In His Glory Days

Nearly a decade since he was introduced as the first member of Korean band EXO, and a year since the formation of supergroup SuperM, Kai is ready to step into 2021 with his debut solo album. And he’s doing it wearing head-to-toe Gucci, confirming his status as a bona fide style icon.

- Hyunyu Kim

“I think fashion is a way to show your personality,” offers Kai, Esquire Singapore’s December cover star and arguably the most popular member of one of South Korea’s best-selling music groups, EXO. “With clothes you can show who you are—fashion is the simplest and probably the coolest way to express yourself.” While he admits to favouring a more classic style than the fall/winter runway looks of Gucci, for whom he’s an ambassador, showcased on these pages, in his day to-day life, he believes that fashion is transformative, and it’s his personal style—“sometimes bold, sometimes more simple”—that has led to his name on the top of international best-dressed lists. “I think it’s important to dress according to your situation, so when I’m standing on stage or taking pictures I really can be bold, like with these looks, and feel good about myself.”