As Empress Navier on “The Remarried Empress,” Shin Min-a rules the screen in gowns that cost as much as a small car.
The Disney+ original series released its first four episodes on Wednesday. It has drawn attention for its lavish imperial costumes as much as for its cast. Several of the gowns worn by lead actor Shin Min-a are high-end designer pieces that range from several million won to well over 10 million won ($7,400) each.
Directed by Cho Soo-won and produced by Studio N, the series is based on a web novel with more than 160 million downloads. The web novel was later adapted into a webtoon that has drawn about 2.97 billion cumulative views worldwide.
The most talked-about look so far is a pale mint tulle gown by Lebanese designer label Georges Hobeika. Densely embroidered with silver embellishments and green needlework and paired with a matching bolero, the dress retails for more than $12,690.
The strapless gown has a full-length A-line skirt of layered tulle. Trails of silver sequins and small green floral motifs run down from the bodice like climbing vines and thin out toward the hem. The cropped, long-sleeved bolero is made of sheer tulle with the same embroidery and has beaded edges.
Georges Hobeika founded his house in Beirut in 1995 and has shown haute couture collections in Paris since 2001. His son, Jad Hobeika, has been co-creative director since 2022.
Two gowns come from Jenny Packham, the British luxury label known in Korea for the wedding dress actor Jun Ji-hyun wore. One is a sky-blue gown Shin wears with a tiara, priced at around $4,300. The other is a sheer black beaded dress at around $3,700.
The black dress has a fitted black bodice with a sweetheart neckline outlined in crystals. Over it, a sheer black tulle layer studded with crystals covers the shoulders and falls into long cape sleeves. Shin pairs the look with a crystal tiara and teardrop earrings.
Packham launched her label in 1988 and is known for embellished evening gowns and bridalwear. Her ready-to-wear and bridal designs have been worn by Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet, Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock and Taylor Swift, according to the label.
Locally made pieces have also drawn praise. Choi Jae-hoon, a Korean bridal and gown house, custom-made a red gown and a white off-shoulder dress for Shin, and both have been well received by viewers.
The red gown is covered in deep red sequins and beading, which are most concentrated around the high neckline and shoulders and form a glittering capelet. Panels of sheer red tulle fall from the shoulders into a floor-length cape.
The white off-shoulder dress has sculpted folds of tulle that wrap around the shoulders like petals. Silver beadwork in a branchlike pattern crisscrosses the bodice, narrows at the waist and spreads out across the full skirt.
Choi founded his label in 2002 and specializes in high-end gowns using premium fabrics and custom patterns. Celebrities including IU and Han Hyo-joo have worn his dresses on the red carpet.
