All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
NCT's Mark Lee has already made a name for himself as a dexterous rapper and lyricist – and now he can add fashion icon to his long list of talents. The 21-year-old idol known for "always spitting straight facts" is here to tell us, once and for all, that Crocs are indeed cool. Love 'em or loathe 'em, the kitschy clogs that are, well, clogging up our timelines are here to stay and they now have Mark's stamp of approval to prove it.
On July 12, Mark showed off his trendy foam footwear on Instagram, posting a series of photos in what can best be described as "peak college boyfriend attire." The pics show the Korean-Canadian wearing his “favorite hoodie of all time” (aka. the blue "Egg" hoodie part of a recent clothing collab with South Korean brand Slow Acid) and gray sweat shorts. However, it was his black, embellished Crocs that caught everyone's eye — much to the simultaneous delight and horror of his fans.
Instagram content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
Adorned with an assortment of personalized Jibbitz, including six charms that spell out "NCT 127" and slices of watermelon (his favorite fruit), the squishy pair of clogs is a perfect reflection of their owner: somewhat sensible, characteristically playful, and wildly endearing.
Many NCTzens around the world are undoubtedly customizing their own Crocs to match as we speak. (Here's hoping the 22 other members of NCT each have a pair unique to their individual quirks.) Mark's particular pair seems to be the coveted Crocs Clog Vladimir Cauchemar, which are currently sold out, but the style can be easily replicated with a pair of the brand's Hiker clogs or even the classic ones and some extra charms.
It's only a matter of time before a K-pop group gets their own Crocs collab, joining the likes of Justin Bieber, Diplo, KFC (yes, the fast-food chain), Benefit Cosmetics, and Bad Bunny, whose zeitgeisty glow-in-the-dark pair sold out in just minutes. Idols from BLACKPINK's Jisoo to EVERGLOW's Mia and even the members of TXT have been rocking the shoes even before summer. With so many colorways and distinctive design options, there have never been more ways to express yourself through your footwear. For a fandom that's all about pushing the boundaries of self-expression, it makes sense that K-pop fans would also gravitate to the internet's most polarizing — and weirdly subversive — shoe.
It seems inevitable that Crocs will want to tap into the K-pop industry's substantial merchandising power and fans' penchant for collectibles at some point. Until then, you can catch us replicating Mark's casual Crocs with our own mountain of charms. (We know this pair is all about 127 but somebody needs to tell him about this hot sauce bottle so he can have one dedicated to Dream, too.)
If you already own a pair of Crocs, grab your own NCT 127 charms below:
Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email.
Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out:
- NCT’s Mark Lee Isn’t Too Busy to Dream
- BLACKPINK's Jisoo Gave Crocs Her Seal of Approval
- NCT Dream Is All Grown Up and Ready to Show What They Can Do
