Lee Hyori Redefines Timeless Fashion in WWD Korea October 2025 Covers and Pictorial

Photo Credits: WWD Korea Antenna

Lee Hyori returns to the forefront of Korea’s fashion conversation as she headlines the October 2025 issue of WWD Korea, starring across multiple covers and a pictorial preview that demonstrates her enduring magic as both a fashion muse and cultural presence. Even after more than two decades at the top, Hyori continues to redefine what timelessness looks like, bringing freshness and depth to every frame.

The creative vision for the shoot leaned into the seasonal transition of early autumn, where golden light dips into longer shadows. Directed by an editorial team eager to highlight contrasts, the concept aimed to blend Hyori’s signature strength with a softer, theatrical vulnerability. She slips between structured silhouettes and flowing ease, embodying WWD’s global philosophy of clothing as narrative rather than static presentation. Through her, the clothes echo individuality, layering elements of freedom, rebellion, and sophistication.

Behind the scenes, Hyori’s approach was as seamless as ever. Industry insiders describe her presence on set as “electric yet calming”—a rare duality that immediately put the team at ease. She worked closely with stylists, often suggesting subtle adjustments to hair placement or garment flow, a testament to her years of experience as both performer and model. Her instinctive understanding of angles and lighting created a fluid collaboration with the photographer, who sought to evoke an urban cinematic realism. In one sequence, Hyori moves across a minimalist set accented only with steel chairs and textured walls, her oversized coat sweeping effortlessly as the cameras captured movement without need for retakes. The result is less performance, more dialogue between subject and lens.

Styling carried a deliberate tension between old-world refinement and contemporary edge. Tailored coats in neutral tones were paired with metallic-trimmed boots, while fluid dresses in jewel tones sat against chunky layered jewelry. One cover presents Hyori in a striking monochrome gown, her gaze both commanding and inscrutable, enhanced by makeup that emphasized bold brows and a statement lip—a nod to 1990s supermodel glamour refined through a Korean lens. Another portrays her in a more pared-back look: wet hair swept into natural waves, a cream-toned blazer loosely tied at the waist, her sneakers peeking beneath wide-leg trousers in Golden Age film contrast.

The artistry extended equally to hair and makeup. The beauty direction was described as “a natural canvas with intentional imperfections”—hydrated, dewy skin with faintly smudged liner, undone strands framing her face, and lips alternating between understated nude and deep red across different sets. The choices underscored WWD’s editorial motto that imperfection, when framed truthfully, is itself luxury. Hyori embraced this philosophy fully, reminding crew members during downtime that “grace is not about looking flawless, but about being unafraid to change.”

The mood of the day straddled professionalism and playfulness. Between takes, Hyori shared light banter with the crew, occasionally breaking into laughter that contrasted with the intense focus of her on-camera persona. This duality, WWD Korea’s editors noted, was the core of why Hyori remains endlessly watchable: she is iconic yet wholly relatable, transforming with each frame while still rooted in a sense of self that is unshakably hers.

What emerges from the October issue is not merely another fashion cover, but a moment of cultural resonance. In a media landscape where new faces constantly arrive, Hyori’s ability to embody renewal without abandoning her history feels like a lesson in resilience. Through this feature, WWD Korea positions her not only as a star with lasting gravitational pull but also as a mirror of shifting Korean fashion, where heritage and reinvention coexist with seamless ease.