Stray Kids on Tour Style, Staying Cool, and Their Favorite Current Trends

Global stardom comes with many lessons, and for Stray Kids, one of them is this: everyone sweats — just not in the same places. "My hair sweats a lot," Han tells Teen Vogue, miming a waterfall cascading off his bangs. Felix? "My face doesn’t sweat a lot, but my body does," the Aussie says. Hyunjin, visibly envious, reveals he's the complete opposite: "My body doesn't really sweat, but my face sweats a lot." And then there's Seungmin, cool as ever. "Since I was young, I sweated less compared to my friends," he says. In fact, he adds, "I get cold easy."

The Stray Kids world tour <dominATE> kicked off last August in South Korea before expanding into other parts of Asia and Australia. The tour has since continued well into 2025 with outdoor stadium stops across America and Europe. As such, Stray Kids has become intimately familiar with the realities of performing under summer heatwave conditions — like in Madrid, where Teen Vogue meets them backstage at Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium on a 93°F (34°C) day in late July. The air is thick, the spotlights unforgiving, and soon, the group will step onto the stage in custom black tour looks, drenched in oversized gems, and eventually, sweat.

Their backstage hack for dealing with such brutal temperatures? Towels soaked in coolers of ice water for mid-show relief and a whole lot of hairspray. "I spray a lot [it]," Lee Know says, his dark bangs perfectly parted to show the optimal amount of forehead. "Since I sweat a lot, it's the only way to not die and keep my hair in place."

Onstage, they attempt to beat the heat in another, and arguably more chaotic, way. During hype tracks like "Domino" and "LALALALA," the members crack open water bottles and douse the crowd (and sometimes each other), igniting spontaneous water fights that have become a fan-favorite highlight of every tour stop. One second, Bang Chan is splashing water in your face, and the next, he's giving you a hug over the barricade. These moments are messy, unfiltered, and wildly fun — the kind of energy Stray Kids have alchemized into a signature edge that's taken their last six albums to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. (The group announced their next full-length project, Karma, out in late August, just a few days after this interview.)

This tour marks yet another major milestone for Stray Kids. While they’ve played stadiums before, this is the first time every stop is in a venue of that size. "The scale of this tour is just very, very different from what we’ve done before," Bang Chan says. "At first, it didn’t feel very comfortable — it was all new. But as we kept going, we started beating those nerves. We're still adapting, still growing stronger on stage. It’s a long lesson, but it’s one we’re learning together."

With tens of thousands of fans packed into open-air venues across the globe, the group is also experiencing a new kind of stage, one that demands bigger everything: sound, visuals, energy, and presence.

"First of all, it's the biggest tour to date for us," Changbin says. "So I think we needed the outfits to mirror that scale and show our strength and aura from the beginning — you can see that in the 'fits we’re wearing now,” he continues, pointing to the black ensembles chosen for the opening look at Madrid. (The group has also worn light blue and white versions of the same outfits throughout the tour.)

Up close, the ornate embellishments sewn onto their suits shimmer like rhinestones but feel more sculptural, like costume jewelry made to be seen from the nosebleeds. "It's plastic," Bang Chan jokes of the baubles that spiral into various designs, but the effect is far from cheap. Under stage lights, these looks explode with texture and shine, catching the light from every angle.

For an eight-member group like Stray Kids, tailoring is both a unifier and a differentiator; it has to tell a cohesive sartorial story while sculpting each member’s silhouette to reflect their individuality. "Each member has a different style to express the mood of the performance," Seungmin explains, noting how wardrobe choices evolve not only with the concept of each song but also with climate and comfort. On this tour, that means swapping long coats for lighter, breathable fabrics and styling accessories as standalone pieces. "Since it's so hot now, we've taken off the outerwear and replaced it with accessories that can be styled as innerwear, like colored shirts or a tie," he says of his summer adjustments. Lee Know adds, "If I’m really hot, I'll just take off the outer layer. We usually wear two anyway, so that's one way to deal with the heat."

Some members take a more minimal approach: "I just take it all off," Bang Chan jokes — and if you’ve seen the fancams, you know he’s not kidding.

Still, cohesion matters. "Each song has a different vibe, but when we look at the concert as a whole, we need everything to match and be cohesive — the aesthetics, the colors, the mood," says Changbin, whose sleeveless looks, like Bang Chan's, often highlight his gym-honed physique. "Matching the vibe so it flows with the setlist is key," he adds. That balance between unity and individuality is perhaps best exemplified in the custom red outfits from the second act.

From Korean designer Bonbom Jo, the looks fuse traditional Korean floral motifs with clean, symmetrical tailoring and a touch of spectacle, nodding to the ornate traje de luces worn by Spanish bullfighters. Individual accessories — like the Versace sunglasses Hyunjin wears for the "Chk Chk Boom" performance — add a flash of personal flair, reinforcing how each member's styling reflects their character while still fitting within the group's visual narrative.

For their unit stages, the members took things a step further, performing in bespoke looks from the luxury houses they represent. In London, Felix took the stage in a custom Louis Vuitton ensemble designed by Nicolas Ghesquière, a utilitarian look that matched the tone of his performance. Bang Chan, ambassador for Fendi, wore two custom outfits during shows in Paris and Rome, both tailored to emphasize his commanding stage presence and sharp, structured style. Seungmin, performing "Cinema" alongside Lee Know, donned a custom Burberry look adorned with Swarovski crystals, somewhat of a dramatic departure from his usual understated aesthetic. "I would like to point out Seungmin’s new outfit,” Bang Chan says, calling attention to the look. "The very flashy one." Han adds, "Ah, the see-through one," prompting laughter.

Hyunjin, the face of Versace, rotated through several striking looks from the house, including a custom Baroque-print denim jacket. I.N, meanwhile, subtly elevated his outfits with statement jewelry pieces from Damiani. (The maknae is an ambassador for both the jewellery brand and Italian luxury house Bottega Veneta.) Lee Know, recently announced as an ambassador for Gucci, brought a touch of quiet luxury to his stagewear. And last but not least, Changbin and Han embraced their fashion freedom, incorporating pieces from brands like Amiri, Doublet, and Lemeteque.

If high-concept, brand-aligned stagewear tells one story, Stray Kids’ offstage looks reveal something more intimate: how each member adapts, experiments, and expresses himself in real time.

"When we go to different countries, we try to vibe with the culture too," Felix says. "That’s part of the experience." Felix has a knack for adding playful flair to his looks, namely through his ever-growing collection of keychains. "I like to decorate my pants and bags," he says. "It’s very trendy." At each tour stop, he swaps them out to reflect the city they’re in: viral key rings dangled from his outfit during the US shows in LA and New York; a Union Jack bear made an appearance in London; and in Madrid, it was a cute clothed bear representing the city’s mascot.

The other members have thoughts on the keychain trend. "BbokAri is the best [keychain]," Seungmin says, referencing Felix’s freckled SKZOO character. Bang Chan chimes in with mock betrayal: "He betrayed BbokAri. He’s using Labubus right now." Felix protests, "I got [my] Labubu as a gift, though." As for Bang Chan? "I’ll stick to my own Wolf Chan."

Meanwhile, Hyunjin pulls from specific cultural touchstones to guide his look in every country. "When we do shows in Japan, I try to go for a vintage Japanese feel," he says. "There's an anime I really like called Nana — I really like the styles featured in that show, so I take inspiration from it and have that vibe when in Japan. When we're in Europe, I look to European rock bands for inspiration and try to replicate that vibe. And when we go to the US, I tend to be a bit more hip. Every stop has a different feel."

That stylistic fluency shows. During soundchecks and the occasional encore set, Hyunjin often throws on vintage band tees — Nirvana, Radiohead, and The Beatles among his favorites. "While we were in London, I bought a lot of old band tees and tour tees from British rock bands, like, for example, Radiohead and Pink Floyd," he says. "I bought so many old merch shirts, not just of British bands, but also acts like Nirvana as well. I really like vintage tees like that." Earlier in the tour, he sported a freshly bleached buzz cut, often accented with black nail polish and stacked silver jewelry. As the tour has stretched on, the buzz cut has been growing out, revealing a new version of Hyunjin at every stop. Fans may not be surprised to learn he's already plotting his next hairstyle. "I want my hair to grow out quickly, so I'm letting it flow," he says. "I want to try another style."

The rest of the group carries their own visual signatures, too. Felix leans into fluid streetwear — think long jean shorts, oversized hoodies, and a soft spot for playful accessories. "Louis Vuitton," he adds with a knowing look. Han, a fan of Vivienne Westwood, self-describes his current vibe as "nerdy-style clothing," delivered with amused self-awareness. Dancer Lee Know prefers ease and polish, often in crisp basics and rarely one to over-accessorize. "I wear a lot of Gucci," he admits with a grin. I.N, ever in tune with what's trending, gravitates toward high-fashion streetwear that blends curiosity with confidence. Lately, he's had his eye on football shoes. "They are really comfy," he says. "I think they'll also be comfortable to work out in." Bang Chan, for his part, is captivated by Nike's hands-free GO FlyEase.

Seungmin keeps it classic and clean, favoring preppy knits and sporty layers. “Jerseys and baseball jackets,” he says, only to be met with Han's quippy, "Burberry?" Hyunjin, unsurprisingly, goes bold. "I wear a lot of accessories, rings, chokers… I think I do a lot of excessive styling — with Versace and Cartier," he says with a wry smile.

Changbin, who once led the pack in trend-chasing during their trainee days, confessed to losing the thread a bit — a shift Hyunjin is quick to point out. "When we were trainees, Changbin was really stylish," he says. "Now? Not at all. He used to wear all the trends and dress up, but now he's become someone who doesn't shop at all." Though Hyunjin is steadily influencing his roommate. "He kept encouraging me to buy some [accessories]," Changbin says. "I ended up investing in really expensive jewelry pieces. I’m changing." Changbin typically leans into gym-ready fits with personality. On this tour, he's also seized the chance to buy "a lot of football teams' uniforms" for his friends back in South Korea.

And then there's Bang Chan: often in black, usually in a cap, and always dressed like someone ready for a rehearsal, a soundcheck, or a late-night mixing session. These days, though, he's been switching things up — at least from the neck up. He's been growing his hair out while on tour, and he's got a vision in mind. "I don't know how to do it," he says, "but I want to get, like, a one-braid thing." Felix helps complete the image: "Like Anakin Skywalker." Changbin seems visibly confused by the idea of a rat tail, but to Bang Chan, it's personal. "Back in Australia, all the kids would have one," he explains. "I never had one. So I want to try now."

Of course, no Stray Kids fit is complete without the footwear, specifically, chunky sneakers and platform combat boots. "Bold shoes," I.N clarifies. It's not just a style choice, but a practical one. "We need to get to three meters," Bang Chan jokes. Felix lets out an exaggerated cough. "We’re like 2.5 right now," the leader says with a grin. "So we need those shoes to get to a full three meters.” Still, some dream of something a little closer to the ground.

"I want to wear Vans," Hyunjin laughs, a sentiment echoed by I.N, who mimics his tone and adds, "I also like Vans!" But for now, the stacked soles stay — part necessity, part signature.

_{Most of the Stray Kids members spoke via an interpreter during this interview. Additional translations have been provided by Sara Delgado. Special thanks to Live Nation and JYP Entertainment.}