Yang Zi‘s new drama Family Legacy (《家业》) has premiered to great success, and many viewers were drawn in by her stunning look. Her outfit has also caught the attention of Hanfu enthusiasts, who are eager to analyze its traditional elements and historical accuracy. Today, let’s take a closer look!

Ⅰ. A Closer Look at the Outfit

Yang Zi is wearing Hanfu in the Ming Dynasty style, specifically ǎo qún (袄裙), a common ensemble for women during that era. Ao qun consists of a top (袄) and a skirt (裙), with variations in collar styles such as cross-collar, front-closing, upright collar, square collar, and round collar. It also comes in different lengths, including short jackets and long ones. Her pink outfit features a cross-collar design, while the green ensemble has a front-closing outer layer.

For the bottom, ao qun can be paired with pleated skirts or mǎ miàn skirt the latter being one of the most iconic skirt styles in Ming Dynasty fashion. Yang Zi’s green and aqua outfit showcases a front-closing top, with a hint of red at the collar for a striking contrast.

In her pink ensemble, she pairs a delicate pink top with a gray Ming-style pleated skirt. The soft color combination exudes both elegance and playfulness. Pink was a fashionable color in both men’s and women’s clothing as early as the Tang and Song dynasties. A great example is Li Xian’s vibrant pink round-collar robe in Flourished Peony, which made quite an impression!

Ⅱ. Color Matching

The top that Yang Zi is wearing is in Yang Feifei color (杨妃色), which refers to a light red hue. The name originates from the ancient document “Biography of Jia Yi in the Book of Han“(《汉书·贾谊传》) . It is a mineral color derived from rhodochrosite, and its color is richer compared to light pink. Xu Zhiheng’s “Yinliu Zhai Shuo Ci” （许之衡， 《饮流斋说瓷》）records: “Now, let’s try to classify the most popular colors systematically. Red (including purple): Sacrificial Red (祭红), Jihong (霁红, a type of red glaze), Jihong (积红, another name for a red glaze), Drunk Red (醉红), Chicken Red (鸡红), Ruby Red (宝石红), Vermilion (朱红), Bright Red (大红), Smudged Red (抹红), Coral (珊瑚), Rouge Water (胭脂水), Rouge Red (胭脂水), Pink, Beauty’s Sacrifice (美人祭), Cowpea Red (豇豆红), Peach Blossom Wave (桃花浪), Peach Blossom Flake (桃花片), Begonia Red (海棠红), Baby Face (娃娃脸), Beauty’s Face (美人脸), Yang Feifei Color (杨妃色)…”.

Her lower skirt is in this light gray color scheme, which can be called the “Melting Moon (溶溶月)” or “Moon Soul (月魄)”. The moonlight pours down like flowing water, gently covering everything on the surface. Its soft radiance creates an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Although these are all names from poetry and literary works and there is no specific tangible color, one can still feel that kind of romance from the words.  

Ⅲ. Different Hanfu Styles and Their Everyday Appeal

Another notable combination is the high-collared, asymmetrical long jacket paired with a Mamian skirt, which was a popular style in the late Ming Dynasty. While this outfit appears more formal, its actual level of formality depends on the fabric choice and color scheme. Even within Hanfu styles, different ensembles are suited for different occasions.

For example, Yang Zi’s “grey-tone” ensemble gives off a more understated, everyday look. One key distinction of Ming-style outfits compared to earlier dynasties is the “top-over-skirt” wearing method. A quick style tip: many people today wear Mamian skirts with the “skirt-over-top” approach, where the skirt is tied over the top. However, the traditional “top-over-skirt” method is also worth trying. While the “skirt-over-top” style may create a slimming effect, the “top-over-skirt” approach offers more coverage and is better suited for formal occasions, making it a great choice for those who prefer a more elegant and structured look.

Summary

For casual Ming-style Hanfu, low-saturation colors are commonly used. Soft shades like light green, water blue, pink, and gray are excellent choices for daily wear. If you want to add a bit of personality to your outfit, subtle contrast accents can be introduced through details like collar trims, decorative pouches, or accessories. A touch of deep red, for example, can serve as the perfect finishing touch to elevate the overall look.