Different traditional clothing has been shown in the majority of Mulan presentations according to the original ballad, Mulan's unique clothing and makeup could reflect how young women and warriors dressed during the Northern Wei era. Disney’s movies demonstrate Mulan’s everyday look in public and the typical makeup with more femininity, while her outfit becomes more manlike after she joined the army.
In ancient China, clothing was an important representation of social status and identity, and ancient rulers valued clothing etiquette significantly (Song, 2010). There are different types of clothing that Mulan wore based on the Ballad, one named Ru Qun (襦裙) which is a traditional lady attire in the Northern Wei Dynasty.
Mulan wore two kinds of army-specific clothes when she disguised herself as a soldier: Jia Zhou (甲胄) is a significant clothes worn by soldiers to defend themselves in battle; while soldiers wore Rong Zhuang (戎装)in their daily lives during military service (Qiu & Tang, 2013; Qu,2022).
This 3D Mulan model wears the blue Ru Qun (襦裙) of the Northern Wei dynasty with a red belt, and a small Mulan flower on her head, bringing the presence of a lively young girl to life. According to Ebrey (1994), women in ancient China were typically expected to stay at home, raise children, and manage family-related affairs. Mulan, on the other hand, stands out from these traditional women by being more courageous and active. In Disney’s narrative, Mulan aspires to be more than a typical Chinese woman, she has a big heart to help her father and the strength to battle and defend her homeland. Mulan's various clothing and makeup mirror not only the traditional women of ancient China but also the feminism within the Northern Wei context, highlighting how appealing the character of Mulan is to other women of her time.
See more explanation about Mulan's clothing: