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I first took notice of this imaginative and aesthetic in my beloved series: Eternal Love: Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. When the first battle sequences start, the all-white armor of the heavenly clan, with its gold and silver accents, becomes the real winner on the battlefield. Each unique piece, is comprised of thousands of hand sewn beads and embellishments. The final products are stunning pieces of art, rather than costumes. The genius behind the scenes: William Chang.
With 130 characters in the show, Change oversaw a whopping 1,400 costumes, which are always accompanied by elaborate headdresses and accents. Equally impressive is the quality he gives to the fairy-like dresses for the female characters. Each is distinctive, with layers of sheer fabrics which come together for a rich and ethereal effect, which helps transport the audience to this fictional world.
See gallery costumes from Eternal Love
Chang has a trademark feel to his art; when you see it, you know it. Just when you think he's outdone himself, then another series comes along. Personally, I think his best work (and also another personal favorite C-Drama) is Rise of the Phoenixes.
This series alone is worth watching for the lux, intricate, and elaborate costume design. His use of patterns, pleats, and angles is completely identifiable as Chang's, but he amps up the layers, colors, and textures in this series for an incredible effect.
Ni Ni's character, Feng Zhiwei/Wei Zhi, is undeniably the fashion focus of the show. The fact she also disguises herself as a male means we get to see a range of looks throughout the whopping 70+ episodes. I personally prefer the feminine styling, as they are incredible. See below!
That's not all. With a plethora of brothers fighting for the throne, as well as setting in four other countries and tribes fight for power, you get completely different looks for each. Rise of the Phoenixes doesn't hold back on styling and settings. Again, the acting and story for this drama is amazing, but the Costumes are the absolute winner and why you should watch.
Okay, just a few more. Seriously Mr. Chang, you've outdone yourself!
Last to note (also a good watch, but I'd recommend the above two more), is Love Lost in Times. You'll easily identify some of his trademark styles. While not as dramatic as the aforementioned, again, the styling is impeccable and completely William Chang.
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