music video was the perfect backdrop for each member’s style to shine. Sky-high hair spikes and ruffled, feathered black outfits — which many are interpreting as an ode to labelmate TVXQ’s Changmin in 2004’s “Tri-Angle” — are the most memorable part of the video. The style differences the members spoke of in this interview are apparent in the MV, as Mark and Haechan are smooth in blue denim pieces with Taeil matching their chain jewelry, while Doyoung and Jungwoo are striking in black leather, Jaehyun shines in a classic black suit, and Johnny and Yuta give ’90s boy band vibes in all-white long sleeves and cargo pants.
With the group’s aesthetic varying based on their own unique identities and preferences, it might seem surprising to some that there is such synergy when they join each other on stage or on an album. But that’s exactly the charm of NCT 127: there’s a dose of experimentalism, a bit of chaos, some spontaneity, and a whole lot of joy.