Mixing and matching outfits: The art of dressing with Cortis

For a boyband that, quite literally, has a song about fashion, there has been plenty of chatter about CORTIS – but surprisingly little about what they actually wear.

Five months post-debut, the group has already achieved what many seasoned artists take years to concretise – fashion is strategy. Of course, while stylists, creative directors, and a coordinated team are behind every look, CORTIS make it feel instinctive – a natural extension of their ethos of authenticity.

Fans, at least, have been paying close attention. Fan-run Instagram accounts have become living archives of the group’s wardrobe – cataloguing off-duty fits, stage looks, and various fashion moments with near-editorial precision.

Familiar as this may be in K-pop fandoms, with such eager (and early) attention to their dress, CORTIS’ style certainly invites looking.

But notably absent, for now, are the luxury ambassadorships that, in recent days, land near-instantaneously for superstar rookie groups, such as ILLIT. 

Instead, CORTIS’ partnerships sit comfortably in lifestyle territory: Red Bull, KT Corporation’s iPhone 17 Pro collaboration, and most recently, contact lens brand ACUVUE OASYS 1-Day.

Even their upcoming appearance as the first K-pop group to perform at the NBA Crossover concert series during All-Star Weekend place the group squarely within global youth culture – while leaving their distinctive visual aesthetic relatively untouched.

Despite placing their Y2K-inspired look at the centre of their image, CORTIS – a ‘young creators’ crew’ that prizes authenticity over conformity – exercise unusual restraint when it comes to formalising fashion-focused partnerships.

After all, when thinking of CORTIS, a very specific, very relatable image comes to mind – moody skater-punk aesthetics, worn-in grunge textures, with a penchant for teen rebellion-inspired self-expression, combined with the forward-thinking polished ‘pretty boy’ canon of K-pop. 

Naturally, considering this trendsetting pull, this raises the question: why no major fashion partnerships yet?

Cultivating cohesion

CORTIS’ aesthetic thrives on balance.

Riding the resurgence of early-naughts grunge – hyper-masculine hip-hop and punk-inspired silhouettes, from baggy trousers and oversized hoodies to low-slung belts and statement sneakers – the group fuses this with the inherent femininity of K-pop glamour.

The former is a globally familiar formula, echoing the broader punk wave popularised by Western celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo.

What sets CORTIS apart is the tension between softness and grit, a carefully choreographed interplay of masculine and feminine cues that feels novel, alluring, and visually magnetic to both male and female audiences. 

This tension is not accidental. In today’s K-pop industry, femininity has become an inseparable aspect of male beauty norms. Studies have shown that, for many young men in South Korea, makeup and meticulous grooming function as leverage in an image-driven, disciplined, and status-conscious culture – and this is much so exacerbated when one is called to perform on a world stage.

In this context, CORTIS’ blend of punk energy and nuanced grooming is inadvertently both culturally literate and authentically their own – relatively accessible and approachable to their core fanbase, yet slightly elevated at the same time – thus a far cry from the glitz and glamour of true high fashion.

Little is publicly known about their stylist, ACTOY, but the work speaks for itself. Together with the group, they have built a visual vocabulary of soft silhouettes, clever proportions, and playful details, balancing youth-driven experimentation with clandestine restraint.

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A signature touch

Beyond the group-level aesthetic, each member still brings a distinct voice.

For one, vocalist (and former child model) Juhoon channels a California skater vibe with flannel hoodies, ripped cargos, low-slung belts, and, sometimes, Stüssy caps. 

James, the oldest member, injects vintage Americana and skater-punk flair, often accentuated by bold hair and exaggerated silhouettes. 

The maknae (‘youngest member’), Keonho, demonstrates an unsurprisingly playful, classically chic approach, mixing simple wardrobe staples with unusual patterns, textures, and colorways.

On the other hand, topliner and lyricist Seonghyeon embodies a more casual Y2K look, from vintage muscle tees to carefully chosen accessories.

Finally, Martin, the leader, blends punk, grunge, and emo aesthetics with layered textures, as well as the occasional delicate touche, creating a look that is both bold and subtly feminine.

Through these individual signatures, CORTIS establish a universal visual vocabulary that maintains group cohesion while preserving personal distinction – a crucial calibration before stepping fully into luxury fashion’s orbit.

Early luxury affiliations – or any highly visible brand partnership – can creatively be restrictive, of which CORTIS’ entire core identity hinges. 

By cultivating taste-making authority first, CORTIS ensures that when collaborations arrive, the conversation is about the group itself – not just the logos they wear. Their mix-and-match visual strategy positions them as tastemakers before they become brand mouthpieces. 

True to form, the essence of their FaSHioN anthem lies in self-expression and personal freedom, turning clothing into a terrain for celebrating individual identity, a clear group ethos, and playful subversion of expectations.

Teasing luxury

With this foundation in place, it is no surprise, then, that global fashion houses – Moncler, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, to name a few – are already following the group’s online channels closely. 

Perhaps signaling that moment, CORTIS have begun teasing luxury fashion in measured doses. In January 2026, the group turned heads, dressed in Jonathan Anderson’s Dior Spring/Summer 2026 Menswear at a Seoul photocall, trading their skater-punk sensibility for couture tailoring.

Just two months earlier, Vivienne Westwood Korea spotlighted Martin in an iconic portrait, hinting at a natural affinity with the house’s rebellious aesthetic. 

So, at this moment, these official partnerships are less a question of if, than of when. 

And, if anything, CORTIS are now signaling that their sartorial influence is only just beginning – a prelude to the next chapter of a group for whom fashion is both strategy and self-expression, and where every outfit tells a story beyond the stage.