A basic white or light blue Song-style aoqun set. Simple, flattering on almost everyone, and not overwhelming.

Don’t stress about “authenticity” for your very first one. Just get something that makes you smile when you look in the mirror. The historical deep-dive can come later—first step is falling in love with wearing it.

Avoid anything with too many accessories or complicated ties, you’ll give up before you even finish dressing.

Get one with a separate top and skirt, easier to mix/match later when you want to experiment.

Budget around 300–500 RMB for a decent starter set. Anything cheaper usually falls apart after two wears.

100% a basic Song-style aoqun in a soft pastel like mint or pale pink. It’s forgiving on body types, super easy to put on, and you’ll instantly feel pretty without any pressure.

Go for something with simple ties only at the waist and shoulders—no 10-minute puzzle belts. Trust me, the first time you wear hanfu you want to spend more time feeling cute than swearing at knots.

White/light blue/beige are safest colors. They look elegant, hide minor stains better than you’d expect, and match literally everything you already own for photos.

My personal newbie recommendation: get one with short-ish sleeves (elbow length or a little below). Long sleeves are gorgeous but annoying when you’re eating, typing, or just living life as a beginner.

Bonus tip: buy from shops that have real buyer photos (look for the “Verified” tag). Official model pics are always edited to perfection—real customer shots tell you what it actually looks like on normal people.

Thanks so much, everyone, for all the awesome beginner hanfu recs and tips! Seriously, your suggestions are super helpful and make me way less nervous about jumping in. I really appreciate the real-talk advice—gonna start with a simple Song aoqun just like most of you said. Y’all rock! 💙✨