#like it is a private thing please don't use it to promote hanfu

[fouryearsofshades]

Hello, recently i came across a tumblr post featuring heziqun (i think) from 子颂东方美学游园惊梦 where the model wear the top in a kind of off shoulder way. I've been really wanting to draw this kind of hanfu and it looks so good with the top off shoulder but i dont want to be historically innacurate ??? I've never seen strapless/off shoulder hanfu before that, but I was wondering if ancient chinese ladies would maybe expose their soulders if they were like "courtesans" or lounging privately...

Hi. I am not familiar with these kind of private drawing but ancient Chinese did have 春宫图porns (real hard corn porn). Sheer clothing that show off shoulders were common enough, but I haven’t seen any off the shoulder look in other ancient drawings I came across. 

Personally I think people don’t need to pursuit “historical accuracy” unless they planned to actually use their drawing as educational tools instead of just artistic expression. Historically there is a type of ancient drawing called 仕女图 where the ladies were depicted in formulated dressing aesthetic instead of whatever that was actually worn by people in that period. Even todays there are 古风gufeng style drawing such as those by 伊吹鸡腿子 are often in this category.

For example no hanfu have vent on the sleeves like this. So this kind of drawings are considered gufeng style. 

Lastly, hanfu is a modern living style of clothing. People uses the historical materials as basis of clothing construction, layering combination and occasion of dressing, but modern hanfu is not historical clothing. People use modern fabrics, motifs and sizing to compromise between traditional and modern aesthetic. Those who are really into historical reenactment detest the name ‘hanfu’ and call themselves something else. 

So, if you want to draw off the shoulder look, my personal take is, just go for it.