Which Celebrities Wear Hanfu and How to Get Their Look: Yang Mi, Liu Yifei, and More

When Yang Mi stepped onto a red carpet in a pastel Costume&i=762">Costume&i=762">Tang Dynasty qixiong ruqun (齐胸襦裙, chest-high ruqun skirt), the photo went viral within hours. Over 3 million shares on Weibo. Trending on Twitter in five countries. And thousands of people asking the same question: where do I get that?

Celebrity hanfu moments have become one of the most powerful forces driving the traditional Chinese clothing revival. When a famous actress wears hanfu to a press event, a variety show, or even just posts a casual photo on social media, sales of similar styles spike by 200-400% within days. This guide breaks down the most iconic celebrity hanfu looks and shows you exactly how to recreate each one — without the celebrity budget.

Whether you are drawn to Tang Dynasty glamour, Costume&i=762">Costume&i=762">Ming Dynasty elegance, or the quiet practicality of Costume&i=762">Costume&i=762">Song Dynasty everyday wear, there is a celebrity look that matches your style. And most of them can be assembled for well under $150.

When Celebrities Put on Hanfu, the Internet Stops

Hanfu has always existed in Chinese culture, but celebrity endorsement changed everything. Before 2018, wearing hanfu in public in China could still draw confused stares. Then a wave of A-list actresses began wearing traditional dress to major events — and the cultural conversation shifted overnight.

The numbers tell the story. The Chinese hanfu market grew from roughly $150 million in 2017 to over $1.5 billion by 2025. Social media is the engine: Xiaohongshu (China's Instagram equivalent) now hosts over 10 million hanfu-related posts. On Douyin (TikTok China), hanfu try-on videos regularly rack up tens of millions of views. When a celebrity posts a hanfu photo, engagement rates are 3-5x higher than their usual content.

This matters for the hanfu revival movement because celebrities do not just popularize the clothing — they establish styling conventions. When Yang Mi wore her robe slightly off-shoulder, thousands of women copied the look. When Liu Yifei paired a Ming ao (袄, jacket) with a mamianqun (马面裙, horse-face skirt), that specific combination became the go-to formal hanfu outfit for an entire season.

If you want to understand how hanfu styling evolved in popular culture, our guide to hanfu in pop culture, movies, and dramas covers the full history. But if you are here for the celebrity looks and how to steal them — read on.

Yang Mi (杨幂) — The Queen of Hanfu Styling

If there is one name synonymous with celebrity hanfu, it is Yang Mi. The actress and producer has worn hanfu on red carpets, in magazine editorials, on variety shows, and in casual social media posts. Her styling is consistently creative and immediately recognizable.

Her Signature Look

Yang Mi's most iconic hanfu move is wearing the Tang Dynasty qixiong ruqun with the top layer draped slightly off-shoulder. This is not historically accurate — traditional Tang Dynasty women kept the collar properly closed — but it creates a relaxed, modern elegance that has been copied millions of times. She pairs this with a pibo (披帛, long decorative scarf) worn loosely over one arm.

Her color palette leans toward soft pastels: lavender, pale pink, seafoam green, and cream. These colors photograph beautifully and have the added benefit of being easy to match across multiple pieces.

How to Get Yang Mi's Look

You need three pieces:

• Tang-style qixiong ruqun (齐胸襦裙): A chest-high wrapped skirt with a matching top. Choose pastel tones — lavender and pale pink are the most "Yang Mi" colors. Look for sets with subtle floral Handicraft&i=884">Handicraft&i=884">embroidery rather than bold patterns.
• Pibo scarf (披帛): This is the essential accessory. A sheer or semi-sheer long scarf, usually 2-3 meters, draped over the arms. The pibo is what transforms a standard hanfu into a celebrity-style look.
• Hair ornament (发簪, zan): A simple metallic hair pin with a small dangling element. Yang Mi typically keeps hair accessories minimal — one statement piece rather than an elaborate headdress.

The styling trick: let the top layer of the ruqun slide slightly off one shoulder. Secure it with a hidden pin if needed. Drape the pibo so it falls from one shoulder and trails behind. This is the exact formula that has been shared across thousands of hanfu tutorial videos.

Budget version: China-Cart.com offers Tang-style qixiong ruqun sets starting at $55-85 in pastel shades. Add a coordinating pibo scarf ($12-18) and a basic hair pin ($8-15), and you have the complete Yang Mi-inspired look for under $120.

Liu Yifei (刘亦菲) — Ming Dynasty Elegance

Liu Yifei's relationship with hanfu goes beyond fashion — it is tied to her identity as the star of Disney's live-action Mulan. During the 2020 Mulan press tour, she wore a series of Ming Dynasty-style hanfu ensembles that were widely praised for their refined restraint. Unlike the showy Tang Dynasty styles favored by other celebrities, Liu Yifei's hanfu choices are consistently understated and classically elegant.

Her Signature Look

Liu Yifei favors Ming Dynasty aoqun (袄裙, jacket and skirt). Her typical outfit is a structured ao (袄, jacket) — either short (duan ao, 短袄) or medium-length — paired with a mamianqun (马面裙, horse-face skirt) in coordinated muted tones. Think: slate blue jacket over a cream skirt, or sage green paired with ivory. The overall effect is quiet, expensive, and effortlessly graceful.

Her styling is historically more accurate than most celebrity hanfu. The collar stays properly closed, the sash is tied at the correct waist position, and accessories are kept to a tasteful minimum. This approachability is part of why her looks are so widely copied — they look achievable.

How to Get Liu Yifei's Look

You need two primary pieces plus minimal accessories:

• Ming-style ao jacket (袄): Choose a structured jacket in a muted, cool tone. Slate blue, sage green, or dove grey are all very "Liu Yifei." The jacket should have a clean crossed collar (交领, jiaoling) and moderately wide sleeves.
• Mamianqun skirt (马面裙): The horse-face pleated skirt in a contrasting but harmonious color. Cream or ivory pairs well with almost any jacket color. Look for versions with subtle woven patterns at the pleats.
• Thin sash or belt (腰带): A simple Silk+Silk+Fabric&i=884">Fabric&i=884">Silk+Fabric&i=884">fabric belt in a matching tone. No oversized bows or elaborate knots — keep it clean.
• Small earrings or hair clip: Jade studs or a simple pearl clip. Liu Yifei rarely wears elaborate hair accessories with Ming-style hanfu.

The styling trick: fit is everything with Ming style. The ao jacket should sit cleanly on the shoulders without pulling. The mamianqun should fall to the top of the foot. This is one area where custom sizing or careful measurement is worth the extra effort.

Budget version: Ming-style aoqun sets on China-Cart.com start at $65-100 for cotton-linen blends. The structured silhouette of Ming style actually looks better in cotton-linen than in Silk+Silk+Silk+Fabric&i=884">Fabric&i=884">Fabric&i=884">polyester, so this is one case where the budget option does not feel like a compromise.

Dilraba (迪丽热巴) — Bold and Dramatic

Dilraba Dilmurat (known as Dilireba in China) takes a completely different approach from Yang Mi and Liu Yifei. Her hanfu looks are bold, maximalist, and designed to dominate a room. If Yang Mi is creative styling and Liu Yifei is quiet elegance, Dilraba is pure spectacle — in the best possible way.

Her Signature Look

Dilraba gravitates toward Tang Dynasty styles in the most dramatic color combinations: deep crimson red with gold Handicraft&i=884">Handicraft&i=884">embroidery, midnight blue with silver threading, emerald green with metallic accents. She often wears full Tang ensembles including heavy Fabric&i=884">brocade fabrics, elaborate hairpieces with dangling beads (步摇, buyao), and multiple layered accessories.

Her styling pushes the boundaries of traditional hanfu toward couture territory. Oversized floral hairpieces, dramatic eye makeup paired with the hanfu, and carefully chosen jewelry that blends traditional Chinese motifs with modern glamour.

How to Get Dilraba's Look

• Tang-style qixiong ruqun or daxiushan (大袖衫): Go for rich, saturated colors — red and gold is the most Dilraba combination. Look for brocade or jacquard fabrics with visible woven patterns.
• Elaborate buyao hairpiece (步摇): This is non-negotiable for the Dilraba look. A buyao is a hairpin with dangling elements that sway when you move. Look for gold-tone pieces with pearl or jade drops.
• Statement earrings: Long, dangling earrings in gold or jade that coordinate with the buyao.
• Optional: embroidered shawl or overdress: For maximum drama, add a contrasting long vest (比甲, bijia) or a sheer Handicraft&i=884">Handicraft&i=884">embroidered overdress.

The styling trick: commit fully. The Dilraba approach does not work if you are tentative. Go bold on color, bold on accessories, bold on hair. This is event hanfu — think Chinese New Year celebrations, festivals, or a photoshoot where you want to be the center of attention.

Budget version: A red and gold Tang-style set with basic embroidery runs $70-120 on China-Cart.com. The buyao hairpiece ($15-30) is the splurge accessory, but it transforms the entire outfit. Total look: $100-160.

For more on Tang Dynasty clothing styles and colors, see our guide to what people wore in the Tang Dynasty.

Li Ziqi (李子柒) — Everyday Hanfu Done Right

Li Ziqi is not a celebrity in the traditional entertainment sense — she is a content creator whose beautifully filmed videos of rural Chinese life have earned her over 20 million YouTube subscribers and billions of views. And she wears hanfu almost exclusively in her videos, making her arguably the most visible hanfu wearer on the planet.

What makes Li Ziqi's hanfu style so influential is its relatability. She is not wearing hanfu for a red carpet or a photoshoot. She is wearing it while cooking, gardening, making furniture, and going about daily life. Her style proves that hanfu can be practical everyday clothing — not just a costume for special occasions.

Her Signature Look

Li Ziqi overwhelmingly favors Song Dynasty (宋制) and simplified Ming Dynasty styles. Her go-to outfit is a lightweight, loose-fitting ru (襦, tunic top) in natural fabrics — cotton, linen, or ramie — paired with a simple wrapped skirt (裙, qun) in earthy, natural tones. Think: oatmeal, sage, indigo, terracotta, and undyed linen.

Her accessories are minimal and functional: a simple wooden hair stick, a woven basket instead of a handbag, and flat cloth shoes or simple sandals. There is zero glamour in the traditional sense, but the overall effect is deeply aesthetic and widely admired.

How to Get Li Ziqi's Look

• Song-style or simple Ming-style top: Look for cotton-linen blends in natural, undyed, or lightly dyed colors. The fit should be relaxed — not fitted, not oversized. A basic beizi (褙子, Song Dynasty vest) over a simple inner top is very Li Ziqi.
• Simple wrapped skirt: Cotton or linen in a solid earth tone. No embroidery, no metallic threading, no brocade. The beauty is in the fabric texture and drape.
• Wooden or bamboo hair stick: Simple, unadorned. A single piece of turned wood or bamboo. Nothing shiny, nothing dangling.
• Flat fabric shoes: Simple cloth shoes or embroidered slippers in a neutral color.

The styling trick: keep everything natural, slightly rumpled, and completely unpretentious. Iron your hanfu lightly if at all. Let the fabric drape and move naturally. The Li Ziqi aesthetic is about harmony with nature — your hanfu should look like it belongs in a garden, not on a runway.

This is also the most practical approach to wearing hanfu every day. Song Dynasty style in cotton-linen is comfortable, breathable, and does not attract unwanted attention in public settings.

Budget version: This is the most affordable celebrity style to recreate. Simple cotton-linen Song-style sets on China-Cart.com start at $40-65. A bamboo hair stick is $5-8. Flat cloth shoes run $15-25. Total everyday Li Ziqi look: under $100 — and you can actually wear it to the grocery store.

Male Celebrities in Hanfu

The celebrity hanfu movement is not limited to women. Male celebrities have been equally influential in normalizing traditional Chinese dress for men, and their looks are often easier to recreate because male hanfu involves fewer accessories and simpler construction.

Wang Yibo (王一博)

Wang Yibo's hanfu style is sharp and modern. He favors Ming Dynasty male attire — specifically the zhishen (直身, straight robe) or the round-collar robe (圆领袍, yuanling pao) in dark, saturated colors: navy, black, deep burgundy, and forest green. His styling is clean and masculine, with minimal accessories beyond a fabric belt and occasionally a jade pendant (玉佩, yupei) hanging from the waist.

How to recreate: A dark-colored yuanling pao (round-collar robe) with a fabric belt. Add a jade pendant on a silk cord. Keep hair simple — a low ponytail or half-up style. China-Cart.com carries men's Ming-style robes starting at $70-110.

Xiao Zhan (肖战)

Xiao Zhan's hanfu aesthetic leans romantic and ethereal. He often wears flowing Song or Tang Dynasty-style robes (深衣, shenyi, or 襕衫, lanshan) in lighter colors: white, pale blue, and soft grey. His styling emphasizes movement — wide sleeves catching the wind, layers creating visual depth.

How to recreate: A lightweight cross-collared robe (交领长衫, jiaoling changshan) in white or pale blue over loose trousers. The key is fabric movement — choose chiffon, light cotton, or thin linen rather than stiff brocade. Budget: $60-100 for a complete set.

Chen Kun (陈坤)

Chen Kun represents the mature, sophisticated approach to male hanfu. He has worn hanfu to film festivals and high-profile events, typically choosing structured Ming Dynasty pieces with rich fabrics and understated luxury. His color palette is deep and warm: charcoal, deep teal, and oxblood.

How to recreate: A structured Ming-style ao (袄) jacket in a dark warm tone over matching trousers. Add a leather or woven belt instead of the traditional fabric sash for a slightly modernized look. Budget: $80-130.

How to Recreate Celebrity Hanfu Looks on a Budget

You do not need a $500 hanfu set to look like a celebrity. Here is the open secret of celebrity hanfu styling: the most important factors are silhouette, color coordination, and accessories — not the price tag on the garment.

A $60 hanfu with the right silhouette, well-matched colors, and proper accessorizing will look better than a $400 hanfu worn wrong. The celebrities themselves often wear mid-range pieces — it is the styling team that makes them look expensive.

The Three Rules of Celebrity Hanfu on a Budget

Rule 1: Get the silhouette right. Each dynasty has a distinct shape. Tang Dynasty: high-waisted, flowing, voluminous. Song Dynasty: narrow, tailored, understated. Ming Dynasty: structured, layered, balanced. If the basic shape is wrong, no amount of accessorizing will fix it. Start with the correct dynasty style for your chosen celebrity look, and the silhouette does the heavy lifting.

Rule 2: Coordinate colors precisely. Celebrity hanfu looks always have a clear color story — usually 2-3 colors maximum. Yang Mi's pastel Tang: lavender top, lavender skirt, white pibo. Liu Yifei's Ming: slate blue jacket, cream skirt, navy sash. Pick your palette and stick to it. Mixed-match colors from different sets look chaotic rather than stylish.

Rule 3: Invest in one signature accessory. This is where budget hanfu transforms into something special. For Tang Dynasty looks, it is the pibo scarf (披帛). For Ming Dynasty looks, it is a quality mamianqun (马面裙) with well-defined pleats. For any dramatic look, it is the buyao (步摇) hairpiece with dangling ornaments. Spend $15-30 on one quality accessory that anchors the entire outfit.

Budget Breakdown by Celebrity Style

Celebrity Style	Key Pieces	Budget Range	Best Fabric
Yang Mi (Tang)	Qixiong ruqun + pibo + hair pin	$75-120	Polyester chiffon or satin
Liu Yifei (Ming)	Ao jacket + mamianqun + sash	$65-110	Cotton-linen blend
Dilraba (Tang dramatic)	Brocade ruqun + buyao + earrings	$100-160	Jacquard or brocade
Li Ziqi (Song)	Simple tunic + skirt + hair stick	$50-90	Cotton-linen or ramie
Wang Yibo (Ming male)	Yuanling pao + belt + jade pendant	$85-130	Cotton or light brocade

Where to Shop

Not all hanfu sellers are equal. For celebrity-inspired looks, you want a seller that offers:

• Multiple dynasty styles — so you can compare Tang, Song, and Ming silhouettes side by side
• Complete sets — including the inner garment (中衣, zhongyi) and sash, so there are no hidden costs
• Real product photos — not just heavily filtered studio shots
• International shipping — with actual tracking numbers
• Verified fabric descriptions — so you know what you are actually buying

China-Cart.com's hanfu collection covers all five celebrity styles discussed in this guide, with prices ranging from $40 for basic Song-style sets to $200+ for premium brocade Tang ensembles. Every listing includes fabric composition, sizing in centimeters, and what is included in the set.

For detailed answers to common hanfu questions, visit our hanfu FAQ page.

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FAQ: Celebrity Hanfu Looks

Ready to find your celebrity hanfu style? Browse the full collection at China-Cart.com — Tang, Song, and Ming Dynasty styles for every budget, shipped to 50+ countries since 2002.