The Effortless Beauty Of The Korean Hanbok

The Korean hanbok is very beautiful, graceful, and elegant to wear. The tradition and culture of the traditional dress is just as rich ...

The Korean hanbok is very beautiful, graceful, and elegant to wear. The tradition and culture of the traditional dress is just as rich as the country's history. 

Every country has their own traditional dress that reflects the rich culture of the people and the country. Korea's hanbok is one of these historical symbols that have lasted through the times and the trends as well. In fact, there are a lot of foreigners, and locals, who enjoy getting dressed up in a hanbok to experience it and make great memories while wearing them.

Korean tourism also tapped into this interest by providing free entrance to some traditional palaces and establishments to those wearing hanboks. Not only does it help the hanbok industry stay alive, but it promotes their culture and tourist spots as well. 

History of the Hanbok

The word hanbok literally means "korean clothing. It usually consists of two main pieces and is traced back to the Gogureyo Dynasty. Women and men both wear a jacket called a jeogori with women wearing a chima or skirt and the men wearing a baji or pants. The baggy shape provides movement as Korean used to be nomadic.

Image from onethreeonefour

It wasn't until later on that the shape was slightly altered. The jeogori of women was cropped shorter above the waist due to Mongolian fashion influences. Also, commoners were limited to only using cotton and white or neutral colors for their garments. The lavish silks and various colors were reserved for royals, nobles, and high ranking officials.

How To Choose Your Hanbok

There are a lot of stores where you can get your very own Korean hanbok. Traditionally, parents will gift their children custom made hanboks, but nowadays it is much easier to get one off the rack. They are also much easier to look after as a synthetic fabrics, that look like silk, are a popular alternative.
There are a lot of designs that range from traditional to modern, so there is an abundance in choices.

Image from Hanbok Sarang

Classic and natural colors are more popular because these can last a few seasons. Given a hanbok is expensive, its best to get something you can wear regardless of the season or occasion. Asians also lean towards natural colors as it goes well with their skin tones and remain versatile as well as elegant.

Imag from Hanbok Sarang

However, there are a lot of bright colors, pastel tones, and rich hues to choose from. Teenagers and young adults like going for colorful and embroidered or printed hanboks, while older people go for muted and darker colors for a dignified appearance. Newlyweds, on the other hand, match to one another in terms of color and fabric to show how devoted they are to each other.

Modern Interpretation

The shape and the look of the traditional hanbok has remained the same since the Joseon dynasty. It may have undergone minimal changes, as many are machine made, but still retain the same feel and look. However, younger fashion designers and dressmakers are now taking the initiative to make it more modern.

Image from Koreaboo

Seoul is one of the trendiest capitals in the world and is the forefront of fashion. It is no surprise that hanbok designers try to incorporate the new fabrics with the traditional design. Some even go as far as making the dresses more modern in shape but with traditional elements.

If you come to Seoul you should try out out some hanboks for fun! Not only will you have a new experience, you can also take pictures as a souvenir.