A painting shows the dress style of women in Tang Dynasty. [File photo]

Capes in the Tang Dynasty were often made with lightweight yarn or silk, and took on the role that a shawl or scarf would do in today's world. Women often wrapped them around their neck and shoulders, exposing a certain amount of skin, but not too much.

The skirt

Women in the Tang Dynasty always wore skirts, mostly very high at the waist, sometimes even up to the armpits. This was a way to visually elongate the legs.