Chinese women wore tank tops, transparent outfits 800 years, Song dynasty find suggests | South China Morning Post

Nov 10, 2024

Digital reconstruction of treasure trove found in 800-year-old tomb reveals forward-thinking fashion of the day, according to scientists

“The Song dynasty’s moxiong had triangular patches sewn along the edge of the chest as cover [for privacy]. When worn, the strings on the chest were tied behind the neck, while the strings on both sides of the waist were tied at the back,” the project team led by Liu Anding, associate professor at Wuhan Textile University, wrote in a peer-reviewed paper published in the university’s academic journal last week.

“Paired with a lightweight robe made of floral gauze fabric, the underlying moxiong was faintly visible,” Liu and her colleagues said. “The neck and chest became the focal points of visual aesthetics, reflecting a forward-thinking and open mindset towards dressing.”