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Homemaker Cynthia Hou had always been fascinated by the opulence of the Tang Dynasty, remembered for its prosperity and lavish fashion. The 43-year-old often wondered what it would be like to dress up in the traditional attire of that era.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI was especially drawn to its aesthetic richness.\u00a0And on a slightly cheeky note, since I\u2019m not exactly a standard-sized Asian, I like to think I might have fit the beauty ideals of that era quite well,\u201d she quipped.<\/span><\/p>\n Hou had originally considered travelling to China for a photo shoot but discovered that the experience was available here in Singapore. She decided to turn it into a family outing with her sister and 74-year-old mother.<\/span><\/p>\n The trio spent seven-and-a-half hours getting styled in Tang Dynasty-inspired hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing), complete with elaborate updos and intricate accessories, before stepping in front of the camera. Even her mother was on board and needed no persuading.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe whole experience was such a joy,\u201d\u00a0Hou said. \u201c<\/span>I didn\u2019t realise how much thought went into every single detail \u2013 the outfits, colours, fabrics, hairstyles, accessories.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Their experience reflects a growing appetite for Chinese-inspired makeovers as the aesthetics of period C-dramas spill into real life.<\/span><\/p>\n Local businesses say the trend is fuelled largely by the recent C-drama wave and a renewed interest in traditional Chinese aesthetics.<\/span><\/p>\n At hanfu photography studio <\/span>Dressed Up Dreams<\/span><\/a>, where Hou had her photos taken, demand for such photo shoots has risen by around 20 per cent in the past year, said photographer and creative director Sharon Ling.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nRENEWED APPRECIATION FOR CHINESE AESTHETICS<\/span><\/h2>\n