The soul is the innermost being; it makes the person, it is what makes the heart beat. The soul gives life as quickly as it takes it. The soul is…a dress? 

London-based designer Robert Wun has been taking over social media long before his latest Fall/Winter collection titled “Time.” From his Met Gala debut with Nigerian singer Tems, to custom designs for Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour, Robert has certified himself as a couture genius. In celebration of the brand’s ten-year anniversary, he explored the concept of time through not only seasons but also the erosion process of the human body. 

What has captured people’s attention the most is the eerie “Soul Dress”, the final layer beyond skin, bone, and flesh. A piece like no other, capturing the invisible essence of man in detailed crystal embroidery. It features colours akin to the stars of the galaxy– a woven mesh of midnight blue, purple, and subtle hints of red, burgundy, and amber light. A dark veil noting the unseen nature of a person. 

Its most striking element is the comparison of the human soul to the cosmic fabric of the universe. It suggests that what defines the inner person are the very stars we gaze upon, the nebulae we cannot reach. This celestial aura blends itself with sheer fabric and densely scattered crystals. Deep, inky blacks and midnight blues that reflect the depth of the soul and the universe, and subtle transitions from dark to deep purples depict its capacity for emotion and profound desires. 

Less than 10 years ago this “galaxy” print was all the rage, albeit never in this avant-garde form– more commonly seen on basic sweatpants and hoodies, now viewed as distasteful and “cringe.” But for Robert, he has quite literally given this aesthetic a deeper meaning. One that, though physically out of reach, gives a  sense to what lives within us– that what we gaze upon nightly rests with us daily.