Vogue: Meet Kris Wu, the Former Boy Band Superstar Member Who Took Burberry’s Runway by Storm

[everypart]

Zayn Who? Meet Kris Wu, the Former Boy Band Superstar Member Who Took Burberry’s Runway by Storm

 

The Burberry runway has long served as a launchpad for new faces, but for its Fall 2016 menswear show, the brand decided to debut a bona fide superstar on the runway. In between catwalk regulars like Ysaunny Brito and Jackson Hale was none other than Kris Wu, the musician, actor, and—if you are familiar with popular Chinese or Korean culture—megastar. Though Wu is no stranger to fashion, having recently graced the cover of Chinese Vogue next to Kendall Jennerand making regular front row appearances at Givenchy, Burberry marks his first appearance on the runway for the men’s collections in London—and we’re betting it won’t be the last.

Wu’s career began with a spot in South Korean–Chinese supergroup EXO. As the boy band to end all boy bands, EXO features 12 members performing in multiple languages for an all-singing, all-dancing pop idol juggernaut. (Imagine the teen girl spontaneous combustion that would have occurred had ’NSYNC and Backstreet Boys joined forces at the height of their popularity and you get a taste for the impact EXO has on its legions of fans.) To say that the group is “popular†is an understatement, and Wu’s position as leader of the Mandarin section (“EXO-Mâ€) afforded him a special place in the lineup. But group stardom was not for him: It seems that the lure of making it as a solo performer eventually proved irresistible. Like Justin Timberlake and Zayn Malik before him, Wu parted ways with his boy band brethren and set his sights on a solo career.

 

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A skilled frontman with a knack for reinvention, Wu has used fashion and his considerable swagger to keep his fans on the edge of their seats. Frequently changing his hair color—over the course of a year he went pink, silver, and platinum blonde—and experimenting with outlandish wares from Kenzo, Versace, andChristopher Kane, Wu is a bona fide style chameleon. Lately, his preferences have leaned strongly toward streetwear, with pieces from Pyrex, Off-White, and Yeezy making their way onto his ultra-stylish Instagram feed. After his appearance at Burberry, he’s sure to be sporting more Christopher Bailey in his closet, but it’s hard to imagine Wu sticking to any one label. With Milan menswear on the horizon and Wu certain to make the rounds, we have a feeling that his personal style will make him one to watch in the coming weeks ahead—on the runway and off.

 

Vogue 

 

WWD mentions:

 

"Models, including the Canadian-Chinese heartthrob Kris Wu, strolled around a snaking catwalk in a darkened tent in Kensington Gardens, as the Mercury Prize-winning artist Benjamin Clementine performed live on the piano." - Burberry Men’s RTW Fall 2016

 

"SOMETHING ABOUT WU: At last year’s Met Gala, Mario Testino introduced Christopher Bailey to the Canadian-Chinese actor and musician Kris Wu, the most talked about person at the event on social media after Justin Bieber, Rihanna and Beyoncé.

 

Testino had shot Wu for the cover of Vogue China in July, alongside Kendall Jenner. The introduction to Bailey got Wu another job, closing the Burberry men’s show in London on Monday.

 

“It was very exciting, but I was nervous at the same time. My heart was pounding, but then I tried to look like I was not nervous,†Wu told WWD, demonstrating a facial transition from animated to the picture of catwalk model blankness.

 

Wu was sporting a shaved head, his regular lustrous coif long since shaved in sacrifice of his role as a monk in “Journey to the West: Demon Chapter,†which is set to be released next year.

 

“I had a shaved head for, like, four months,†he said. “I was kind of nervous about it because you know I’ve always had hair, but now I’m kind of used to it. It’s fun.â€

 

While Wu walked, fellow celebrities took up their seats in the front row. Guests included Steve McQueen, Brooklyn Beckham, Mark Ronson, Joséphine de la Baume, Tinie Tempah, Jourdan Dunn, Dermot O’Leary, Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis, Andrew Weitz, Nick Grimshaw, Toby Huntington-Whiteley, Johannes Huebl, Dougie Poynter, Hu Bing, David Gandy and Rafferty Law." - Front Row at Burberry Men’s Fall 2016

 

"Actor-singer Kris Wu said: “He was the idol for music and for fashion, too. He was an inspiration to me in many, many ways. Because I’m really into fashion, I would get inspired [by his style], even his hair color — the orange and red hair — I tried that myself because of him.â€" - David Bowie, Fashion Chameleon, Dies at 69

 

"But the ace in the sleeve was the inclusion in the model line-up of Chinese superstar Kris Wu, a former K-pop idol currently shooting Luc Besson's latest film." - Associated Press

 

Vogue, again:

 

 

 

 

Video of him chatting with the Burberry CEO and creative director:

 

Click here to view the Tweet

[Ddeona Oneul Bame]

THE RELEVANCE IS REAL~   YASSSSS KRIS~ SO PROUD~

 

[MiaSanMia]

did they really say zayn who?

 

zayn's toe crust is hotter then kris 

[everypart]

did they really say zayn who?

 

zayn's toe crust is hotter then kris 

Not according to Vogue   

[Jcey]

My chest swells with pride and I feel pure happiness. Strange thing is its not even my achievement. He is showing the world what I always saw in him 'A Superstar'. He is gonna shine even brighter in coming years.

[everypart]

My chest swells with pride and I feel pure happiness. Strange thing is its not even my achievement. He is showing the world what I always saw in him 'A Superstar'. He is gonna shine even brighter in coming years.

Yep.

 

And lmfao at the bitter people negging the OP. I see you, people. 

[Evanescence]

I am so proud of Kris! He has come a long way. I hope more people are able to see what a loving and wonderful person he is.

[bluesargent]

Zayn Who?

 

LMAO and it's his birthday

 

[miaissocoollike]

Laxy Hyung ~~

[Midnight~Circus]

I can't believe how far he's come after leaving Exo. Homeboy is making his name known all over the world and taking part in projects he could only dream of if she stayed in Korea.

 

I can't express through words just how happy I am for him. God bless him and I pray he becomes even more successful.

[Ddeona Oneul Bame]

Zayn Who?

 

LMAO and it's his birthday

 

 

LMAO REKD!!! 

[bettyjay]

SM sue Vogue!!!!

[ANTI]

he's killing it

[bettyjay]

I can't believe how far he's come after leaving Exo. Homeboy is making his name known all over the world and taking part in projects he could only dream of if she stayed in Korea.

 

I can't express through words just how happy I am for him. God bless him and I pray he becomes even more successful.

 

It's crazy. SM can't do anything but put out nonsensical press releases lmao

[Mogwai]

 I wonder if the 1D/Zayn fans have seen this lol

[tya]

So, so proud of him. He's doing something that he's passionate about and gets recognition that he truly deserved for it, I'm happy for him.

 

 

I can imagine SM seething in Korea coming up for another pathetic excuse of a lawsuit   

 

[gayness]

:D

[hoshi]

stop fucking associating him with exo, you fuckers. after the horrendous exo star wars photoshoot and now this? lol bye vogue

[everypart]

stop fucking associating him with exo, you fuckers. after the horrendous exo star wars photoshoot and now this? lol bye vogue

You mean EXO getting associated with him? Because, you know, they would never be mentioned on their own by Vogue meanwhile they were mentioned here as a byline mentioning the past of the main topic, Kris.

 

Also, this is Vogue US, the main Vogue. What you're whining about is Vogue Korea.

[hoshi]

You mean EXO getting associated with him? Because, you know, they would never be mentioned on their own by Vogue meanwhile they were mentioned here as a byline mentioning the past of the main topic, Kris.

 

Also, this is Vogue US, the main Vogue. What you're whining about is Vogue Korea.

 

exo getting associated with him? Did you fucking think exo pay vogue just to be mentioned in a shady article? y'all kept complaining too when ur fave is associated with exo like 'his success has nothing to do with exo!!11' where y'all at now???? licking your own spits??

[weregild]

exo getting associated with him? Did you fucking think exo pay vogue just to be mentioned in a shady article? y'all kept complaining too when ur fave is associated with exo like 'his success has nothing to do with exo!!11' where y'all at now???? licking your own spits??

 

geeze for someone complaining about how ex member fans drag exo you seem to be doing it a lot in these type of threads.

[Ddeona Oneul Bame]

stop fucking associating him with exo, you fuckers. after the horrendous exo star wars photoshoot and now this? lol bye vogue

 

 

exo getting associated with him? Did you fucking think exo pay vogue just to be mentioned in a shady article? y'all kept complaining too when ur fave is associated with exo like 'his success has nothing to do with exo!!11' where y'all at now???? licking your own spits??

 

 

Who TF you mad at? 

[Baby Don't Cry]

Congrats, I'm really proud of him~

 

 

stop fucking associating him with exo, you fuckers. after the horrendous exo star wars photoshoot and now this? lol bye vogue

Sometimes I wonder if you're a troll or actually that petty, that you even get called out for your behaviour from other Exo stans?

[hoshi]

Congrats, I'm really proud of him~

 

 

 

Sometimes I wonder if you're a troll or actually that petty, that you even get called out for your behaviour from other Exo stans?

 

i dont fucking care abt y'all ot12 stans. i'm here to support exo as a group, and exo has 9 members that i care about. i dont care about others outside of the group, and as an exo stan i dont like it when my faves were associated with somebody else who has nothing to do with them and even harming the group.

[HATEmeCUZyouAINTme]

i dont fucking care abt y'all ot12 stans. i'm here to support exo as a group, and exo has 9 members that i care about. i dont care about others outside of the group, and as an exo stan i dont like it when my faves were associated with somebody else who has nothing to do with them and even harming the group.

This is Vogue, you should be happy Exo even got the opportunity to be mentioned, in a very positive light I might add, but of course anything that relates Exo to Kris is forbidden. I hope you don't think that any history between Exo and Kris will be erased magically...unless by SM's power...

 

Anyway stay pressed hun..