ITZY Boys Like You Concept Photos: Hidden Details You Missed

ITZY's "Boys Like You" concept photos captivated fans with their Halloween-inspired visuals when the song was released on October 21, 2022. As the K-pop group's first English single, "Boys Like You" served as a pre-release track for their sixth EP "Cheshire", bringing a fresh pop sound with distinctive punk elements. The concept photos tapped into the Halloween spirit with colorful costumes and set designs, perfectly complementing the song's empowering message about reluctance to fall for incompetent boys.

What makes the ITZY concept for "Boys Like You" particularly interesting is how it visually represents the track's catchy melody while featuring the members plotting revenge after discovering the true identity of a deceptive character at a Halloween party. The visuals work seamlessly with the lyrics composed by Didrik Thott, Sebastian Thott, and Hayley Aitken, creating a cohesive storytelling experience across both audio and visual elements. This article will uncover the hidden details in these concept photos that many fans might have missed on first glance.

The release of 'Boys Like You' and its visual concept

On October 17, 2022, JYP Entertainment surprised fans by announcing ITZY's new English single "Boys Like You". The track was officially released on October 21, 2022, at 1 PM KST, accompanied by a series of strategically released concept photos that built anticipation for the music video.

Why this was ITZY's first English pre-release

"Boys Like You" marked a significant milestone in ITZY's career as their first original English-language track. Previously, the group had only released English versions of their existing Korean title tracks. This strategic move served as a pre-release for their upcoming album "Cheshire", positioning ITZY for greater global recognition. JYP Entertainment clearly aimed to expand the group's international appeal, especially considering the timing aligned perfectly with the start of their first world tour "Checkmate," which kicked off in Los Angeles on October 26. Furthermore, the decision to create an original English song rather than translating an existing Korean track demonstrated the company's commitment to creating authentic content specifically for their growing international fanbase.

The Halloween timing and its influence on visuals

The release date strategically coincided with the Halloween season, influencing the entire visual concept. The concept poster revealed a distinctive creepy-yet-charming atmosphere featuring a partially damaged cake with green icing. ITZY's angel costumes set against orange and black backgrounds created a perfect Halloween aesthetic. Additionally, the music video depicted the members at a Halloween house party, where they stood out among party guests in sophisticated, all-white angel outfits. This seasonal timing wasn't merely coincidental but rather a deliberate choice that allowed the creative team to explore visual metaphors connecting to the song's message about recognizing deception.

How the concept photos teased the music video

ITZY's concept photos brilliantly hinted at the music video's storyline without revealing too much. The first teaser image, released on October 16, showed a cake with the song title written in green icing with "You" deliberately messed up—subtly foreshadowing the song's theme. Subsequently, the second teaser for the music video was released on October 20, building further anticipation. The concept photos cleverly introduced elements that would later appear in the video—including the angel costumes, party setting, and hints of the revenge plot that would unfold as the girls discovered they were all dating the same person.

Breaking down the concept photos: 8 hidden details

A closer examination of the "Boys Like You" concept photos reveals intricate details that tell a deeper story beyond the music itself. These visual elements work together to create a cohesive narrative that enhances the song's message.

1. The Halloween-themed color palette

The concept photos utilize a distinctive Halloween palette featuring orange, black, white, and pops of purple and green. This seasonal color scheme appears prominently in the second teaser image, where the members pose in angel costumes against an orange and black backdrop.

2. Symbolism in the background props

The first teaser image showcases a cake with the song's title written in green icing, with "You" deliberately messed up—subtly foreshadowing the song's theme of rejection. This damaged cake symbolizes the broken relationship central to the lyrics.

3. Costume choices and their meanings

The members' angel costumes juxtapose with their rebellious message, creating an ironic visual statement. Notably, Ryujin embraces a gothic aesthetic with a newspaper print corset top and black rock skirt, while Lia appears in a white strapless silk corset representing the angelic facade.

4. Use of lighting to reflect mood shifts

The noir-like production using backlight composition enhances ITZY's charisma throughout the concept photos. As scenes shift from the white background to the pink stage and city setting, the lighting changes correspondingly reflect the emotional journey.

5. Group vs. solo photo dynamics

The concept photos alternate between unified group shots and individual portraits, emphasizing both collective strength and personal experiences with deception.

6. Subtle references to past ITZY eras

Each member's styling incorporates subtle nods to their previous concepts while embracing the new punk aesthetic direction.

7. The 'mirror' motif and self-reflection

Throughout the visual narrative, the members transition from their angelic personas to their authentic selves, representing self-discovery and empowerment. Paper photos of members appear throughout, reinforcing themes of identity.

8. Easter eggs hinting at the lyrics

When they sing "I see through sweet little lies, and every excuse," the visuals show revenge scenes that directly illustrate the lyrics. In essence, the concept photos meticulously mirror the song's message about recognizing deception in relationships.

How the visuals connect to the lyrics and message

The visual storytelling in ITZY's "Boys Like You" concept photos brilliantly reinforces the song's empowering message. These carefully crafted images serve as more than mere promotional material—they're an extension of the narrative woven throughout the lyrics.

Themes of self-worth and independence

ITZY has consistently championed self-love throughout their discography, a theme powerfully evident in "Boys Like You." The concept photos showcase the members in angel costumes that initially suggest innocence, yet as the story progresses, they abandon this sweet facade to embrace their authentic, spunky nature. This visual transformation mirrors the lyrics' frank and straightforward warning to someone who let them down. Indeed, their all-white angel costumes symbolically represent the facade of perfection that society often expects, which they ultimately reject in favor of self-acceptance. As noted in their previous interviews, the group believes "the message of loving yourself is really empowering", a philosophy visually represented through their transformation from angelic conformity to confident individuality.

Visual metaphors for emotional detachment

Throughout the concept photos, subtle visual cues represent emotional detachment from toxic relationships. Initially, the members appear interested in the knight-costumed boy, nevertheless, they ultimately see through his deception. The angel costumes juxtaposed against the Halloween setting create a visual metaphor for seeing through "sweet little lies, and every excuse". Moreover, the damaged cake with "You" deliberately messed up in green icing symbolizes the broken relationship. The line "Boy, gonna diss me? Boy, I'm so pissed/ Boy, gonna miss me/ Boy, you are dismissed!" finds visual representation in scenes where the members plot revenge after discovering the boy's true nature.

How the photos echo the song's chorus

The recurring chorus line "I don't fall for boys like you" resonates throughout the concept imagery. In reality, the final scenes showing party guests abandoning the boy to dance with ITZY in a nearby bedroom visually echoes this sentiment. Consequently, this portrays the song's primary message about knowing one's self-worth. The teenage rom-com plotline with Halloween elements perfectly complements the catchy, punchy chorus. In conjunction with the visuals, the lyrics create a comprehensive narrative about recognizing red flags and refusing to compromise on self-respect.

Behind the scenes: styling, direction, and production

The creative minds behind ITZY's "Boys Like You" concept photos played a crucial role in bringing the Halloween-themed visuals to life. Behind every striking image was a team of professionals whose collective expertise shaped the final product that fans came to admire.

Creative direction and concept planning

For "Boys Like You," the creative team designed a teen rom-com aesthetic with Halloween elements that perfectly complemented the song's punchy message. The concept planning involved creating distinctive set pieces, including the damaged cake with green icing that became an iconic visual element. Although specific details about the creative direction for this particular project remain limited, ITZY's productions typically involve meticulous planning to ensure visual cohesion between concept photos and music videos.

Styling choices and fashion influences

ITZY's fashion for "Boys Like You" showcased their signature blend of edgy streetwear and high-fashion elements. The members sported pop-punk, school uniform-inspired outfits that evoked a mid-2000s aesthetic. In addition, the sophisticated all-white angel costumes became a central visual element that helped the members stand out among their peers in the narrative.

Generally, ITZY's wardrobe often features prestigious brands such as Hermès, Saint Laurent, Dolce&Gabbana, Givenchy, and Polo Ralph Lauren. Their bold fashion sense combines oversized blazers with biker shorts, chunky platform boots with flowing maxi dresses, and statement accessories. This fashion philosophy extends to their performances, as their outfits must allow for intricate choreography without restricting movement.

Photographers and visual team insights

The visual production of ITZY's photoshoots involves a skilled team of professionals. Throughout their career, they've worked with talented photographers like Heejune Kim alongside creative director Navin Pillay. The visual team typically includes makeup artist Suyeon Jung, hairstylist Iljung Lee, producer Esther Kim, production assistant Bobae Lee, and on-set stylist Sungmin Choi.

During photoshoots, the members demonstrate remarkable professionalism, "hitting poses and catching the light in a manner usually exhibited by supermodels". This natural ability in front of the camera allows the visual team to capture dynamic images that embody ITZY's confident persona while effectively communicating the concept's narrative themes.

Fan reactions and cultural impact

When the concept photos for "Boys Like You" hit social media, they immediately sparked conversations among fans who eagerly dissected every visual element. The Halloween-inspired imagery became a focal point for MIDZY (ITZY's fanbase) discussions across platforms.

How fans decoded the hidden messages

Many netizens quickly noticed similarities between the song's melody and Taylor Swift's early discography, particularly "Love Story". This connection was heightened by the coincidental release on the same day as Swift's "Midnights (3am edition)" album. Fans appreciated what they perceived as a deliberate tribute to 2010s Taylor Swift, finding meaning in the timing. Beyond musical comparisons, MIDZYs analyzed the teaser images that successfully generated intrigue by implying the song's theme without explicitly stating it. The damaged cake with "You" deliberately messed up in green icing became a talking point as fans connected this visual metaphor to the song's message about recognizing deception.

Social media buzz and trending moments

Despite limited promotional activities, "Boys Like You" generated significant online discussions. The group's Entertainment Tonight interview on October 27 revealed that the "Checkmate" tour would feature a live debut of the song, creating anticipation among concertgoers. ITZY further capitalized on social media engagement through two series of YouTube Shorts—one showcasing the choreography and another highlighting outfits from the music video. These bite-sized content pieces helped maintain momentum after the release, keeping the concept photos relevant in ongoing conversations.

What this means for ITZY's global image

As ITZY's first original English single, "Boys Like You" represented a strategic step toward wider global recognition after their first top 10 album on the Billboard 200. The release strategically preceded the U.S. leg of their "Checkmate 1st World Tour", maximizing their international exposure. Yet fan reactions were mixed—some praised the "radio-friendly banger" approach, whereas others expressed concern about "musical concessions" made to appeal to Western audiences. This duality reflected broader tensions about K-pop's global expansion. Ultimately, the concept photos and song positioned ITZY similarly to their label mates TWICE, who had successfully crossed over with "The Feels".