| Japanese clothing is worn more to suit the seasons, | | | | and unmarried women wear brightly colored and richly |
| these also differ with the wearers age, marital status | | | | patterned Kimonos with long sleeves. Some of these |
| or social standing. During springtime, bright and floral | | | | sleeves can even be as long as the women's ankle! |
| patterned Kimonos and clothes are worn; while in | | | | Girls, as young as 19, would begin wearing these |
| autumn, clothing resembles fall patterns. When it is | | | | vibrant Kimonos. With the increase in age or change in |
| winters, clothes with bamboo, pine tree or plum | | | | marital status, the sleeves of the kimono would |
| blossom pattern and design are worn which bring | | | | continue to get shorter. |
| good luck and prosperity. Summers are the time to | | | | Hanfu or the Han dynasty clothing is the most widely |
| wear cotton clothes and winter clothing's heavily lined | | | | known Chinese ancient clothing. Inseparable from silk |
| and layered. | | | | and worn by the legendary yellow emperor, the Hanfu |
| Informal Japanese clothing would include any clothing, | | | | has a history of more than three millennia. Chinese |
| which features woven patterns or dyed clothing or | | | | ancient clothing consisted mainly of robes with pants |
| repetitive patterns. The traditional cotton yukata or the | | | | for men and skirts for women under them. Modern |
| summer Kimono, the woven cotton haori or the short | | | | Chinese clothing is a western and ancient combination |
| silk jacket and dyed ikat kimono would be all informal | | | | of chic dressing and auspicious symbolism. |
| clothing. These informal Japanese clothes would | | | | The informal Chinese clothing would include tops and |
| customarily only be worn as daily wear, to a | | | | bottoms and one piece robes that wrapped once or |
| bathhouse or for informal friend and family visits. | | | | more around the body. A typical set of Hanfu is two |
| Formal Japanese clothing is rather contrasting, either | | | | or three layered where the first layer is the |
| very elaborate or a simple elegant design is | | | | undergarments or Zhongyi in white cotton or silk. The |
| considered formal. The Uchikake or the wedding | | | | second layer is front closed clothing and an optional |
| kimono and other kimonos with elegant designs, | | | | third layer can be the Zhao Shan or an overcoat. This |
| subdued colors or solid patterns would classify as | | | | attire could be made 'semi-formal' by adding to it a |
| formal Japanese clothing. These should be worn for | | | | pleated skirt (Chang), a cloth panel added to the waist |
| paying formal visits, funerals, or by married women for | | | | belt and a formal hat (Guan). Meeting a guest or going |
| weddings and formal occasions. | | | | to meetings or a cultural day would encourage you to |
| Japanese clothing is also distinguished by marital status | | | | make it 'semi-formal'. |