How to Wear a Hanbok

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: March 30, 2020 References

A hanbok is a traditional Korean garment that women wear during festivals, parties, or weddings. It has a long flowing dress, a jacket with a ribbon tie, and added accessories like hats, coats, and vests. Most of this garment is handcrafted and intricately decorated. You can put on the hanbok dress, jacket, and any traditional adornments easily to look stunning and authentic for your next event.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Putting on the Dress

1
Slip on the undergarment dress and clasp it in the front. Hanbok undergarment dresses are usually white and have a row of clasps or buttons on the front. Pull it on over your head and clasp it up your torso so that it is tight.^{[1]
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- You can even wear jeans under your dress if you’d like to, since the undergarment dress usually covers down to your ankles.
2
Pull the dress onto your arms so that the opening is in the back. Depending on your style of dress, it may have thick straps or thin spaghetti straps. Make sure the straps sit over your shoulders and that the opening of the dress is behind you.^{[2]
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3
Wrap the back ribbons around to your front. Reach behind you and find the loose ribbons hanging down and pull them around your chest until they reach the center of your torso. Make sure the ribbons are tight across your chest so the dress stays up, but not so tight that you can’t breathe.^{[3]
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- If you need to, pull down the dress in the front so the tie sits right on your chest.
4
Tighten the ribbons and tie them in a bow on your front. Grab the 2 ends of the ribbon on the front of your dress and pull them taut. Tie them into a tight bow on the center of your chest that won’t slip off as you wear your hanbok.^{[4]
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Tip: It doesn’t matter if this bow looks good since it will be hidden underneath the jacket of the hanbok.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Tying the Jacket

1
Put on the jacket and fasten the clasp in the front. Use caution as you put on your jacket over your dress, because it is usually made of stiff material. Clasp or button the right side to the left so that it stays closed in the front.^{[5]
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- Your jacket may also have embroidery or beading on the sleeves, so be gentle with them as you put it on.
2
Make an X with the short ribbon on top of the long ribbon. Hold the 2 ribbons on the front of the jacket together and find the one that is shorter. Take 1 ribbon in each hand and move the shorter ribbon over the long ribbon.^{[6]
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Tip: Tying the jacket is what people usually struggle the most with. If you practice it a few times, you’ll be able to get the hang of it.
3
Tie a knot by bringing the long ribbon up through the X. Grab the long ribbon in 1 hand and pull it up and over the short ribbon to make a slight knot at the top of the 2 ribbons. Keep this knot fairly loose so that you can still work with each of the ribbons.^{[7]
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4
Wrap the short ribbon around your hand to make a loop at the top. Take the part of the shorter ribbon sticking out of the knot and wrap it around your 4 fingers. Make a loose loop that is wide enough for the long ribbon to go through.^{[8]
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- Although it is sometimes helpful to have a friend or family member help you with your hanbok, it’s actually easier to make this loop and bow if you are wearing the jacket yourself.
5
Pull the long ribbon through the loop until it sticks out about 1 in (2.5 cm). Grab the top part of the long ribbon and pull it through the loop around your hand. Pull it through and then tighten up your knot by pulling on the loop of the long ribbon and the end of the short ribbon at the same time.^{[9]
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- The knot should sit at a horizontal angle on the front of your jacket with the loop of the long ribbon sticking out towards your left and the trailing ends of the ribbon hanging down on your right.
6
Tuck in the armpits of your jacket to make the front sit flat. Smooth down the front part of your jacket with your hands. Make a triangle out of 1 side of your jacket above your armpit and tuck the excess fabric from your sleeve underneath it. Then, do the same to the fabric on the other side.^{[10]
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- This helps your jacket stay flat in the front and makes it look smoother.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Completing the Outfit

1
Wear jeans or leggings under your hanbok to stay warm. Since the fabric of the hanbok dress isn’t super thick, if you are wearing it in the winter, you might get chilly. Pull on some leggings, yoga pants, or even jeans for an extra layer.^{[11]
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- Since the dress is so long, you won’t be able to see your pants at all.
2
Pull on some beoseon socks for a full costume. If you are planning on wearing bright or colorful shoes, put on a pair or beoseon socks to complete your hanbok outfit. Make sure the seams line up straight over your feet.^{[12]
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- The socks look like large, white stockings, and usually reach up to your mid-shin.
3
Put on flat, handcrafted shoes for a traditional look. If you want to be authentic, you can put on a pair of ggotshin shoes, which are usually handmade and have intricate details on the sides. These shoes are usually flat so they are comfortable to walk around in.^{[13]
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- If you don’t have a pair of these shoes, you can also put on some low heels or comfortable flat shoes.
4
Add a norigae, a handcrafted tassel, as an accessory. Norigae are knotted ornaments that are traditionally made by hand with long, flowing tassels at the end. They may fit in with the color scheme of your hanbok, or act as a pop of color. Tie the top of the norigae to the waistband of your dress and let it hang down over the front of your hanbok.^{[14]
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- Norigae are seen as a good luck charm.
5
Wear a coat or vest over the jacket and skirt if you have one. Pull on a long hanbok coat for an extra layer over your outfit, or put on a shorter hanbok vest to cover your upper half. Tie the ribbons on the front of the coat or vest in the same way that you tied your jacket, and take off your coat to show off your hanbok.^{[15]
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- Traditional hanbok coats are made of the same flowy material as the dress, while vests are usually thicker and may have fur around the collar.
- If you don’t have a hanbok coat or vest, that’s okay! They aren’t necessary to complete your look.
6
Complete the outfit with a winter hat or headdress. Pull your hair back into a slick bun or braids. Pin a beaded headdress that sits flat on your head onto the part in your hair, or pull on a large winter hat with a trailing train that sits on top of your head.^{[16]
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Tip: You don’t have to wear anything on your head unless you are going for full authenticity.