Lunar New Year is one of the most important traditional festivals for Chinese people around the world. It is an important time for families to gather and also a time to wish for good luck.
农历新年是全球华人最重要的传统佳节之一，也是全家团圆，祈求好运的重要时刻。
As the festival is a time to meet those we haven’t seen for almost a year, a nice and clean look is necessary for such meetings. Nobody wants to look shabby during this most important festival.
Here are some tips about how to prepare your wardrobe for the festival, which is a combination of Chinese traditions and 2018 fashion trends.
这里为大家准备了几个过年穿衣的小贴士，兼顾了咱们的中国传统和2018年的流行趋势。
Two most recommended colors: red and purple
两大最不会出错的颜色：红色和紫色
There is a Chinese idiom, da hong da zi, literally translated as, big red and big purple, which means "becoming very famous". This idiom could be a reference when you choose colors for the coming Lunar New Year.
中国有个成语叫“大红大紫”，意为“声名显赫”。为农历新年挑选衣服颜色，这个成语可以作为参考。
For one thing, red is the most beloved and preferred color for spring festival in traditional Chinese culture. Emperor Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) even had a red costume for special festivals.
一方面，在中国传统文化中，红色是春节最受喜爱的颜色。清朝雍正皇帝甚至有一件特殊节日才穿的红色朝服。
In ancient China, it was believed that women looked best in red. Thus red was always a fashionable choice among ancient Chinese women.
中国古代认为女性穿红色最美。因此红色向来都是中国古代女性的流行色。
One of their red dresses, shi liu qun, a kind of dress in the color of a pomegranate flower, even became a reference to women’s beauty and charm.
颜色如石榴花般艳丽的石榴裙，甚至还可以指代女性的美貌与魅力。
In the purple spectrum, Ultra Violet was announced as the color of 2018 by the world-renowned Pantone Color Institute. Its darker sister, purple, also is an auspicious color in traditional Chinese culture.
When you make up your mind on colors, then it’s time to prepare the basics and other items. Below are some 2018 fashion trends that can delight during Lunar New Year.
If you want to be the shining one among your relatives during those get-togethers, sequins are a must-have. You can try some clothes decorated with a small amount of sequins, or just carry a sequined bag. For such a traditional festival, remember to avoid too many sequins. They should be a shimmering accent to highlight your ensemble, rather than making you look like a bright bulb.
As one of the most fashionable fabrics in last winter, velvet would be a nice choice for Chinese Lunar New Year, a festival of the cold season. The material can add a touch of luxury to any items made from it, echoing the festive atmosphere when everyone wishes for good luck.
In addition, for those who were born in the Year of the Dog, this Lunar New Year will be their special time. It is called ben ming nian, a year which will be full of challenges, according to traditional beliefs. In traditional Chinese culture, Dog Year people, even babies and young children, should wear red underwear, red socks and red belts to have a smooth and peaceful year.
