In crafting the zany world of South Korean mystery thriller Nine Puzzles, director Yoon Jong-bin wanted its lack of realism to come across. Whilst its plotline—surrounding the case of a serial murder mystery that picks up again 10 years later—might come across sinister, the actual tone of the drama feels novelistic. Like something that only happens in comic books.
To achieve this nuance, the artistic direction and overall aesthetic was carefully curated. Much attention was specifically paid to the sartorial sensibilities of its main characters, Yoon Ena and Kim Hansaem, played by Kim Dami and Son Sukku respectively. The latter, whose character is a determined detective who has yet to give up on the cold murder case from a decade back, has a defining trick: every time he removes his hat or beanie, things are about to get really serious. On the other hand, Kim’s character, Ena, wears her eccentricity like a second skin. From murder suspect to brilliant criminal profiler, her meddling ways are elaborated through a deliberate wardrobe of preppy pieces, impeccable tailoring and statement accessories.
“She wears the necktie very often—a very important part of her outfit—and wears a lot of colours too. It’s a little cartoonish in that way,” Kim tells Vogue Singapore. True enough, a spattering of neckties fill her closet, from leather options to uniquely patterned ones. Throughout the 11-episode narrative, she wears a range of outerwear, from preppy jackets to glossy bombers and strongly-shouldered plaid coats. Yet it’s her flawless colour coordination that really gives Ena her sartorial flair; often mixing soft shades of blue with burgundy or bright reds. The use of reds especially, keeps suspense going through the episodes—her beloved crimson luggage becoming a key turning point in the midst of the puzzle-filled mystery.
Yet of course, the one thing that bridges Kim with Ena is their shared love for Bottega Veneta. For how often the former has been seen in the front rows of the maison’s shows, she certainly brought her sartorial inclinations into Ena’s world: her trusty Cassette a mainstay throughout the show. As for the rest? Uncover some of the most enticing outfits worn by Kim Dami as Yoon Ena in Nine Puzzles below.
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Yoon Ena with a Bottega Veneta Cassette bag
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Bottega Veneta padded Cassette bag, $6,600
Available at Bottega Veneta.
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Yoon Ena in striped tie
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Yoon Ena in black vest with gold buttons
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Yoon Ena in prescription glasses
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Yoon Ena in sharp navy blazer
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Yoon Ena with a Rimowa cabin bag
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Yoon Ena in tailored flared pants
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Yoon Ena in Bottega Veneta
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Bottega Veneta shell down jacket, $5,441
Available at Net-a-Porter.
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Yoon Ena in houndstooth blazer
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Houndstooth mixed print blazer, $498
Available at Saks Fifth Avenue.
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Yoon Ena in short leather jacket
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Yoon Ena in a burgundy coat
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Yoon Ena wearing AirPods Max
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Yoon Ena in a plaid blazer
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Bottega Veneta structured cotton jacket, $5,540
Available at Bottega Veneta.
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Yoon Ena in a pleated skirt
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Yoon Ena in check pattern tie
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Yoon Ena in cropped jacket
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Yoon Ena in tailored shorts
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Yoon Ena in pinafore dress
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Yoon Ena wearing a satin skinny tie
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Yoon Ena in Maison Margiela
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Yoon Ena in sunglasses
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Yoon Ena in a pastel blue shirt
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Yoon Ena in Bottega Veneta jacket
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Yoon Ena in a red belted coat
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Yoon Ena in grey longshirt and belt
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Yoon Ena in Vivienne Westwood
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Vivienne Westwood checked blazer, $686
Available at Style Cheat.
