FASHION STYLE in Webtoon: 1. Serena (Serena) and Leyla (Cry or Better Yet, Beg)

    Lately, I've been caught up reading some Manhwa (Korean comic) in my spare time and I was amazed with its art and colorful illustration. I've been in awe in how great the artists' efforts are in pouring their heart and mind into their creations which for me were shown as I read through each page. The stories they offered in it also brought me to another new world which are totally different from any other type of comic I've read before. But let's skip the story part since I will discuss only what's related to fashion here.

   These two manhwa featured in this article are some of the examples. 

   The first one would be Serena Serenity from webtoon Serena. Serena a rich noble girl in earlier modern world, perhaps in the late 50s-70s era if I may guess it or even way earlier era. Since there is no technology tools appeared in the story. She lives in a huge castle with all the luxury life style she can get and a lot of high class costumes to wear. 

   I applaud the author for bringing such beautiful depiction in each outfit she wore in it. It truly shows that the author put huge efforts to provide an eye-pleasing illustrations of the clothing. From casual work suit to night gown or simply everyday dress with a fashion designer-like's touch. I bet the author really did her home work in researching the proper costume designs for this character in big amount of time or else she adores fashion world and somehow had a good sense in it too. 

   As for the 2nd webtoon, Cry or Better Yet Beg, I will discuss about Leyla Llewellyn. She is the main female lead in the story which came from a commoner background who lives in a rather simple and ordinary life as an adopted daughter of the gardener in one noble family household. 

   The outfit she wears mostly pretty simple and went back to the world war era to semi modern world. With short sleeve shirts, skirts and sometimes with overall dress and rather plain night dress, she was depicted to be a truly modest girl and lives her life as she doesn't have much choices. The author draw her beautifully and successfully shown her costumes did not cover her bright character instead it made her appearances just hard to ignore. One time she wears a beautiful dress for a party that unknowingly to her came from the duke himself, it was surprisingly and effortlessly gorgeous  I felt as if the author spoiled me with these amazing illustrations as I follow what is going on in the story. 

   In short, These two manhwa /webtoon series will show you an interesting stories and at the same time, great drawing or illustrations to enjoy while reading. I  rate the art as 9 out of 10 and the story so far is 8.9 for both.     

All the pictures belong to the rightful owner of both manhwa /webtoon and not mine. I only use it as references to be shown in this article.     

Once a Fashion Designer turned into Graphic Designer (part3)

   Yes, I remembered once one of my brother's friends named Anita, told me to pursue fashion for a career after she saw some of my random drawings. I did not set my heart into fashion actually, but my mom who noticed me with no slightest intention to do anything or chose any college to continue my education after failing the state university exam, had taken this matter into her own hand. She, without me knowing, enrolled/enlisted me into one famous fashion course and also English diploma at the same time that year. She then encouraged me to do the best on both without any chances of failing. At first, I was a little bit frustrated studying fashion especially when I had to learn the fashion sense and not only draw clothes randomly. 

   To be honest, I have no idea anything about fashion or clothes since what I really like was more into illustration and  graphic design. In the end, I just drew and drew based on the book from them and read some history of fashion, since that time internet did not really exist yet. On the other hand, for my English diploma, I kind of got a hang of it and follow the lesson better since I love learning English and since my teacher in high school was too busy with herself to teach us, her students, a bit of her wisdom in English. Thanks to her I barely had enough knowledge in English after graduated from it. 

  I had to run up and down doing the two studies at the same time and barely had enough time to do something else. My mom specifically always reminded me to do the best and not to waste even the slightest time on it and tried to graduate on time. There were many bittersweet memories from both places and I got to meet friends and challenges to overcome over a year later.

I'll continue next time.

 

WHAT COMES AFTER LOVE (2024 Korean - Japanese Drama)

   What comes after love is a 2024 six episodes Korean drama which currently aired started on 27 September. Based on novel "Sarang Hooae Oneun Geoddeul" by Kong Ji-Young & Hitonari Tsuji (published December 20, 2005 by Sodam Books). A collaboration between Korean and Japanese writer. 

 

   It is about Choi Hong (played by Lee Se-Young) as a Korean free spirit girl trying to study in Japan. She then meets Jungo Aoki (played by Kentaro Sakaguchi), a literature college boy and they fall in love with each other. However, they broke up due to different thoughts about love and practical problems in a past future plot storytelling. 5 years later, Hong and Jungo meet again in Korea and I'm so curious after 3 episodes of how they're gonna resolve their feelings in the end. It was worth watching so far I give like 8 out of 10 and with beautiful cinematography, story line and chemistry. This is my fan art drawing based on one of their official poster.

   

   I anticipated this one because its been so long since the last 2002 four episode Korean-Japanese collaboration drama titled 'Friends' played by Won Bin and Kyoko Fukada which was one of all time favorite drama. 

   

   I've eagerly waited like every week for the rest of the episodes to know how they will conclude the story. Unfortunately, the ending for me personally just kill (not only ruin) all the good things that were shown in the previous episodes. How come they made such ending after all the detail romantic back story between them only to ended up just holding hand and run together smiling, without any dramatic union moments such as emotional hugging and kissing. They're after all longing for each other and just found out the truth about their real feelings also cleared up all the misunderstanding. I know maybe it was cheesy or cringe but those sweet moments in the past should be justified with a lovely ending. At least that was what I hoped for, especially it was Korean made and not Japanese one. It was totally different with 'Friends' drama I've mentioned earlier where the climax was pure satisfaction and it was so good to repeat watching it several times. As for this I have to correct the rating as 7.5 out of 10 due to the ending. I like the romantic moments but I dislike the stiff ending. One more thing, all the obstacles and questions related to the girl's parents, him letting her know about his past seemed to be just brushed off as not important and it was truly unfortunate. I would not want to watch it again knowing how the story will end. That's all.

   As for sense of fashion in this movie, mostly use earthy color tones in an autumn season for working people with long coat and simple clothing. There are a lot of photos on Google for this and what I've put here are belong to the rightful owner (not mine) and served only for references. Thanks for reading my article.

T-shirt Graphic Designs for London's Calling for 3 years

My designs were chosen for this annual event for 3 years, in 2018, 2022 and 2024. I'm proud of these achievements and truly grateful for the appreciation for my works to be used in their official event's t-shirt. These designs belong to the client who already bought them and I only want to showcase it as only portfolio without any commercial purpose.

Feel free to contact me for any design service through e-mail: thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com

MIDNIGHT ROMANCE IN HAGWON - Korean Drama 2024

 Another kdrama which aired on May 11 to June 30, 2024.

Seo Hye-Jin (played by Jung Ryeo-Won) who has worked as a Korean language teacher at a private educational institute in the Daechi-neighborhood of Gangnam for the past 14 years. The neighborhood is known as the most competitive private education area in south korea. Until recently, Seo Hye-Jin has agonized over her future post-teaching career and what she wants in her past dream. At that time, her ex-student Lee Joon-Ho (played Wi Ha-Joon) appears in front of her again for the first time in 10 years. When Seo Hye-Jin taught him, she did her best to teach him and he finally made it into a prestigious university. That helped her gained fame as an instructor. Lee Joon-Ho then quit working for a big company and begins work as a rookie instructor at the same private educational where Seo Hye-Jin teaches which she didn't approve at first. This is where the conflict, romance and problems arise in her life. 

 

Well, that's for the short spoiler. The pace in this drama is quite slow and perhaps would be boring for some viewers who only watch for the romance and didn't enjoy educational perspective and competitiveness in Korean education system. Because it will not show as much. They said it as slow-burn romance. It was heavily reminded me to the drama 'Something in the rain' with the red umbrella and color tones in this drama. I can say this drama was good but not that great. Lets say 7 out of 10 for me. And this is my fan art drawing again based on the opening of each episode.One thing for sure, the couple fashion was good as shown in this article. The photos belong to the rightful owners.

WONDERFUL WORLD (Korean Drama 2024) - Cha eun woo's drama with tragic revenge theme

 Wonderful world is a 2024 kdrama which Aired on March 1 until April 13. The drama revolved around Eun Soo-Hyun (played by senior actress Kim Nam-Joo) she is a psychology professor and a famous writer, but one day perfect her life is completely changed. Her young son died unjustly due to hit and run. Making things worse, the person who responsible for her son’s death isn’t punished by the law and unwilling to even apologize for his action. Eun Soo-Hyun loses hope with this world and out of despair, decided to punish the man by herself. Her life is still in vain after years. One day, Eun Soo-Hyun gets involved with a young man (played by the handsome idol Cha Eun Woo) who suffer from similar pain as her and together solved their entangled life mystery. 

That's basically the short spoiler. However, the drama itself was getting me on my nerve somehow. At some parts, I got so annoyed with the plot and the main characters, especially the female lead. it should've been much better since it has the potential to be a good drama and I cant help to compare it after I've watched another famous revenge drama like the glory last year. The main characters should've been smarter since she's a professor and he is a bright medical student. If only who play the lead is someone like Song Hye Kyo's age for the woman, then it would also be more proper for the character and many more reasons for me to feel dissatisfied with this drama although the premise was actually interesting and we can learn some moral values from this story and to be honest, the title itself would be the sarcastic term of whats really going on inside it. 

And if I have to put some plausible factors would be seeing Cha Eun Woo's face here and main characters' sense of fashion, especially Cha Eun Woo's as I displayed here from some references found on Google which belong to the original owners and not mine. It would be like 6.8 out of 10 for me for this drama rating. This is my fan art drawing based on the opening art from each episode in this drama.

Music Cover's illustration/Design Concept for Musician JB

This was a design or illustration concept that I made for one musician although in the end they chose other design by other people. Nonetheless, I'm still proud of it because I came up with the idea and adjusted it with their current status and also being differed from the original concept they've shown from the previous cover. 

I will use it as part of my portfolios and as a showcase of what I can do in illustration/design. Feel free to contact me through email: thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com for any design or illustration inquiry/commission. For portfolio purpose only. Any use/copy/share/re-post is not allowed. No AI used in the process.

 

Design or illustration is always adjustable to make it work

This was one of the example of design or illustration I made back then for a purpose but got declined only to be used for other project with higher price after several adjustments. 

 

As long as we can work our way out and be creative and being flexible enough, nothing is going to waste in every design we made. It might be related to timing, or the right person who can appreciate it.

Feel free to contact me for any custom illustration or design through email:

thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com

 

 

 

Once a Fashion Designer turned into Graphic Designer (part2)

 Well, when I lost the will to study at college or university after I failed the state university exam, my mom decided to force me to fill in one year's time with fashion design course and an English diploma before I can try another exam for state university next year. I was simply obeying my mom without the will to really do it passionately. However, parents somehow know what their children are good at. I was frustrated at first but then I managed to adjust myself in doing both fashion and English at the same time.

I then learned to see things on the bright side and realized these were good for me after all. Then I suddenly remembered her, the one person whom I ignored when she gave me a suggestion to pursue fashion field after seeing my drawing in my high school days. I didn't think of it seriously since I wasn't into fashion at all. 

I'll continue next time..