Robert Wun: A tribute to childhood innocence

by Louis Lorgis-Leech

Robert Wun took us back to our infancy with his latest couture collection, a better place, where we did not have many worries in life and could indulge in fantasy through an innocent perspective. 

Experimental skirt constructions & Shapes

What stuck out the most from this show were not only the varying skirt styles but also the use of both soft and sharp shapes. The collection thus felt like an exploration of what fabric can do when you push it to its logical extremes, which is what Haute Couture is all about. One look would be all about trapped volume and soft, rounded edges, while the next completely pivoted to sharp, architectural lines or dramatic, sweeping movement. It kept the runway unpredictable, turning what could have been a repetitive lineup into an interesting study of form, weight, and motion.

For example, this neon green look creates a striking tension by sandwiching a massive, pillowy volume between hyper-rigid elements. The upper half features a sharply structured, tailored bodice with aggressive shoulders, balanced by a hard, triangular collar piece that leads up to a futuristic helmet. Below, the dramatic bubble skirt completely shifts the narrative into something soft, cloud-like, and heavily gathered, creating an immense sense of airy weight. This stark contrast between protective, rigid armour and fluid, expansive fabric beautifully embodies the interplay of strength and vulnerability.

Author flare

The helmet references a space program Wun's parents enrolled him in as a child. Perhaps this could reflect unrealized ambitions of parents' career ambitions for their child or even your own unrealized ambitions for yourself. That is to say picking something considered more ‘practical’ like astrophysics over art or fashion for survival. 

Characters 

For me the birds are a clear reference to the original Snow White movie where she sings with the animals in the forest and they tug at her dress. I enjoyed seeing some of my favourite childhood classics on the runway - maleficent being my other personal favourite! Fairytale themes in high fashion shows are not uncommon though. For example, Chanel with their flowery fairytale backdrop this week along with their previous Alice in Wonderland inspired backdrop for their show in January. What was different about Wun's show were the actual outfits being tributes to characters as opposed to just the backdrop. We need more wonder in the world and this is why Haute Couture needs to be preserved.