Chinese opera - women's costume

The ladies' costumes are usually made up of a shirt, either buttoned down the front or back and a long, flowing skirt. Some ladies' robes also include water sleeves.a lady's costume and hair will tell a lot about her status. A lady from a rich family who is high in social status will have more embroidery on her outfit and a more elaborate hair design. Maid and girls from poor families usually wear a shirt and pants set.

There are sleeves which have an extra length of cloth that consist of long strips of white silk. Water sleeves are flickered to emphasize a point, shaken when angry or stretched out when in dance. Some hua dans and high officials have water sleeves. Female shoes are flat soled and mostly made of cloth with some tassels or embroidery to decorate the shoes.

An empress in elaborate headdresses. The headdress is a very important accessory in the Chinese Opera costume as it helps the audience to identify specific roles. Elaborate headresses decorated with sequins and pearls are only worn by people of high status such as emperors and empresses, generals, princes and chief concubines.

Hats

There are many different kinds of hats worn in Chinese Opera. Scholars and officials often wear simple black hats with two fins coming out from the sides.

Hats with rectangular fins are worn by high officials while round fins are worn by treacherous characters. Hats with long, thin fins are only worn by Prime Ministers. Thus, it is important for actors to wear the right hats as the fins denote an actor's character or rank.