IU's low-key travel look sparks 'disguise' theories — then fans spot the $296 T-shirt

Singer and actor IU, 33, has drawn attention online after being spotted on the streets of China in what fans are calling a surprisingly understated outfit.

Photos of IU taken on a street in Shanghai recently circulated on online communities under the title "The world star's travel fashion that everyone mistook for a disguise."

She was photographed taking pictures with her phone, dressed in an oversized T-shirt, cropped jeans, a burgundy cap, a face mask, sneakers and a bag.

The casual look — a far cry from her glamorous stage appearances — prompted speculation that she had deliberately dressed down to avoid drawing attention.

But the outfit turned out to be anything but budget: the T-shirt alone cost around 400,000 won ($296), while her bag was identified as a luxury brand item in the 4 million to 5 million won range.

Online commenters weighed in with reactions ranging from admiring to wry. "It's nice to see her looking comfortable and natural," one wrote. Others quipped, "From IU's perspective, she probably just grabbed the cheapest thing in her closet," and "If you were IU, would you really want to dress up and draw a crowd?"

IU had originally planned to hold a solo concert and release her sixth full-length album this month, but rescheduled after her patulous Eustachian tube condition worsened. To soften the blow for fans, she released a digital single, "From This Star," on Thursday. She is also set to attend a stage greeting for a film being re-released to mark her 18th debut anniversary on Sunday.