Hi everyone, I’m Ally
Today is the Chinese Flower Festival, also known as the birthday of the flowers
It’s usually celebrated on February 12th or 15th of the Lunar calendar
So on this day people usually go out and admire flowers on this day, but there’s not much flower around in the NY area yet
So I’m going to bring you guys to the annual Macy’s flower show later
But first, let’s talk about this Hanfu outfit I’m wearing today
It’s called Aoqun, most commonly wore during the Ming Dynasty
Let’s take a look at the individual pieces and how to wear them
The word Aoqun translates into lined top and skirt. It is one of the earliest and most basic forms of Hanfu
This style was developed as early as The Warring States period (475 BC) as seen on these clay figurines
And it evolved throughout the dynasties
By the mid to late Ming Dynasty, it had became the most commonly-seen design for fall-winter clothing among wealthy families and the royal court
There are also many historical relics available for us to study
Aoqun is an outerwear, so people usually wear inner garments made of cotton or linen material underneath
During the Ming Dynasty, women usually wear mamian skirts or pleated skirts
This one is a one piece half-pleated skirt with the pleats only on top, and embroideries on the bottom, as well as on the belts
There are usually two types of one piece skirts
one style you insert the belt through a hole in the middle, the other style uses an extra set of ties
This skirt doesn’t have either feature, so after wrapping it around the body
you can fold one end down along the waistline and then secure it with the belts
Ao is defined as a top with lining
The length and collar styles have different variations
This is a typical cross collared ao
It has an additional white skinny strip of collar piece called Huling meaning“collar protector”
Ming Dynasty hulings can be sewed on or taken off for cleaning
The middle seam on both the front and back represents a person’s righteousness
The shape of the sleeves is similar to the Chinese instrument Pipa, so it’s called Pipa Xiu or Pipa sleeves
This ao is in a style known as jiaoling youren, or wrapping the right side before the left
It’s one of the most basic features of Hanfu
First find the sash underneath the armpit area on the inside, tie it up with the sash from the right side
then fold over the left side and secure it on the right
This completes the Aoqun outfit
The weather is still chilly, so I’m adding a Pifeng or outer coat for warmth
It has large broad sleeves with embroideries
These are drawings of Ming Dynasty Pifeng and Song Dynasty Beizi
The description indicates that Pifeng is evolved from Beizi
They both have facing or parallel collars
but Pifeng is usually secured together with a jade buckle button right below the half collars
I want to clarify that Ming Dynasty pifeng is usually paired with a standup collar ao instead of a cross collar ao like what I’m wearing today
Last but not least, put on a necklace called Ying Luo to complete the look
Now we are all set. Without further ado, let’s go to the Macy’s Flower Show!
I hope you enjoyed and learned something new from this video
If there’s anything else you’d like me to cover, please let me know in the comments below.
See you next time!