The Korean TV drama The Time We Were Not In Love, which recently finished airing on SBS, revolves around two longtime best friends who are meant for each other, but keep missing the timing and courage to turn friendship into romance. As a marketing executive for a shoe brand, heroine Oh Ha Na might not always make the best decisions in love, but when it comes to fashion, everything she wears is stunning and impeccably coordinated to the last detail. The office might as well be a catwalk for her, because smart casual has never looked so stylish. It helps, of course, that Oh Ha Na is played by the gorgeous Ha Ji Won.
Time to get some style inspiration from five of Oh Ha Na’s best looks in the drama!
Fair as a Rose
Ha Ji Won is nothing short of breathtaking in a rose-printed pencil skirt paired with a floral lace top in episode 5. Try out this graceful look for yourself with a high-waisted knee-length pencil skirt that cinches and flatters the figure. Pluck the flower print of your choice, but big florals are ideal for a more elegant and eye-catching ensemble. A lacy blouse in a neutral color complements without drawing attention away from the focus of the outfit: the skirt. Finish it off with strappy heels, rosy pink lips and a color-coordinated handbag, and you’re bound to turn heads.
Ha Ji Won is nothing short of breathtaking in a rose-printed pencil skirt paired with a floral lace top in episode 5. Try out this graceful look for yourself with a high-waisted knee-length pencil skirt that cinches and flatters the figure. Pluck the flower print of your choice, but big florals are ideal for a more elegant and eye-catching ensemble. A lacy blouse in a neutral color complements without drawing attention away from the focus of the outfit: the skirt. Finish it off with strappy heels, rosy pink lips and a color-coordinated handbag, and you’re bound to turn heads.
Office Edgy
Ha Na gives office attire a cool new spin in tailored shorts and a loose blazer, most notably the navy shorts and yellow jacket ensemble she wore in episode 3. This pairing is great for early autumn when temperatures are starting to come down but it’s still warm enough to show some leg. Stay with basic colors and designs for the shorts and top, but you can be more adventurous with the blazer by choosing one with a bright palette, asymmetric cut, oversized fit or contrasting cuffs and lapels. Complete the polished yet edgy look with a patterned envelope clutch.
Ha Na gives office attire a cool new spin in tailored shorts and a loose blazer, most notably the navy shorts and yellow jacket ensemble she wore in episode 3. This pairing is great for early autumn when temperatures are starting to come down but it’s still warm enough to show some leg. Stay with basic colors and designs for the shorts and top, but you can be more adventurous with the blazer by choosing one with a bright palette, asymmetric cut, oversized fit or contrasting cuffs and lapels. Complete the polished yet edgy look with a patterned envelope clutch.
When Tweed Meets Denim
For the perfect balance of classy and casual, pair a tweed jacket with denim or skinny pants. Thanks to the Chanel influence, there’s just something effortlessly timeless and sophisticated about a tweed blazer. Every girl could use a little tweed jacket, and ones in soft shades of blue and gray match naturally with jeans. Dress up or down according to your choice of bottoms and footwear: dark denim and heels for work and light blue jeans and sneakers for the weekend.
Second Dots
If polka dot pants make you think of clowns, think again. Ha Na rocks the dots with a white blouse loosely tucked into flowy dotted pants. The loose-fitting top and pants create a relaxed yet feminine silhouette while the monochrome palette keeps the whole look classy and understated. For the final touch, a long tie or scarf adds an interesting element so that it doesn’t seem too plain on top. Just throw a thin black scarf around your neck or grab a skinny tie from the men’s department. If dots really aren’t your thing, you can try the same styling with striped wide-leg pants.
If polka dot pants make you think of clowns, think again. Ha Na rocks the dots with a white blouse loosely tucked into flowy dotted pants. The loose-fitting top and pants create a relaxed yet feminine silhouette while the monochrome palette keeps the whole look classy and understated. For the final touch, a long tie or scarf adds an interesting element so that it doesn’t seem too plain on top. Just throw a thin black scarf around your neck or grab a skinny tie from the men’s department. If dots really aren’t your thing, you can try the same styling with striped wide-leg pants.
Sail Away
When it comes to dressing for a casual outdoors date, Ha Na definitely knows how to bring the cute. In episode 3, she wore a striped T-shirt with a whimsical sailor-tie print, loose-fit denim shorts, a tiny pink chain-strap handbag and a straw hat. Nautical style is perfect for late summer and seaside outings, and this adorable variation looks especially fresh-faced and comfy. For the more ambitious, YesStyle does carry cute sailor-style shirts complete with tie accents, but you may want to stick with a navy-and-white striped top or a tie-print tee. Add a pop of color with a small, bright handbag, and you’re set to sail.
When it comes to dressing for a casual outdoors date, Ha Na definitely knows how to bring the cute. In episode 3, she wore a striped T-shirt with a whimsical sailor-tie print, loose-fit denim shorts, a tiny pink chain-strap handbag and a straw hat. Nautical style is perfect for late summer and seaside outings, and this adorable variation looks especially fresh-faced and comfy. For the more ambitious, YesStyle does carry cute sailor-style shirts complete with tie accents, but you may want to stick with a navy-and-white striped top or a tie-print tee. Add a pop of color with a small, bright handbag, and you’re set to sail.
Hopping into the Hoop Trend
I first mentioned the grommet trend in March 2016 but I never expected it to last this long. Since then, this trend has evolved and now includes any clothing with one or more metal hoops. I call this the “hoop” trend.
Unlike ordinary metal chokers, bangles and rings, the most trend’s popular items tend to show the hoop lying flat on a surface like a full circle, or in a row of two to three hoops embellishing the hem. Hoop earrings are classic, but only basic. Let’s hoop for the better!
Clothing
Metal hoops can appear on clothing in the form of a single grommet on the side slits, an inset on the sleeve, lace-ups, pulltabs or piercings at the hem. Choose outfits in plain dark colors so the metal hoops can stand out. Complement your hoop-accented outfit with geometric or other similarly shaped accessories (e.g., hoop earrings or retro round glasses) to make the round theme even more obvious.
Head and Toes
Be it a baseball cap or a beret, a hat can look instantly ulzzang with a few grommets at the edge. After all, the style became famous because G-Dragon wore a snapback version. As for shoes, try not to confine yourself to lace-up boots despite their failsafe and timeless appeal. A circular buckle on the vamp and perforated straps at the ankles add a military vibe.
Accessories
This is where you should invest the most! To instantly elevate your look, simply throw on a belt, a bangle, a hair clip or a bag featuring the magical circle(s). As mentioned in my earlier article, you only need a single hoop at the front to create focus and a futuristic mood. Voila! Now you can rival the most fashion-conscious celebs and bloggers!
