Korean Dolls

Popularized in today's Korean Period television series and as much as Korean fashion taking over Asia, the hanbok, otherwise known as the traditional Korean costume (or Choson-ot in North Korea) is the colorful dress epitomizing the rich and colorful history of Korea. Varying in their colors, depending upon the personal and social status, the design of the costume was made up of a jacket similar to bolero or a short blouse and a long, full wrap skirt designed with simple lines and soft curves portraying the simple and humble ways of these people. The men's costume were the roomy and airy pants tied at the ankle known as the paji, and the short jacket belted at the waist with long sleeves also known as the chogori. The hanbok influenced by the Chinese introduced Mandarin silk styled costumes to the royalty near the end of the Three Kingdoms Period. The elite noblemen wore the ankle-bound trousers with the jacket of tunic-like cloth tied at the wrist and waist. For the royal women, wide and long sleeved, hip length jackets which were belted widely at the waist and full-length were worn.

The materials and color of the hanbok greatly distinguished the social strata of each person, whether belonging to the noble class or the commoners. Members of the upper class wore the hanbok made with high quality lightweight material or fine-woven Ramie cloth which was used to withstand warm weather. Plain and patterned silk designs also comprised the dresses depending on the style or mood of the wearer. The costumes of the upper-class people were brightly designed with colors, although colorful dresses are usually worn by children and youngsters while calm and soothing colors are for middle-aged people. For formal wear, the Durumagi is used by the men when they are go or are required to go outdoors. The Durumagi is a long coat which reaches up to the knees. As for the lower-class, shades of color were generally monotonous and were restricted to white used for everyday clothing. When special occasion arises, dreary or lackluster shades of gray, charcoal, pale pink and light green are worn.

The heads are also adorned with pins, wigs and headdresses. Both men and women wore their hair long and tied in braids. When they married, the men tie up their hair in a topknot on top of the head called the Sangtu. The women would tie their hair above the nape in a bun. A binyeo, or a long pin, serves as a decoration for the women's hairdo and it is varied according to the status and class of the woman. Women of high society also wore wigs or gache.

Such is the full regalia of wearing a hanbok. It may be complicated to wear as we see on pictures and television, but it is the as colorful and fascinating as the culture and the people it so proudly display.