The Complete Hanfu Guide: Traditional Chinese Dress is Back in Style

As China’s conventional dress code becomes less popular, you may start to see more women wear Hanfu gowns. These long, elegant clothes have gained popularity in the past decade. Rooted in ancient China, it’s important to highlight that Hanfu has its roots in Chinese tradition.

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Hanfu: What Is It?

The Hanfu Attire was a long-sleeved, ankle-length gown with a high collar and full sleeves that was worn as the traditional dress of ancient China. The silhouette is reminiscent of an exquisite cheongsam.

Hanfu’s Past

The earliest Hanfu in China was a tunic made using silk weaving methods brought to China from Korea. The Jin Dynasty, which invaded China’s north-eastern regions in the third century BC, is credited for introducing the garment to the country.

The Hanfu tunic, worn by the Chinese aristocracy, was created by combining silk weaving methods from Korea and southern China. Imperial court ladies and Chinese academics alike wore Hanfu during China’s heyday.

The Hanfu has become an icon of Chinese art and history, appearing in paintings, monuments, decorations, and even historical fiction. It has been a part of Chinese culture for a long time, both as a way to decorate and as functional clothing for everyday life.

Hanfu Today

Hanfu, the national costume of the Han people, has evolved into a complex system throughout thousands of years to accommodate the wide range of demands that individuals have.

Some people have the misconception that all hanfu clothing is cumbersome and out of place in the contemporary world, although there are, in fact, more practical versions.

Qualities that define Hanfu

Formal Wear

There is a high neck and long sleeves on a Hanfu. Making the Emperor feel honored inspired the creation of this collar style. Covering one’s neck and lips with a high collar is a significant cultural emblem in traditional China.

Fastenings like buttons and zippers

The Hanfu dress is held in place by zippers and buttons on the side. As a cultural norm in Hanfu, this helps keep individuals from being impolite by speaking out of turn.

Long Sleeves

The shoulders and wrists are both covered by long sleeves. A common feature of Hanfu clothing is a high collar that reveals just the wearer’s neck in deference to the Emperor. This traditional Chinese dress has sleeves that are sufficiently long to cover the wearer’s hands and wrists, a gesture of respect for Chinese customs.

Shorter-than-elbow-length sleeves

Generally, the sleeves of a Hanfu dress do not go below the elbow, even if the jacket is relatively short. But the Hanfu, with its long sleeves, goes down to the feet. In ancient China, ladies wore these Hanfu, associated with refinement.

Sleeves that flap like butterflies

In Hanfu, butterfly sleeves are a must, particularly during the Qing dynasty when they were first introduced. The cuffs of the sleeves are adorned with a design that calls to mind the spread wings of a butterfly. The aesthetic value of designs like this may be scaled up or down.

Roomy Armholes

The large armholes on Hanfu gowns symbolize the wearer’s power and self-respect.

A tight belt

The high waistlines of Hanfu dresses are created with extra fabric to draw attention to the wearer’s figure. The waist was a vital component of the Hanfu garments used in ancient China.

The Proper Way to Put on a Hanfu Dress

Since the look and style of traditional Hanfu attire lean more toward femininity, women often wear it. But what is the correct way to put on a Hanfu dress? This is a guide on how to properly wear Hanfu.

1. Put on your top hat first.

It all starts with donning the top, which is often a Hanfu shirt. Once you get it on, you’ll need to alter the neck and sleeve length. Typically, a Hanfu dress shirt will have two halves, the top, and the bottom.

2. Fasten the strings to the front of her shirt.

The upper half of a Hanfu shirt is worn by tying strings at the front, around the chest, and wrapping it around the wearer’s body. That will prevent the blouse from slipping down.

3. Wear the skirt by tying the back panel tightly over the chest.

The front strings should be tied first, then the rear ones. This will wrap around your waist and look like a skirt.

4. Bring the rear panel to the front by bringing the ties around your body.

Once the back panel is in place, you may pull the front panel to your chest and secure it by looping the ties behind your neck. Then, tuck it inside the collar of your top shirt.

5. Hide your breasts behind a belt around your waist.

Those ladies who want to keep their chests covered need not do this procedure. Some ladies prefer to conceal their busts with little more than a blouse. However, if modesty is desired, a belt must be worn across the breast area. A strap that wraps around the wearer’s waist and threads through the blouse’s ties is often included in women’s Hanfu outfits.

6. Throw on a long Hanfu coat with oversized sleeves if you’re going somewhere fancy.

You should dress formally at formal events. You may wear a shirt and skirt, but you should layer a coat over them for this event. This will keep you warm and look better than you would without it during the event.

7. Wrapping a scarf over your upper body adds a layer of decorative flair.

Wrapping a scarf or other accessory over your arms is a great way to complement a garment with an abstract pattern. This will be a stunning addition that complements the decor.

Traditional Chinese dress, known as Hanfu, has been worn by Chinese people for millennia. The style of this clothing, known as Hanfu, differs from area to region.

Designed to preserve traditional Hanfu ideals, the traditional Hanfu garment is practical and aesthetically pleasing. Commoners, academics, and literati alike favored the traditional Hanfu to advertise their status and accomplishment. At recent fashion shows, events, concerts, and parties, attendees have been seen wearing designs inspired by Hanfu.