Abhiroop Das
Directed by Kim Jin-min, Netflix’s ‘The Art of Sarah,’ or ‘Lady Dior,’ follows the titular con artist on her quest to create Korea’s biggest luxury brand. The catch, however, is that Sarah’s very identity is obscured by layers of lies, and when she is mysteriously found dead inside the sewers, the detectives are left scratching their heads. Before long, Detective Park realizes that Sarah’s brand, Boudoir, is instrumental to cracking the case, and as discoveries about Boudoir’s origins accumulate, her true motivations begin to reveal themselves. To that end, Boudoir is not just a company that exists within the story, but one that ultimately defines it. Just like Sarah, her brand extends its commentary on the world of fashion and luxury itself, in all of its highs and lows.
The Fictional Brand Boudoir is a Play of Words on the Name of a Real Luxury Item
Boudoir is the name of a fictional brand created by writer Chu Song-yeon specifically for the world of ‘The Art of Sarah.’ As an in-universe construct, Boudoir stands at the center of Sarah Kim’s cons, and while it is likely built in the image of an archetypal luxury brand, there appears to be no direct connection to any real-life counterpart. Notably, the word boudoir itself refers to a woman’s private dressing room or salon, which is historically associated with private retreats. In that sense, the company Boudoir gains a metafictional layer, as it is both a safe space for Sarah Kim and a thing closely associated with the world of luxury and fashion. While fashion companies with the name Boudoir do exist in reality, it is unlikely that they serve as a reference point for the show.
Another meaning of the word boudoir is connected specifically to the show, given how it is titled ‘Lady Dior’ in the original. The word “bou” is similar to the Korean word “bu-in,” which translates to madam or lady. As such, the name of the luxury brand is possibly an intentional wordplay on ‘Lady Dior,’ and reaches back to Sarah Kim’s desire to own a Lady Dior bag in the show. While Lady Dior is the name of a real line of handbags created and sold by Christian Dior, its connection to the fictional Boudoir company only extends to the use of the name. And while it is possible that the creators referenced real-life Lady Dior bags for the show, the products depicted as Boudoir’s are completely original creations.
Throughout ‘The Art of Sarah,’ the existence and legitimacy of Boudoir as a brand are under constant scrutiny, due to Sarah Kim’s nature as a con artist. While we never get a clear answer as to whether Boudoir is legal, the fact remains that its reputation as an elite-only brand is partly made up by Sarah. In reality, most of Boudoir’s production traces back to local networks that often specialize in making replicas of luxury items. This plot thread is most likely not a reference to any real-life brand or product, and is instead a dramatization of the illicit replica market. In his conversation with The Korea Times, Kim Jin-min explained that Sarah’s journey in the show is one of becoming a brand herself, which is an apt summarization of what Boudoir represents.
Read More: Is The Art of Sarah Based on a True Story?
