Very few articles of clothing stand out in both elegance and beauty than the traditional South Korean hanbok. Typically made from vibrant and rich colors, such as deep navy blues or intense scarlet reds, the hanbok is unquestionably one of the more stunning garments that you could ever hope to wear. However, having an intricately-embroidered hanbok in a breathtaking color is only one way to look amazing in this ensemble. By having the right accessories to pair with your hanbok, you can all but guarantee you’ll look your very best the next time you step out in this iconic and historic outfit!

Show Off Your Status with a Norigae

The whimsical norigae is a sort of charm that hangs from the jeogori (the short coat of the hanbok). Translated as “pretty and playful object,” the norigae promised to bring good luck and fertility to those who attached it to their hanbok. Only the most wealthy and elite women could afford such an accessory, and it’s rumored that one norigae could buy several months’ of food for a family in the past.

Secure a Husband with a Daenggi

A daenggi is a bright and eye-catching red ribbon that could often be seen on hair of the single young women in South Korea. This ribbon, though, was so much more than a scrap of fabric. Because it was the style of the unwed women during the Joseon Period to have a long braid down their backs, if a male suitor happened to spot a pretty lady and took note of her braid and her red hair ribbon, he might then try to court her…and the two may wind up falling in love and living happily ever after! (On the other hand, if a lady were married, she would skip the ribbon entirely and instead pin her hair up with a binyeo. This ornamental hairpin would signal to the men that she was no longer searching for a spouse.)

Earn Some Respect with a Cheopji

Both royalty and commoners had their own hair accessories, but if a woman sported a cheopji, then she was announcing her royal bloodlines to the world. This hair accessory was usually made out of pure silver and, curiously enough, often took on a frog-shape. While it was more of a ceremonial accessory, it was reserved for only the ladies who lived in the palace. According to tradition, if someone saw a woman with a cheopji in her hair, they would need to immediately bow in order to show their respect to her, lest they be strongly penalized for their rudeness.

Of course, you don’t necessarily have to wear any of these accessories while you dress up in a hanbok! These days, more and more people are deciding to merge modern fashion with the historic style of the hanbok, so even a simple braid and some earrings could help complete your look. Nevertheless, no matter how you decide to style your hanbok, you can be confident that you’ll be a vision of beauty the next time you wear one — especially if you pair it with any of these traditional accessories!