From everyday trousers to a global ambassador appointment: tracing K-pop star Johnny Suh’s style evolution with Scandi-cool brand Acne Studios.
On February 26, Swedish fashion brand Acne Studios appointed Korean American singer Johnny Suh as a global ambassador. The announcement triggered online buzz among the heartthrob’s fans and fashion insiders alike — fittingly, the appointment went public through an interview with British social media personality Madeline Argy on Interview Magazine.
Suh’s new gig isn’t his first engagement with Acne Studios. For a year, the K-pop singer has been a fixture at brand events worldwide, from Paris to Beijing.
Johnny’s Fashion History
Throughout his career, Suh has crafted a colorful fashion resume. Prior to Acne Studios, he was linked to Peter Do. The Vietnamese-American brand, known for its modern silhouettes, was responsible for his Met Gala debut. Suh then had a brief stint at Thom Browne, exploring the brand’s playful suiting at Fashion Week and high-profile events.
Suh’s pivot to edgy Scandi luxury was hard to predict. However, upon diving into his off-duty stylebook, Acne Studios seems like a natural pick. For years, Suh has incorporated patchwork trousers, streetwear staples and luxury leather goods into his everyday wear. His ensembles are natural and not overly calculated, but always intentional.
In a like manner, Acne Studios flaunts an industrial edge built upon Stockholm’s idiosyncrasy. The brand, founded by Jonny Johansson in 1997, is widely recognized for its minimalist, but explorative soul, as well as its denim and knitwear pieces.
The brand’s aesthetic and Suh’s personal taste meet where it matters. Together, they have created a style journey filled with edgy separates, distressed denim, and references from the early aughts.
From acid wash denim in his everyday wardrobe to a global ambassadorship, this is how Johnny’s association to Acne Studios has played out over the past year.
February 26, 2024: Acid Wash Denim
En route to Paris, Suh debuted his working relationship with the Swedish fashion house with acid wash barrel jeans. For a modern twist on this retro staple, Suh opted for a V-neckline sweater and snakeskin shoes.
February 27, 2024: Bundled Up
Ditching the statement pants, the “Kick It” singer layered on the wool and denim separates to explore the City of Lights.
February 28, 2024: Skip the Shirt
Referencing his past sans shirt looks, the Chicago-native stepped out for his first Acne Studios show in Paris. He, naturally, ditched the shirt and went for a punk-inspired coat and flared jeans. Note that his flared jeans pre-dated the craze Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance sparked.
May 17, 2024: Canadian Tuxedo
Suh pulled his outfit straight from the early 2000s zeitgeist — including his frosted tips. Something tells us that Justin Timberlake’s appearance at the 2001 American Music Awards was pinned on his moldboard.
September 23, 2024: Baggy Jeans
Later that year, the K-pop singer — member of the large-scale project NCT — channeled “Baggy Jeans” energy as he departed from Incheon to Paris for his second Acne Studios show. Suh switched things up with a look that prioritized comfort and proved you can never go wrong with oversized denim and a hoodie.
September 25, 2024: “Mad” Maximalism
Attending the Acne Studios Spring-Summer 2025 show, Suh opted for a maximalist look. The outfit left people reminiscing about the post-apocalyptic-slash-biker aesthetics from the film franchise Mad Max. Yes, Suh paired a leather blouson with printed denim pants that followed the multiple waistband trend.
February 26th, 2025: A Little Bit of Everything
Ringing in the new year, Suh posed in a pictorial for Interview Magazine. The occasion you ask? None other than his appointment as Acne Studios’ global ambassador. The pictorial touched upon all of Suh’s styling principles. Distressed denim, edgy leather goods and, naturally, a sans shirt moment created a suitable brand ambassador debut. As per the fashion data company Launchmetrics, Suh’s appointment as Acne’s brand ambassador generated $1.5 million in Media Impact Value (MIV) within a week. Media Impact Value measures qualitative and quantitative elements to gauge the impact and marketing performance of brands across channels and voices.
April 23, 2025: Transitional Wardrobe
A couple of months after Suh’s ambassador appointment, the star shared behind-the-scenes footage of a visit to one of the brand’s stores. For the occasion, the rapper wore a ribbed tank top layered under a distressed sweater and matching jeans. While the outfit matched Suh’s everyday style, the layers of lightweight knits and denim added a perfect pre-summer flair. Plus, Suh’s silver frames made the look more than appropriate for the seasonal transition.
July 9, 2025: The Power Tote
En route to Japan, Suh was spotted in a comfy sweater and jeans combination, courtesy of the Scandinavian brand. The singer elevated the look with the newly released Camero Camera bag. The piece’s slouchy structure and metal hardware added a cool edge to his airport fashion.
July 11, 2025: Denim, Leather and Lace
Acne Studios welcomed stars in the trendy neighborhood of Aoyama to celebrate the opening of their new flagship store in Tokyo. Ahead of the big event, Suh visited the store, dressed in a mix of denim, leather and faux lace. The bomber jacket stayed true to Acne Studios’ cyberpunk codes, while the denim pants brought a casual flair. But Suh has a knack for details. His distressed pants featured printed lace patches and chains in a layered printing technique reminiscent of the brand’s viral Loose fit jeans – 1981F. The subtle mix of textile and visual elements made for the perfect Acne Ready-To-Wear get-up.
July 11, 2025: Pinstripes, On Pinstripes, On Pinstripes — With a Cowboycore Edge
Suh opted for a formal outfit for the grand opening of Acne Studios Aoyama. His ensemble, taken straight from the brand’s FW25 collection, consisted of a navy blue pinstripe blazer, button-down and slacks. The oversized fit cocooned Suh with a familiar silhouette, but the attention to detail brought the look to the next level.
The shirt’s narrower pinstripe motif broke up the homogeneity of the suit. Meanwhile, the suit’s ‘70s-inspired cut and cowboycore-leaning belt buckle added balanced drama. The styling also tapped into the revival of Western-inspired style that fashion has been so fascinated with in 2025.
October 2, 2025: Taking Normcore to the Front Rows
A plaid flannel, grey sweat pants, and a sherpa coat might sound like a combination fit for the living room. However, Suh’s fashion-forward personality and intentional styling brought this formula to front row territories at the Acne Studios Spring Summer 2026 show. The base of his outfit consisted of a charcoal flannel, light grey sweat pants, and suede slides. The magic was in the styling. Suh’s flannel was buttoned from his collar bones to mid-waist, showcasing his pants’ multiple waist bands—a recurring favorite of the artist and other fashionistas, including Win Metawin and Bella Hadid.
Suh’s makeup and hair matched the relaxed energy of his outfit. His hair was crimped and scrunched with gel and his complexion enhanced with just a handful of matte base products. From his tousled frock to camel slides, the Chicago-native checked all the facts on a cozy, but front row-ready, autumn-approved outfit.
October 2, 2025: Everyday chic
Following the SS26 collection showing, Suh switched things up for the after-party. Departing from his classic no-shirt style and sportswear affinities, the singer opted for a pair of checkered skinny pants, a blue shirt and a white collarless jacket — all nicely fitted to frame Suh’s statuesque physique.
The outfit was a surprising, but still flattering change-up from Suh’s usual M.O.—that is, slightly oversized and baggy silhouettes—but it was still totally on theme with the Acne Studio ambassador’s penchant for experimentation.
December 11, 2025: The Scandi Lad
In Bangkok for the opening of the Acne Studios store, Suh channeled his inner Scandi lad. Taking a page from Scandi style mavens, the brand ambassador opted for an effortless combination featuring a baggy flannel shirt, grey trousers and statement sneakers. The look tapped into Suh’s predilection for oversized silhouettes, so the look felt genuinely aligned with Suh’s off-duty wardrobe and personal style.
The best part was that the styling wasn’t just in tune with the singer’s closet, but also nodded to the key looks presented in Acne Studios’ SS26 collection. Not to mention that Suh’s cherry red sneakers channeled the star’s fondness for purposeful accessorizing. Overall, this outfit was the ideal example of elevating details in a casual, evergreen look.
March 4, 2025: The Retro Heartthrob
Suh departed from his signature suave and sultry skin-baring front row style for yet another return to the City of Lights to attend Acne Studios’ FW26 show. Taking cues from the trends dominating this year’s Fashion Weeks and the rise of retro fashion, the singer redefined the heartthrob look with a ‘70s-reminiscent ensemble—apparently, the decade fashion will be vying towards in 2026.
Suh suited up in a brown outfit (the internet boyfriends’ favorite color this season), featuring flare pants and a sharp-shouldered jacket. The detail capturing the attention of fashion editors, however, was the double shirt—or trompe-l’œil effect shirt? We haven’t confirmed what it was yet—that added flamboyance to Suh’s appearance. The singer then forewent the tie, or at least in its classic version, opting to wrap the piece around his neck as if it were a scarf or an ascot.
* Editor’s note: This story was originally published on March 5, 2025, and has been updated to reflect the latest updates.
