Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a festive and significant holiday celebrated by many East Asian cultures. What you wear on Lunar New Year can vary depending on personal preference, cultural traditions, and the specific customs of your family or community. In many Asian families, Lunar New Year clothes have historical, customary, and symbolic significance. Here are some common clothing items and styles associated with Lunar New Year.
One of the first and most important traditions for the Lunar New Year celebration is to get new clothes for the new year. It symbolizes the idea of change, new beginnings and getting rid of the bad luck from the old year. Mothers are responsible for getting new clothes for their children to wear for the first day of the Lunar New Year.
- Qipao/Cheongsam: Qipao or Cheongsam is a traditional Chinese dress that is often worn on special occasions, including Lunar New Year. It features a high collar, fitted silhouette, and beautiful embroidery or patterns. You can choose a qipao in vibrant colors, such as red or gold, which symbolize luck and prosperity. Many Asian families still believe red and new clothes are the auspicious outfit for the Lunar New Year for the best luck. A red modern Cheongsam dress in silk organza will be a perfect outfit for the upcoming Lunar New year.
For people whose birth zodiac is a dragon, this is the biggest year to celebrate in 2024. People who are born in the year of Dragon tend to be naturally gifted, lucky, and born to be a leader in each industry. A red Qipao dress with a dragon embroidery or a dragon Pankou (a dragon dress) would be a perfect addition to refresh the good luck on the New Year of Feb 10th, 2024.
Photo: Jeremy Chou Photography; Chloe Ho Hair and Makeup
- Tang Suit: Tang Suit is a traditional Chinese-style suit for both men and women. It typically consists of a long jacket or top and matching trousers or skirt. Tang Suit is a stylish and elegant option for Lunar New Year celebrations. For men, a print silk with dragon symbols in either red or gold will be a perfect outfit for the Lunar New Year. For women, a modern oversized high waist jacket with dragon symbols, paired with wide leg pants would be so chic for the New Year wear. Dragon, Koi fishes and lucky clouds hand embroideries always go well together.
In other Asian countries, cultural wear is also considered the best outfit to wear for the New Year day.
- Hanbok: In Korean culture, the traditional clothing worn during Lunar New Year is also Hanbok. It consists of a jeogori (jacket) and chima (skirt) for women, and a jeogori and baji (trousers) for men. Hanbok comes in a variety of vibrant colors and intricate designs. In Los Angeles, MeeHee Hanbok is a very reputable and premium custom made hanbok shop. They have made its name widely known in the community by its quality and brand.
Source: Meehee Hanbok
- Ao Dai: Ao Dai is the national dress of Vietnam and is often worn on special occasions like Lunar New Year. It is a long, form-fitting dress with high side slits worn over trousers. Ao Dai is known for its elegance and can be customized with beautiful patterns and colors. In Los Angeles, Calvin Hiep is a famous and respectful Ao Dai designer located in the Little Saigon area that is famous for its creative and modern style.
Source: Calvin Hiep
-
Modern Attire with Festive Colors: If you prefer a more contemporary look, you can choose to wear modern attire in festive colors like red, gold, or yellow. These colors are considered lucky and are commonly associated with Lunar New Year celebrations. Minimalist and solid color can not go wrong.
For the Lunar New Year, dressing your kids in a red vest adorned with rabbit fur edges and a hand-woven dragon Pankou is not just stylish but also symbolically significant. The silk fabric provides warmth, while the rabbit and dragon jacquard pattern beautifully represents the transition from the Year of the Rabbit to the Year of the Dragon. This attire is more than just clothing; it's a wish for a healthy and prosperous year for your little ones, making it an ideal gift.
For mothers and fathers, consider the thoughtful gift of a customized silk Tang jacket. Embellished with hibiscus Pankou and dragon embroidery, these jackets are not only a nod to tradition but also a statement of elegance and personal style, perfect for celebrating the Lunar New Year.
- Accessories: Complete your Lunar New Year outfit with accessories that reflect the festive spirit. Consider wearing traditional accessories like jade or gold jewelry, hand-made bags, hair pins, or decorative belts. Madam Shanghai’s custom dragon Pankou and brooch will be a perfect gift to your loved ones.
There are a couple of things to be noted also:
- Do not wear black clothes on the New Year day, since in some cultures, it is a funeral culture.
- Do not buy or wear new shoes on New Year day, since some Asian cultures believe it is bad luck.