Have you ever thought about getting married in a beautiful Chinese wedding dress? Nowadays, most people hold weddings at noon, often insisting on starting before 12 PM. But in ancient China, weddings typically took place in the evening, and this detail is often depicted in historically accurate costume dramas. Is Read more…
If you could travel back to ancient China and become an Eldest Princess, which image would you shape for yourself? The type who appears gentle and noble on the surface, but secretly wields enormous power and is ruthless in political maneuvering (like the Eldest Princess in Joy of Life)? The Read more…
In many modern historical dramas, maidservants and their mistresses often appear to have nearly identical hairstyles and outfits—only differing in how elaborate or simplified the versions are. Sometimes, the maid even looks more traditionally “correct” than the lady of the house! It’s no wonder viewers sometimes joke that they can’t Read more…
Beyond the classic Dao robe we have discussed before, there’s another category of Ming dynasty menswear that’s gaining modern popularity—Tieli (贴里) and Yesa (曳撒). These styles fall under what’s known as the “duan-yao”(断腰) robe structure, meaning the robe is visibly divided at the waist. They were commonly worn by men in the Ming era Read more…
If we say that Ming dynasty women were most commonly seen in stylish outfits featuring ao robe (袄衫) paired with mamian skirts, then the male equivalent—the most representative everyday attire for Ming men—would undoubtedly be the Dao robe (daopao). Ⅰ. The Popularity of the Dao Robe Ming scholar Fan Lian wrote in Yunjian Jumu Read more…
The upcoming drama The Prisoner Of Beauty, recently announced for release, has stirred discussion online—not just for its plot, but also for the leading actress Song Zuer’s appearance. While many viewers have praised her styling as refined and beautiful, others have criticized it for being too “internet-influencer” in feel. It’s Read more…
In the costume drama The Fairies of Liaozhai, Liu Shishi’s character, Xin Shisiniang, performs a dance wearing a rather striking piece—a wide-strap undergarment that looks surprisingly modern. But were ancient Chinese undergarments really this contemporary in style? And what was this garment actually called? Ⅰ. Moxiong (Chest Wrap) In fact, Read more…
When it comes to cultural exchange and the borrowing of elements, we should maintain an open attitude while showing mutual respect. In 2022, the renowned French fashion and consumer brand Dior launched a black mid-length skirt that closely resembled the mamian skirt. However, in the product description, Dior emphasized that Read more…
We’ve talked about Hanfu and cheongsam, but it seems we haven’t discussed the mamian skirt on its own yet. It appears that more and more people in China are wearing mamian skirts, especially in cities like Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Xi’an, and Kaifeng. Whether they’re office workers, children, or elderly folks, people Read more…
In previous TV dramas and movies, we often saw clothes with such large necklines, which were like the ancient version of “deep V” necklines. Did people really wear such off-the-shoulder hanfu in ancient times? And why are such clothes less common nowadays? I. The Universal Undershirt In fact, that statement Read more…