I bought a hanbok in my first month in Korea. That had been one of my goals when I got here: get a hanbok, get a traditional blanket set. I don't know why I was in such a hurry to do so, but I felt like that. However, while I can pretend to know a little bit of the most basic stuff of Korean traditional outfits, I was really shy when I just got here, to use Korean to argue, discuss and look for the best thing possible when shopping. I followed the advice of the seller at the market, and he got me to buy this pink over pink hanbok.
It was not ugly. See how pretty it looks on my friend?
Thing is, it's not very pretty on me. And it's 1 km too long. I was wearing heels when he took my measurement and even if I told him I did, and he obviously saw it, he didn't take it properly and as a result the skirt is crazy long. I walk on it, as you can see on the picture below. I don't hate it, but I hate that it makes me look really tall, and it is impossible to walk in it.
As I went to a picture studio not one, not two, but three times already, I saw how different colors of hanbok make me look pretty different. As in, darker colors look amazing on me, but light one make my face look huge. I also noticed that, surprisingly, the big cushion on my head does look nice on me, and I prefer the old-style middle bang separation than the wanna-be-modern fringe when wearing a hanbok. Side fringe is ok when wearing gisaeng outfit.
That was nice on me, but it's odd how I never really paid much attention to it. I mostly was looking at the overall look with the hair, not sure if it was the style that was best for me. I had just finished watching Hwang Jinyi at that point and wanted the Gisaeng look.
When I went the second time, I went for more natural for the hairstyle, and chose the queen/princess outfit. While I liked the richness of the costume better and the double layered skirt, and the colours, I know that the top part, the pink/purple, is not my colour. At least not near my face.
I found out that darker colors were better with me when I went for the third time, with my parents. I can totally pull off the light pink, just not for the shirt part. And the crown thingy looks better on me than the smaller accessories. I am sure that's because of my big forehead.
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| The young queen and the queen mother eh eh eh |
So Chuseok being around the corner for a second year in Korea, I wanted to have a new hanbok. One that would be my size and of which the color would look nice on me as well. I asked my friend for help and we went to Jongno 5 ga in a small store where a nice lady and I talked for a long time to find out the right color and style. We picked a new pattern she had just completed for the fall fashion and I decided to go all silk, instead of polyester. It cost me a hundred bucks more, but I wanted quality this time, and I got it.
Ironically, the colors we chose are usually the colors the mother in law wears at their sons/daughter's weddings, but on my, it didn't give the mother-in-law-effect. I was really pleased with the result. That's me trying it on at the store. The feel of the silk is blissful. Makes you want to wear it all the time. I wish I were a rich lady in a traditional house that could wear those all day.
So on the last workday before Chuseok day, I wore my hanbok to school. I had no science class or any class that required me to move around like crazy so I just decided I'd do it. I was the only one in my school ho did. Sadly, my school is not big on traditional event so the kindies didn't wear anything special. Was okay tho, I was happy anyways.
The fun part was me going to the baseball game directly after work, still in my hanbok.
It was the first time I got so many picture requests from the people I hang out with at the stadium ;)
