Frequently asked questions: what to wear for Chinese New Year? The clue is in one of those 3 words – new

Chinese people believe wearing new clothes represents a fresh start and ushers in good fortune for the year ahead. Make sure your outfit has some red for luck

Do not wear black or white at Chinese New Year – they are associated with mourning – don’t get a haircut, and if you will wear new shoes, buy them early

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To ensure good luck in the year to come, wear red clothing that’s new at Chinese New Year, like this family. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Audrey Chan

Published: 4:15pm, 1 Jan 2024Updated: 12:45pm, 23 Jan 2024

What to wear for Chinese New Year? You can’t go wrong with a new set of clothes that are red or gold in colour.

The key word here is new. In Chinese culture, buying and wearing new clothes to welcome the lunar new year symbolises a fresh start. New clothes are representative of a clean slate and help usher in plenty of good fortune in the coming year.

For some, the Chinese New Year holiday calls for dressing up in traditional Chinese clothing.

Men generally opt for Tang suits, which feature a distinctive stand-up collar and sophisticated button designs reminiscent of the Tang dynasty.

A cheongsam or qipao is a popular choice for women to wear at Chinese New Year. Photo: Shutterstock Images

A woman wears a golden cheongsam. Wearing yellow or gold at Chinese New Year will, it is said, bring you fortune. Make sure your outfit has some red, too – it could be underwear. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Women, on the other hand, are known to sport qipao or cheongsam – a form-fitting dress typical of the Qing dynasty. These form-flattering dresses are usually adorned with intricate embroidery and have a high collar.

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