Imperial Dragon Robe and Laurence Hsu China’s Qing Dynasty would mandate several sumptuary laws, establishing yellow as the dedicated color for the dragon throne: its emperor and court officials. Emperors of the Qing Dynasty would dress in elaborately embroidered golden robes commonly known as Dragon Robes; silk robes which featured horse-hoofed sleeves, an asymmetrical collar, and nine dragons strategically dispersed throughout the embroidery of the robe. In 2010, Chinese actress Fan BingBing celebrated her culture’s rich aesthetic history, wearing a modern-day dragon robe and perhaps commenting on a contemporary culture which likens celebrity to royalty.
 

Emperor’s Dragon Robe, ca. 1736-1795. Palace Museum, Beijing.

Fan Bingbing at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, 13 May 2010.

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