Blackpink and Selena Gomez’s ‘Ice Cream’ serves up scoops of saccharine style

After teasing fans with posters, snippets, and stills for weeks, South Korean megaband Blackpink and American pop princess Selena Gomez unveiled their track “Ice Cream”. In addition to the song’s dangerously catchy, upbeat vibe, the accompanying video is a stylistic treat, too. Serving up a series of retro-inspired looks referencing 1950s pin-ups and 1970s flower power, the three-minute-long video boasts all the glossy visuals we have come to expect from both Blackpink and Gomez.

In the opening scene, Gomez pairs a striped bikini with a sailor hat, white gloves, chunky gold hoops, and wind-tousled hair as she drives up to meet Blackpink in an old-school ice cream truck. Lisa, Jisoo, Rosé, and Jennie then appear with chunky gold necklaces, a Dior newsboy cap, pink hair, and cherry-shaped earrings. Bold outfits and highly curated embellishments are the order of the day.

From then on, it is one colorful fashion moment after the other. In keeping with each member’s signature image, the singers transition from feathered skirts and OTT tops to outfits that would not look out of place in teen movie “Clueless”, complete with pink headbands and plaid coordinates. Elsewhere, there are ultra-feminine floral dresses with giant puffed sleeves, and all-white tennis skirts and tops.

Accessories help channel each member’s individual style, from Chanel belt bags to stacked statement jewelry and heart-shaped sunglasses.

Then, around the two-minute mark, the 1980s get a clear nod when the quartet appears in complementary black-and-white ensembles as they pose in a hot-pink ice cream store. Throughout the music video Blackpink tried to have each look suit that entire set, and they especially focused on wearing bright colors that suit the overall vibe of the music and concept. Blackpink really wanted to portray that fun, bright, summer energy through their outfits, and they hope this message went through to their fans.

Gomez’s sartorial contributions are just as captivating, though slightly more toned-down than Blackpink’s. Gomez, who shot her portions of the video in United States, not South Korea, due to the pandemic, is seen eating ice cream in a neon-green visor and Puma racing romper. Gomez then serves up more retro vibes in a polka-dot yellow top and blue culottes, before appearing in a Chevrolet with an off-the shoulder playsuit that could not scream pin-up any louder if it tried.

Gomez’s makeup is just as eye-catching, perhaps offering an early glimpse at her highly-anticipated beauty line, Rare Beauty. And the backdrop makes “Ice Cream” even more compulsive viewing. It is a bonkers theme park with giant inflatable cones, cotton candy houses, and giant cherries. An elaborate, saccharine visual feast that changes just as quickly as the fashion on show.

The video comes courtesy of director Seo Hyun Seung, who has worked with a number of notable K-pop bands, including 2NE1, iKON, and Big Bang, and has a penchant for colorful, whimsical sets.

“Ice Cream” will appear on Blackpink’s forthcoming album, “The Album”, and follows high-profile collaborations with the likes of Dua Lipa, in 2017, and Lady Gaga in 2020.

The Lady Gaga and Blackpink track, “Sour Candy”, earned the K-pop stars their highest position on the United States Billboard Hot 100. And “Ice Cream”, with its pastel-coated playfulness and social media hype, could be another crossover hit for Blackpink.