skygiants

Last week's Hotel del Luna costume polls got off to a VERY strong start, but the clear winner was Jang Man Wol's efforts to dress like her pet golden snake in a charming show of human-serpent solidarity:

I don't think episode two has any outfits quite as dramatic as last week's SNAKE or GUN, but the pleasant variety of murderous widow looks worn by Jang Man Wol in this episode will nonetheless I think still provide everyone with a enjoyable palette of options to choose from!

1.

I think we can begin to identify this kind of all-black demi-caped outfit with silver jewelry as one of Jang Man Wol's signature styles for brooding and menacing in -- this is probably not the most exciting variant on the theme, but nobody can deny that she looks good in it.

Actually, is that a cape? Maybe it's a black suit jacket that she's transformed into a cape with only the power of styling and imagination? Anyway, on a closer look at the dress, love the collar, love the belt, not one hundred percent sure about whatever the fabric tube is on the dress that goes over the collar and under the belt and does .... something?

2.

So, there's Jang Man Wol's brooding attire, and then, in a complete change of pace, there's her impeccably whimsical professional attire. I really love this adorable little blue suit, it's like Alice in Wonderland got an office job!

The gloves really add something to the Edwardian-tea-party-by-way-of-His-Girl-Friday aesthetic - and I don't know if the teacup really counts as an accessory here but, as a sidenote, it is ALSO adorable. Look at those stripes!

3.

Her next professional outfit, on the other hand ... hmm.

Both skirt and blouse are great on their own and would I think be lovely with other pieces -- I'm very much here for the green climbing embroidery and the occasional discreet sequin.

But once you put the whole thing together the silhouette and color palette are kind of all over the place? The whole thing has a little bit the effect of one of those mix-and-match outfit flipbooks. Personally, I'm dubious about this one.

4.

This silhouette, on the other hand? Impeccable.

As a farewell outfit worn by an immortal sending off a dying human companion, it's got exactly the right sense of faintly-vampiric Gothic drama. The sleeves! The rose brooch!

Pour one out for Manager Noh, who can at least depart serene in the knowledge that he inspired Jang Man Wol to put together what is probably my personal favorite outfit of the episode.

5.

Under the circumstances it's probably no real surprise that we get another variant on murderous widow in the next scene.

The hat with its respectful little mourning veil is, I think, the most interesting element here.

And some interesting white lace detailing on the sleeves - I'm not entirely sure I like that, actually, but YMMV. (The tiger is also good, but I don't think we can really count the tiger as part of the outfit unless she specifically dressed to complement the tiger and I see no evidence that she did.)

6.

Sort of difficult to get a great shot of this next outfit because she wears it only for one action scene, in the dark.

From what I can tell, it's a floor-length double-breasted purple silk dress with a kind of black corset-belt, which is certainly compelling as a concept but a little hard to tell how it succeeds in execution. However, I do want to highlight one important element that may push this one into a very serious contender: