[CNR Online Review] "National Style" academic dresses are popular and Chinese romance is seen again in graduation season
Buttons, hairpins, cloud shoulders, eight-broken skirts... It is the graduation season, and this year many colleges and universities are wearing "national style" degree gowns, adding a bit of Chinese romance to graduation photos. According to multiple media reports, many colleges and universities, including Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University, Shandong University, and South China Agricultural University, have "new" degree gowns. Some are dyed with traditional Chinese colors and patterns with images of ancient poems and prose. Some have Chinese buttons or classical garden window patterns on the neckline, and some use tassels that imply healing the world. At the same time, more graduates have "revamped" traditional degree gowns with Chinese elements such as hairpins, eight-broken skirts, and cloud shoulders, which further demonstrates the love of "Generation Z" young people for traditional culture.
"Kacha", why is the Chinese style graduation dress so popular this year and captured many beautiful youthful silhouettes? As we all know, graduation dresses originated in the West and consist of four parts: graduation cap, tassel, graduation gown, and drape. This clothing system has strict regulations on clothing styles and occasions, creating a solemn atmosphere. However, the stereotyped forms are increasingly difficult to meet the personalized pursuits of contemporary young people. "China has great etiquette, so it is called Xia; it has beautiful clothing, so it is called Hua." In the basic design of graduation dresses, major universities highlight the traditional Chinese aesthetic concept and incorporate the historical and cultural elements of each school. The ingenious design that combines Chinese and Western styles and has its own characteristics is really refreshing.
For example, Shandong University's degree gown is decorated with a "vast sea, high sky" cloud shoulder pattern to express the wish for students to have a bright future; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine's degree gown has a gourd-shaped tassel that symbolizes "healing the world"; the shawl and cuffs of Renmin University of China's degree gown are embroidered with Pagoda Mountain and Yanhe River water elements; the lapel of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications' degree gown is printed with the school motto in Morse code; South China Agricultural University changed the traditional black tones of its degree gown to the red and yellow tones of Lingnan culture, etc. These design ideas not only conceal the affectionate instructions of the alma mater, but also reflect the landscape where campus culture and traditional elements blend together.
In line with the good intentions of their alma mater, more young students are also "revamping" traditional degree uniforms with Chinese elements and national style clothing such as hairpins, round fans, oil-paper umbrellas, cloud shoulders, and pleated skirts, forming a "two-way rush" with the expectations of their alma mater. According to reports, related online store orders and follow-up shooting services are booming, and are even sold to the overseas student market. The graduation photos that show the beauty of Chinese clothing are full of youth and are circulated on various social platforms. This "national style transformation" of young students comes from the thousand-year precipitation and nourishment of Chinese aesthetics, and there is a deeper reason than "beauty" - love, confidence and pride in excellent traditional culture.
What is gratifying is that the national style and national trend that is constantly "going viral" is not only reflected in the changes in clothing. In recent years, intangible cultural heritage crafts, operas and dramas, poetry and variety shows, cultural relics and historical sites, etc. have also been increasingly favored and sought after by young people. The ancient and rich excellent traditional Chinese culture is increasingly radiating a more youthful brilliance on the younger generation.
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