Some idols have a signature item that instantly reads as “them.” For Park Ji-hoon, it might just be the shirt.
Across stages, fan meetings, and photoshoots, Park Ji-hoon keeps returning to shirts — but rarely in the same way twice. Layered with a tie for performances, thrown open over a tee for casual content, or worn clean and minimal for editorials, the same basic item takes on a completely different mood depending on the setting. That range is exactly what makes his shirt styling worth a closer look — including the striped shirt he recently wore for an Esquire Korea feature.
Shirt and Tie: Stage Mode
On stage, Park Ji-hoon often pairs a shirt with a tie, then loosens the formality with an open collar, rolled-up sleeves, denim, or relaxed trousers. It’s a combination that could easily tip into stiff or overly formal — but he keeps it wearable by breaking up the sharp lines. Striped shirts with a tie lean preppy, yet the styling around them (loose pants, styled hair) keeps the overall look from feeling too buttoned-up for performance.
Shirt Over Tee: Off-Duty Mode
For lighter content and fan meetings, the shirt shifts roles entirely — worn open over a plain tee instead of buttoned all the way up. A white tee underneath keeps the shirt’s clean structure while softening the overall formality, and rolled sleeves push it further into easy, summer-appropriate territory. It’s less “put together” and more effortless — proof that the same piece can read casual just by changing how it’s worn.
Shirts in Editorials: Quiet and Clean
In photoshoots, the styling pulls back even further. Shirts in low-key colors like blue or white let his features lead rather than the clothing — the collar defines the neckline, the shoulder and sleeve lines keep the silhouette clean, and the overall image reads calm rather than styled-up. Where the stage version brings rhythm through the shirt-and-tie combo, the editorial version does the opposite: one shirt, one settled mood.
The Esquire Shirt: A Striped UCLA Piece
The shirt from his recent Esquire content follows the same open-over-a-tee formula — a striped shirt worn loose over a white tee rather than buttoned up. The stripe width was subtle enough, and the color balance restrained enough, that the shirt read as a natural accent rather than something overpowering the look.
That shirt is UCLA’s UC3LS22, a unisex preppy striped shirt. Made from 100% cotton, it features fine vertical stripes, a relaxed oversized fit, a stand collar, and a single chest pocket — enough detail to hold its own even worn on its own. Styled the way Park Ji-hoon wore it, open over a white tee, it keeps the preppy shirt’s polish while reading far more everyday.
Same Shirt, Different Read: ZEROBASEONE’s Sung Hanbin
Interestingly, the same UC3LS22 striped shirt has also been worn by ZEROBASEONE’s Sung Hanbin — styled in a noticeably different way. Where Park Ji-hoon opened the shirt over a white tee for a bright, relaxed look, Sung Hanbin paired it with a black top that let the stripe pattern read more distinctly, closer to the layered styling often seen in idol off-duty fashion.
Same garment, two different impressions — proof that how a shirt is opened, layered, and paired changes the whole read of an outfit.
Why Shirts Keep Showing Up in Park Ji-hoon’s Rotation
Shirts sit in a useful middle ground: more polished than a tee, lighter than a jacket, and cleaner near the face than knitwear — which may be exactly why they show up so often across his looks. For anyone building out their own shirt rotation, his approach offers a simple takeaway: instead of overthinking the styling, start with layering it loosely over a base layer, and let rolled sleeves or an open collar do the rest — especially useful advice heading into summer.
