If nostalgia had a sound, SEVENTEEN's Vernon and The8 just remixed it, turned the bass up, and gave it a streetwear revival.
With their recently debuted V8 subunit, the duo took a trip down fashion's memory lane and updated the address of Y2K street style. While Y2K fashion pieces have been circulating for a while now, the SEVENTEEN members have reworked it through more grunge-like flair. From dramatically distressed layers to fur coats, the silhouettes they opted for wrap vintage style in a futuristic package. Looking at it through a cinematic lens, it's the type of aesthetic you'd find underdog heroes wearing as they save the world from dystopia.
Named after both their initials and a high-performance engine, 'V8' does exactly what it promises. It runs on high-octane power, taking the mess of growing up, the in-between phases, the almosts and what-ifs, and turns them into fuel. The result is an era that does not regret 'wasted youth', but re-envisions it as momentum.
Across their visuals, Vernon and The8 don raw textures and unpolished energy. The offbeat styling choices personify the glorious mess of growing up, wearing 'wasted youth' on their sleeves, quite literally.
Firestarter in Faux Fur
The8 makes a grand entrance into the wasted youth era like he owns the night, wrapped in a fur coat and framed by fireworks, he is most likely celebrating the sparks and the burn-out that come with being young. Pulled straight from the 'V8' mini album released 29 June, his energy matches tracks like 'Singasong', 'Rat Race', and 'Girlsnboys', where sound and style move at the same speed.
Joining the pyro party, Vernon's look dives fully into streetwear after dark. Pants wide enough to hold secrets, stacked shoes that nod to both punk rock legends and Spice Girls platforms, and textures that clash so hard that they just work. The outfit is confidently unbothered, much like Vernon's persona.
Fireworks may spark and rage then fizzle out, but SEVENTEEN's knack for style may very well burn forever.
Off-Duty, On-Point
The8 brings the wasted youth of Y2K back down to earth, trading glitz for something that appears more lived-in. In an outfit that could pass anywhere from a late-night hangout to a quick mall run to dance rehearsal for one of the biggest boy bands in the world, his styling is easy without losing edge.
Flared denim falls just right, the track jacket looks practical, and that 'Creative Department' cap reminds us to give their stylists a round of applause.
Vernon's attire makes just as much of a statement for laidback dressing. Clad in loose-fit jeans and a white tee, the look has Vernon's personality written all over it. However, it's the accessories that have captured our attention; white sunglasses that suggest this youthful adventure started when the sun was still out, muddy Converse sneakers that are proof of his adventures, and a bright pink beanie (because real men wear pink).
Couch Potato Chic
These concept photos speak to weekend couch potatoes on a stylistic and spiritual level. Here, Vernon relaxes on a couch in a sleeveless plaid shirt layered over a clean tank, brought together by wide-leg denim jorts. The undone look was made for lounging under the sun but is still elevated by Vernon's natural K-pop idol aura.
Beside him, The8 solidifies the mood in a fitted tank and low-slung jeans, jazzed up by a subtle chain detail. The pieces themselves are familiar, but the execution is what makes 'laidback' look like luxury that money can't buy.
Set against a deliberately unpolished backdrop, the styling gains an added essence of authenticity. While perhaps not identical, everyone has their own version of hanging out with a friend on an outdoor couch while the sunlight warms the juice and chips strewn across the table.
Wasted Youth, Reconsidered
There is a tendency to frame youth in terms of output; movement, achievement, visible progress. Anything that grows behind the scenes risks being dismissed.
V8 challenges the cliché.
Through styling that favours ease over excess and presence over performance, Vernon and The8 give rise to a different perspective. The in-between moments, the ones that appear uneventful, are not empty. Instead, they are formative, perhaps even clad in ripped jeans and broken-in sneakers.
What is often labelled as 'wasted' is reimagined as a necessary period of 'becoming'.
