Indie Band Stylist Young-Ah Kim Talks Touring, Music Videos and Personal Style

By Bee-Shyuan Chang
January 6, 2011

Stylist Young-Ah Kim

Young-Ah Kim (images courtesy of Kim)

Finding your way in New York is as much creative exploration as it is an adventure. Indie band stylist Young-Ah Kim landed in the big city fresh from a stint at Vassar as a sociology major. But rather than, say, join a social science research institute, Young-Ah Kim was inspired by the aesthetic experience that can be NYC. "I came here because I was looking for something totally different," the professional stylist told us. "I didn't really know what yet, but just that I was figuring out what to do."

After enrolling in fashion design classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Kim had one of those random life-changing chances to join a band. Putting 10 years of piano lessons to good use, she toured with Manchester-based band A.M. as keyboardist, traveling largely in Europe and the U.K., where she scoured local thrift shops for onstage threads. "They were these guys that were part of Jeff Buckley's band, and I was the only girl. So the guys kind of let me play dress up with them," Young-Ah Kim remembered with a laugh.

Kings of Leon "Pyro" video, styled by Kim (via YouTube)

When the group eventually disbanded, Young-Ah Kim decided to take that indie band stylist experience and go at it full-time. "What I discovered from being on the road was that I always made time for clothes. It was something I didn't get bored of," she said. Since then, she's built her professional stylist portfolio through campaigns for Champion and Sprite, but also by returning to her rock band roots, styling music videos for Interpol and most recently, Kings of Leon's "Pyro" single. "It was such a huge set for Kings of Leon," Young-Ah Kim said. "I went over the visual idea with the band to get a sense of the vibe they wanted, and I took in the set, which was this New England dive bar, into context, too. Then I had to hunt down pieces for about two hundred plus extras and they weren't your coat hanger models; they were all shapes and sizes. It was such a challenge, but so rewarding!"

As for her personal style, Young-Ah Kim has evolved from a leather-wearing indie hipster to a more grown-up kind of classic. Here, the cool downtown girl shares the fashion trends she's into now.

1950s and 60s Vintage Swing Coats: "eBay is an amazing resource for [styling] work because you can find very specific things. I've been looking at a ton of '50s and '60s pieces for that whole Mad Men style. I look for swingy coats or great plaids."

Vintage Red Plaid Tweed Boucle Coat

(buy it now price $49.99 )

Men's Shearling Coats: "Personally, I'm currently really into men's clothes. I'm on the hunt for a great men's vintage shearling car coat—not fitted, circa 1970. I'd wear it oversized with skinny jeans."

Men's Vintage Shearling Coat

(buy it now price $229.99 )

Oversized Knit Sweaters: "One of the items I'll be wearing from winter into spring is loose, big sweaters."

Vintage '80s Oversized Slouch Sweater

(buy it now price $17.99 )

Men's Boots and Oxfords: "The vintage stores in NYC are so depleted and I don't get to travel like I used to when I was on tour. eBay is great for my 'thrift store' fix. I would love to score some vintage men's boots or oxfords. I don't get dainty boots; boots are made for walking!"

Red Wing Vintage Logger Boots

(buy it now price $99.99 )

Pile on the Accessories: "When I was younger, my style was very rock 'n roll—lots of leather and black. Then I got older and I started styling, and I'm more classic in my garments now. But I express my style with tons of accessories."