For a plentiful lot of K-drama fans, we’ve spent the past month or so warmly coddled in the world of the rom-com that is Perfect Crown. Grand Prince I-an, or more endearingly referred to as Lee Wan, is played by Byeon Woo-seok, starring alongside IU as Hui-ju. The show delivers a treasure trove of heart-fluttering moments, woven between a good dose of giggles generously supplied by the drama’s stellar cast.
Set in a fictional modern-day Korea where the monarchy still exists, the drama follows a prince and a business owner as their worlds collide through love, duty and very real bigger-than-them responsibilities concerning the nation. Underneath all the regal-business chaos is, of course, the romance of a girl’s dreams—with a prince, nonetheless—but at the core of it, the story stays as humbly genuine as two people from completely different worlds finding their way back to each other, regardless of what it takes. The supporting characters do plenty of heavy lifting too, especially the secretaries who double as grounding best friends for this power duo, bringing the exact comic relief needed to keep the palace drama from getting too serious.
In that same vein, the wardrobe perfectly captures these parallel universes. Modernised hanboks and traditional elements are tucked into the wardrobe, while rich fabrics and tailored silhouettes still make I-an look every bit like a prince. That comes through in pieces like his cheollik, a traditional garment reworked with modern touches, as well as the softer hanbok-inspired collars seen in his everyday shirts and jackets. According to wardrobe head Jo Sang-gyeong, the team custom-designed the pieces thinking about how the hanbok could feel current.
On I-an, that balance is exactly where the charm sits: princely enough to make the fantasy work, but with enough current-day sensibility to make it feel close enough to swoon over. Below, we treat ourselves to some of the most charming looks worn by Grand Prince I-an in Perfect Crown.
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I-an in an olive jacket with a relaxed open collar, finished with knot detailing
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I-an in a patterned grey coat layered over a black hanbok-inspired inner layer
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I-an in a dark suit layered over a grey inner with a hanbok-inspired collar
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I-an in a two-toned suit layered over white hanbok-style innerwear
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I-an in a navy riding jacket, white shirt and beige trousers
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I-an in a white suit layered over pale lavender hanbok-style innerwear
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I-an in a black velvet suit with a white collar over a hanbok-inspired inner
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I-an in a dark blue jacket layered over a hanbok-style innerwear in a paler tone
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I-an in his royal prince uniform, finished with gold braiding and details, as well as a light blue sash
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I-an in a two-toned satin-finish jacket layered over white hanbok-style innerwear
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