One of Li Ziqi’s most viral looks features a green qixiong ruqun (a traditional Chinese dress with a high-waisted skirt) paired with an outer cape jacket. A netizen commented, “This cultural promotion is amazing!” In fact, this stunning makeup and outfit combination was created by a talented team of stylists from Hangzhou. For those of you who are interested, Silkdivas will take you through an appreciation of this outfit and the ingenious ideas of the design team. It should give you some great inspiration for creating your own Hanfu looks.

I. The Ingenious Ideas of the Clothing

This green qixiong ruqun, paired with a half-sleeved garment on top and an outer cape jacket, although in the style of the Tang Dynasty, some people say that it gives a sense of “incompatibility.” In fact, this precisely illustrates the integration of classical and modern elements in Hanfu styling.

The essential reason can be summed up in one sentence: A traditional hairstyle is matched with modern bangs and modern makeup, and the traditional form of Hanfu is combined with modern fabrics. Coupled with the overall dark color scheme, from a classical perspective, it’s not that “classical,” and from a fashion perspective, it appears a bit “complicated.” It’s a kind of styling that represents the collision between classic and fashion, which is why it may look a bit “strange” to some people visually.

However, everyone has different aesthetics and promotion approaches, and the choices and display forms also vary. We should hold the view of “seeking common ground while reserving differences and embracing diverse beauty.”

Moreover, Li Ziqi is a disseminator of traditional culture. Attending some official events not only increases her own exposure but, more importantly, allows everyone to see the innovative achievements of traditional culture. This set of Hanfu is a bold innovation that combines tradition and modernity. Many bloggers of Han culture, after seeing this outfit, have also joined the ranks of creative Chinese dress collocations, which is indeed a good thing.

In fact, Li Ziqi has long created the “Hanfu” in her mind in her videos. It includes the qixiong ruqun in her mind and the old-style wide-sleeves robe. The inner ruqun has the same style as the one she wore at the event. It is handmade, and because of the touch of “handicraft,” it gives people a sense of warmth and makes it closer to the public. Although the style is still in the learning stage, it also shows her step-by-step understanding and recognition of clothing culture.

Looking at the style of the clothes shown in her previous videos, most of them are in solid colors, with a light color tone, featuring a cotton and linen style or a craftsmanship style. They are very much in line with daily life and not cumbersome. It can also be noticed that in her choice of clothing, there is a kind of simple and rustic cultural beauty, which is also the unique recognition of her videos.

II. The Ingenious Ideas of the Hairstyle

“As a public figure, Li Ziqi’s every appearance receives a great deal of attention. Both her makeup and hairstyle require meticulous design.” After careful consideration, the design team decided to incorporate innovative elements into the styling, hoping that it would not lose its classical beauty and would not be confined by history. At the same time, it should also showcase Li Ziqi’s own strengths.

In traditional restored Hanfu styling, bangs are rarely seen. However, the bangs on Li Ziqi are a very important part of her personal image. When it comes to restoring traditional Hanfu, the bangs need to be swept aside. But when going for a modern look, there’s a concern that the elegance of Hanfu might be lacking.

It was necessary to both preserve her own unique features and introduce some innovation. So, in the end, the team chose to take inspiration from the double-ring fairy hairstyle of the Tang Dynasty and make improvements.

They retained the characteristic of the bangs, making the overall hairstyle look dignified while still maintaining a girlish playfulness and liveliness. In terms of the makeup design, it avoided the exaggerated blush and high-arched eyebrows commonly seen in Tang Dynasty makeup, and incorporated modern aesthetics, making the overall look more acceptable.

Summary

Certainly, when we style ourselves in Hanfu and want to make a small innovation, we can learn from Li Ziqi by retaining our most obvious personal characteristics (such as bangs, earrings, etc.). Then, based on the characteristics of our face shape and body shape, we can choose the hanfu style that suits us.

With the support of Li Ziqi’s personal IP, Hanfu or Hanfu-inspired fashion items that carry the warmth of handiwork and have a rich texture and a touch of daily life are sure to develop a style and direction that suits them better. They will showcase her cultural confidence and cultural identity. We look forward to seeing more of her Hanfu styling looks. Also, we are grateful for her continuous efforts in promoting traditional clothing culture. ^_^