Tommy Jeans and Calvin Klein are putting K-pop stars Jang Wonyoung and Jung Kook in the fashion spotlight with competing autumn 2026 campaigns, as both American labels turn to South Korean talent to showcase their latest denim collections.
Wonyoung fronts Tommy Jeans' New York-inspired campaign, while the BTS star leads the third chapter of Calvin Klein's 'Feel the Fit' campaign, featuring new straight-leg and baggy jeans. Although the launches do not represent a direct contest between the celebrities, they offer an opportunity to compare how two major fashion brands are approaching denim for the new season.
Jang Wonyoung Puts a New Spin on Tommy Jeans
Wonyoung, a member of K-pop girl group IVE, stars in Tommy Jeans' Fall 2026 campaign, with denim anchoring a collection that reworks American classics through contemporary proportions, preppy styling and archive-inspired details. The campaign builds on her existing relationship with the label, showcasing its recognisable aesthetic through a mix of familiar American fashion references and updated silhouettes.
The collection combines the brand's signature Americana style with playful layering and contrasting textures. In one look, Wonyoung pairs a pleated tartan skirt with a logo sweater, a glossy puffer jacket and a fur-trimmed micro duffle bag, while another outfit features a corduroy mini skirt, a graphic flag jacket and a matching T-shirt. The styling demonstrates that the campaign extends beyond jeans alone, bringing the label's wider preppy wardrobe into the seasonal spotlight.
Wonyoung also shared her thoughts on the collection's styling direction, saying: 'TOMMY JEANS has such a strong sense of Americana, but there's always room to make it your own.' She added that she enjoys combining 'the timeless with the new,' reflecting the campaign's balance of classic American fashion references and contemporary styling.
Rather than focusing exclusively on denim, the campaign places jeans alongside tartan, corduroy and branded outerwear, presenting a broader interpretation of autumn dressing. Its layered outfits and playful proportions reinforce Tommy Jeans' New York-inspired identity while showing how traditional preppy pieces can be styled for a modern wardrobe.
Jung Kook Leads Calvin Klein's Denim Campaign
Calvin Klein, meanwhile, released the third chapter of its Fall 2026 'Feel the Fit' campaign on 16 September 2026, starring Jung Kook. Directed and photographed by Renell Medrano, the campaign centres on the feeling of finding the right pair of jeans, using music and movement to bring the concept to life.
The launch features the brand's '90s Straight Jean and Baggy Jean, offering two distinct approaches to denim. The straight-leg style comes in washes ranging from deep indigo to warm mid-blue, while the Baggy Jean features an oversized silhouette in classic medium blue.
In the campaign, the sound of a zip sets the rhythm as Jung Kook moves to the music, with tracks including 'My Prerogative' and 'Cut the Cake' accompanying the visuals. The global rollout spans Calvin Klein stores, its website, social media platforms and outdoor advertising, placing the new denim fits at the centre of the brand's autumn marketing.
The contrast between the two campaigns lies in their styling and creative direction. Tommy Jeans blends denim with preppy layers and archive-inspired Americana, while Calvin Klein puts the fit, silhouette and movement of its jeans front and centre.
Both labels feature established K-pop stars in their seasonal campaigns, but each takes a different approach to presenting denim. Wonyoung's looks emphasise playful layering and American prep, while Jung Kook's campaign focuses on the appeal of straight and oversized fits.
For fashion fans, the comparison offers a look at how two competing labels are refreshing an everyday wardrobe staple through celebrity-led campaigns. Rather than a confirmed rivalry between the stars, the launches highlight the different ways Tommy Jeans and Calvin Klein are using their distinctive brand identities to shape autumn denim style.
