Chinese Fashion As The Most Significant Status Denotation Since Ancient Times Until Today

In early times, such as that of the Tang Dynasty, Chinese fashion consisted of long and lovely silk robes for the prosperous and powerful, while those from the working class wear simple robes made of cotton. In the Chinese Imperial courts, women would wear meticulously embroidered robes with patterns of flowers and plants and the materials used were very magnificent and comfortable. Even in the kind of shoes worn, social status played a very important responsibility as people from higher classes wore slippers made of brocade or damask, while peasants wore sandals made of straw.

Numerous ages later, the idea of wealth and lavish fashion still pervades in the Chinese society. Noted Chinese celebrities such as Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li are often seen wearing clothes from high-end boutiques or masterpieces of foreign haute couture designers. Lavish clothes are hardly seen among the working class of China, largely because the average annual income of a Chinese worker is only around $1000.00. The loaded Chinese kids of today have the freedom to follow Western fashion modes, dictated by brands such as Louis Vuitton, Armani, and other European designers. Clothes made of dainty silk are still popular among higher classes, just like in ancient times.