Korean Fashion began in the 1800s. Before this the Korean Hanbok was Koreas fashion choice. Hanboks were blouses and loose fitting trousers or skirts. Woman wore a jeogni (blouse and jacket) and a chima (skirt). Men wore  jeogni and bagi (trousers). However by the late 1800s when westerners began to come to Korea, Korea started losing its traditional style and elements.

In the early 20th century, Koreans adapted a new fashion powered by the occupation of Korea. This is where the Japenese colonial government showed Koreas clothing in a modern way. Instead Korean woman would wear new hairstyles for sports such as the 'Gibson Girl' and men wore suits. The flapper style of the West came into fashion throughout the 1920s. Woman who wore this were labelledd 'new woman'.

During the Second World War, fashion became a militaristic style that continued until the end of World War Two. Due to poverty in Korea fabrics were required to be dark and simple.

After the Korean war its fashion changed drastically. The 1950s the fashionable hairstyle was seen as crimped and popularity of the swimsuit and korean makeup influenced the United States. In December 1954, the International Western Clothing Company opened in Seoul. 

In the 1960s miniskirts became extremely trendy. By the 70s Korea set a harsh evironment. Fashion became a symbol for resistance and protest, this included: hot trousers,long hair,punk clothing,big earrings and sunglasses. In the 1980s fashion became more casual, this included T shirts and jumpers, the brand ReeBook became popular. Woman workware fashion increased and became bright and different.

In the 1990s K pop (Korean Pop0 became popular effecting the looks of Korean fashion. People were dressed in a hip hop style and Grunge style, also known as 'resistance style'.

Since 2000 to the present K shion and K beauty have a big impact on the market. Seoul is now competing with Western Fashion cities such as Paris and New York.