Los Angeles-based Soyon An is a two-time Emmy winning costume designer and stylist. Before her most recent in the Netflix series Julie and the Phantoms, she earned acclaim working in music, television, and film, designing and styling for some of the biggest names in music and pop culture, including Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Pink, Becky G, Britney Spear, and Katy Perry, among others. An spoke with us about the hype surrounding her Netflix show, maintaining a global perspective when designing, and the importance of telling stories through clothing.
The following interview has been lightly edited.
What are some of your influences?
Traveling and experiencing other cultures influences me. It’s really important to experience how other people live and what in their culture makes their fashion so different—that really sparks my interest. Having a global perspective is an asset for developing characters and strong storytelling, which is what I bring as a costume designer. And I love streetwear as much as I love runway. Being able to see the trends on the streets firsthand is refreshing and super fun.
Right now, I’m in Dublin, and the style here is pretty rad. You see people walking around in certain parts of town, all having different styles, and it’s just really fun to observe. Visual art has always been my influence, and I consider fashion to be a form of art. I originally went to college as an art major, then fell into fashion design and somehow ended up as a costume designer. I’ve always loved creating my own world, whether it was on canvas or make-believe. Now I get to blend mediums and create experiences with fashion, film, and TV.
What’s the most overrated?
I would have to say time and space. It’s overrated because everyone is so focused on time that people forget to live in the moment. I also believe that you can warp time and space based on your own awareness. For example, when you’re having a great time, it flies by, and when you’re bored, it slows down. Time is just a number. When people ask you how old you are, it’s overrated. When somebody is on you about how you’re using your time, it’s overrated. With fashion, the 1990s are totally relevant, but we’re living in 2020. So whatever decade you want to be a part of, just live your best life. Once you realize time and space is overrated, you’d be surprised how much you can get done in a day. That’s my mantra: you make your own time because it’s not about the finish line, but how you get there.
What’s the most underrated?
Family is underrated. I feel like we took our families for granted, and then the pandemic happened, and we all realized they could be gone one day. I know I started valuing more and being more aware of the people that I love. I started picking up the phone more and making time to connect with my immediate family, my in-laws, and my friends who I consider my family. I know I can still do better.
What are you most excited about right now?
I’m excited about the response that our show, Julie and the Phantoms, is getting right now. It’s not just from the US, but it’s from Brazil, India, France, Portugal, Australia… the list goes on. The show has meant so much to me and Kenny Ortega, Dan Cross, Dave Hoge, Hillary Turner, the cast, and all of Netflix. I left my three kids in LA to do the show, you know, it was crazy. We knew that the story was very special, but to see how it’s affected all these people is truly amazing. The fans are going nuts, and it’s so cool to see. The #fantoms are so incredibly talented. They inspire me everyday with their creativity and I feel so humbled by everyone’s love for my work.
In my personal life, I’m excited that I’m getting more time to spend with my three kids, who are all six and under, and my hubs. My husband, Baz Halpin, is a director / producer, and me being a working mom, sometimes it’s hard to find balance and make time for each other and the family as a unit. The time I have them right now is really priceless.
What’s next for you?
My husband and I created a show together. I signed an NDA, so that’s all I can say.
Have you and your husband worked together before?
Yes, we actually met working on one of Taylor Swift’s AMA performances.
Bonus Question: When you design for characters, how much of your sensibility goes into the process? Do you find that you have to edit your own sensibility to stay true to the character?
One hundred percent of my sensibility goes into the design. I have a unique eye, and that’s why directors, producers, and studios hire me. They’re expecting my sensibility to be there. When directors and producers hire me, they know they will get high fashion, functionality, and forward-thinking trends. That’s just how I work; I can’t help myself, you know? Each character has their own individual story that I’m telling through their clothes. Obviously, I bring my own flair, but you have to stay true to the character in the script. I’m working from what the directors and writers have envisioned, helping bring the characters to life; that’s what I do as a costume designer.
