Costume the Song Dynasty (960-1279) was simple and natural, reflecting the development tendency of the era.

Costume in the period carried on features of costume in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Women's costume mainly included blouses, jackets, coats, skirts, robes, short gowns and long coats. Most garments without belt and buckle had an erect collar and were buttoned down the front, and protective collar was sewn on the outer edge at the neckline. Collar edges and sleeve edges of all clothes that have been excavated were decorated with laces or embroidered patterns. Such clothes were decorated with patterns of peony, camellia, plum blossom, and lily, etc.

By and large, the rank system of officials of the Song Dynasty followed that of the Tang Dynasty, so official costumes in the palace during the two dynasties were similar, both falling into the following categories,Chaofu(court costumes),Jifu(ceremonial costumes),Gongfu(formal robes),Rongfu(military uniforms),Sangfu(funeral costumes) andShifu(seasonal costumes).

A court costume was composed of a red upper garment and a red lower skirt worn over white underwear made of gauze. Officials fastened a big band made of gauze around their court garments, which were adorned with brocade ribbons, jade ornaments and jade bracelets, and wore black leather shoes and socks of damask silk. Such court costumes adopted a uniform style, but the ranks of officials were distinguishable according to different combinations.