In the previous blog, we discussed outfit strategies for commuting scenarios. This time, let’s explore some outfit strategies for Office Scenarios when it comes to New Chinese Style clothing.

Scenario —— Sitting for a Long Time at the Office

After solving the problem of wearing Hanfu during the commute, when you arrive at your work station, you will face at least 8 hours of sitting.

1. The Struggle: The pleats of the lower skirt are likely to be deformed when sitting. When you lift your tired buttocks, you may find that the pleats of the horse – faced skirt, which were as sharp as a blade, have been pressed out of shape. Besides ironing them back into place, what else can you do?

• Solution 1: Choose fabrics that are not easy to deform. When it comes to fabric selection, you can check out the Bilibili blogger 七十二烟尘. She has summarized the characteristics of common fabrics for Hanfu lower skirts. However, the main issue is that the video is all in Chinese, which is not very friendly to the vast number of Hanfu enthusiasts around the world. You can use translation software for help.

Or click here to directly navigate to the video website.

Every fabric has its pros and cons—it all comes down to personal preference and trade-offs.

• Solution 2: Hanfu Isn’t Just About Mamian Skirts

If you don’t want to deal with maintaining pleats, consider styles without pressed folds, such as poqun (破裙, split skirts), xuanqun (旋裙, spiral skirts), or round-collar robes.

2. Struggle : Skirt Hem Getting Caught in Chair Wheels

Hanfu skirts tend to have a wide hem, which can easily spread out when you sit down—only to get caught under the wheels of your office chair. To prevent your skirt from becoming a casualty of the workplace, start by managing the hem properly.

• Solution 1: Tie Up the Hem with a String

If you don’t mind a little extra effort, you can also swap the string for a resistance band—so you can sneak in a leg workout while at work!

• Solution 2: Wear Pants (Hakama-Style Trousers)

The best way to avoid the problem altogether? Skip the skirt and go for Hanfu-style pants instead.

Yes, this is the second time I’m recommending Hanfu pants in this post—need I say more? 😏

3. Struggle : Oversized Sleeves Getting in the Way

Many Hanfu styles come with large, flowing sleeves, such as pipa sleeves. They look stunning in photos, but in real life, even the slightest movement can turn you into an accidental “desktop cleaning expert”…

Solution 1: Use Pan Bo (襻膊, Sleeve Ties) to Secure the Sleeves

That said, I personally don’t use this method often—because there are already so many narrow-sleeved Hanfu styles to choose from! I can barely wear them all in my daily rotation.

Solution 2: Opt for Narrower Sleeve Designs
Certain historical sleeve styles are practical and movement-friendly, such as:

• Yangtui (Lamb Leg) Sleeves from the Southern Song Dynasty
• Feiji (Flying) Sleeves from the Song Dynasty
• Gongdai (Quiver) Sleeves from the Ming Dynasty

The right-side images below (from top to bottom) show:

• A Yangtui-sleeve beizi from the Tea Garden Hill Song tomb in Fuzhou/福州茶园山宋墓羊腿袖褙子
• A Feiji-sleeve beizi from the Tieguai Song tomb in Nanjing, Anhui/安徽南陵铁拐宋墓飞机袖褙子
• A Gongdai-sleeve duijin shirt from the tomb of Prince Yi Xuan of the Ming Dynasty./明益宣王墓弓袋袖对襟衫

The sleeves in Early Tang dynasty murals were also quite narrow. Combined with the timeless black-and-white color-blocked skirt, this style is perfect for a stress-free daily work outfit and can even create a slimming effect on the legs.

There are also sleeveless styles like sweat jackets (huan gua/汗褂) and beixin/褙心 (a type of open jacket)

as well as designs like zhu yao (主腰) and bustier-style tops (Song Dynasty mobei/宋抹), which can double as summer camisoles or tank tops.

Song Dynasty mobei is typically worn as an underlayer inside a long robe, but it also works beautifully worn solo in summer.

The zhu yao is also a great piece for summer outfits—light, versatile, and practical!

Scenario : Going to the Bathroom

The Struggle: Getting Your Skirt Dirty
Public restrooms can be tricky—especially when the floor conditions are unpredictable.

Solution: Wear an inner petticoat that can gather up the skirt hem.
You can check out those special tools designed for wedding dresses—our hardworking folks have come up with some clever solutions! This item works perfectly as a Hanfu petticoat, keeping your skirt safe and clean while you’re out and about.

If you don’t have a petticoat, another trick is to gather the hem of your skirt, wrap it around your arm, and then squat down. This way, you can avoid any mess!