Ming for Winter, Song for Summer? No Way! Ming Hanfu Glows in Summer

Why Choose Ming Hanfu for Summer?

When summer’s heat arrives, many Hanfu enthusiasts turn to Song-style Hanfu for its breezy comfort. But don’t overlook Ming Hanfu! Contrary to the belief that Ming is too heavy for summer, modern and improved designs make it a fantastic summer Hanfu choice. With lightweight Hanfu fabrics and innovative styles, Ming shines in 2025’s summer heat. This article explores five stunning Ming Hanfu looks, from airy modern designs to elegant Mamian Qun outfits, perfect for staying cool and stylish.

Differences Between Ming-Style and Song-Style Hanfu

Song-Style Hanfu: Song-style hanfu is considered the most summer-friendly because it’s the simplest among all hanfu styles. Due to the historical context of the Song dynasty, Song-style hanfu emphasizes a slim, elongated silhouette, with narrow sleeves and jiaoling (crossed collars) as key features. The “beizi” and “Song ku” (Song pants) are the most iconic styles in Song hanfu.

Ming-Style Hanfu: Ming-style hanfu has long been regarded as the hanfu of noblewomen. With the Mamian qun (horse-face skirt) as its centerpiece, the intricate craftsmanship, expensive fabrics, and silk threads make Ming pricey. The “chang’ao” (long jacket), “duan’ao” (short jacket), and “Mamian qun” are the core styles of Ming .

Thus, traditional hanfu shows Song-style prioritizing simplicity, while Ming-style emphasizes opulence and grandeur. However, thanks to modern improvements, Ming is no longer just about Mamian qun. Lightweight, airy fabrics have replaced the heavy, luxurious ones, creating modern Ming that’s breezy and cool.

With lightweight fabrics, modern Ming combines Song’s simplicity with Ming’s dignity, making it an excellent summer choice.

Modern Ming Hanfu: Light and Airy

Modern Ming builds on traditional designs but swaps out heavy fabrics for light, breathable gauze, maintaining the original silhouette while adding a cool, airy quality. Even in the height of summer, modern Ming feels anything but stuffy, offering a refreshing touch against the skin.

Pure and Elegant Look 1: White Gauze Chang’ao + Zhequn

If you ask what’s the biggest change modern hanfu has made to traditional designs, it’s got to be the transformation of the Mamian qun. Traditional Mamian qun take a long time to craft, and with complex fabrics and techniques, they’re expensive and not very breathable, making them impractical for summer. This Ming look replaces the Mamian qun with a zhequn (pleated skirt). The lightweight gauze fabric is soft and breathable, ensuring your skin can breathe even in the hottest summer days!

The upper body features a white gauze chang’ao, pure and elegant, with a zhongjin (central front) design and stand-up collar, perfectly embodying Chinese aesthetics while highlighting a girl’s refined nobility. The light, soft gauze doesn’t cling to the skin, gently brushing against it to bring a hint of coolness. With wide robes and large sleeves, a breeze flows naturally, making this Ming look not only visually cooling in the summer heat but also comfortable to wear!

Ethereal and Ornate Look 2: Embroidered Gradient Chang’ao + Sheer Embroidered Zhequn

Like the previous look, this outfit swaps the Mamian qun for a zhequn, making it cooler and more breathable. But unlike the pure, sweet vibe of the first look, this one leans toward opulence and ethereal charm. Covered in embroidery, it features motifs of auspicious clouds, fairy mountains, and jade rabbits. The dreamy color palette paired with ethereal embroidered patterns fills the entire hanfu with boundless fairy-like grace.

Hard gauze fabric, though less soft than soft gauze, better shapes the hanfu’s silhouette, giving it a more structured look. Adding a soft fabric lining inside balances comfort and appearance. Hard gauze is more breathable than soft gauze, so despite having two layers, this hanfu remains cool even in summer, letting you feel a refreshing breeze.

Improved Traditional Ming Hanfu: Light and Luxurious

While modern Ming is softer and cooler, it lacks the lavish nobility of traditional Ming . Ming has always been defined by its ornate, aristocratic Mamian qun, and without it, Ming can feel incomplete. So, in the scorching summer, are we really unable to wear our beloved Mamian qun? Not at all—you can try an improved version of traditional Ming !

Improved Ming Hanfu: Lightweight Silk Long Robe + Thin Mamian Qun

The defining feature of improved Ming is the thinning of traditionally heavy fabrics. Original Ming , whether chang’ao or Mamian qun, used multi-layered fabrics, making them too thick for summer wear. Improved Ming reduces fabric thickness while preserving the opulent elegance, meeting both the aesthetic desires of Ming fans and the practical needs of summer wearers.

The lightweight silk long robe features subtle cloud-and-cliff patterns, adding depth to an otherwise plain robe. Fine textures enhance the hanfu’s quality, and the silk’s drape brings a cooling sensation in summer heat. The Mamian qun, thinned out but retaining intricate gold floral prints, sparkles under sunlight, letting breezes pass through to keep the wearer cool in summer.

When to Wear Traditional Ming Hanfu

The above sections introduced how to wear Ming hanfu in the height of summer, whether choosing modern airy and ethereal Ming or improved traditional designs. But many might wonder: when can we wear traditional Ming ?

Many assume traditional Ming is only for autumn and winter, but that’s not true. Traditional hanfu can also be worn in late summer with slight adjustments. In late summer, with significant day-night temperature swings, you can absolutely step out in traditional Ming !

Recommended Look: Cooling Accessories + Shang’ao + Mamian Qun

The hallmark of traditional Ming is the shang’ao and Mamian qun combo. For late summer, opt for slightly thicker fabrics for the shang’ao and Mamian qun. A misty blue shang’ao with vivid phoenix embroidery adds intrigue and nobility, while the Mamian qun below, adorned with phoenix motifs, gives the outfit a mysterious, structured flair.

This look works well for late summer, and the choice of Ming color matters little. The key lies in cooling accessories.

Here are two recommended cooling accessories for your consideration:

Accessory 1: Tuanshan (Round Fan). As the most classic and common hanfu accessory, the tuanshan is both practical and stylish. A few flicks of the fan can bring a refreshing breeze in late summer.

Accessory 2: Yunjian (Cloud-Shaped Shoulder Cape). Some might wonder if a heavy yunjian feels hot. Not at all! Yunjian come in many types, and for late summer, choose pearl or silk yunjian. These naturally feel cool against the skin, offering a refreshing touch for girls.