Adding a touch of charm when wearing a traditional Vietnamese blouse (áo bà ba).

For people in the Mekong Delta, the "áo bà ba" (traditional Vietnamese blouse) has long been a favorite garment among women. With modern lifestyles, through the hands of designers and the development of color printing technology, the "áo bà ba" has been modernized with quality materials, creating a unique blend of tradition and modernity, further enhancing the charm and gentleness of women.

Women's traditional Vietnamese blouses (áo bà ba) are available for sale at Khánh Linh Shop.

Ms. Doan Thi Ngoc Cam, a saleswoman at Khanh Linh Shop on 3rd of February Street, said: "In recent years, through social media platforms, the trend of wearing the traditional Vietnamese blouse (áo bà ba) has been revived among women. During Tet (Lunar New Year) and major holidays like April 30th and September 2nd, sales at the store always double or triple compared to normal. Nowadays, the áo bà ba is not only worn by women during holidays and Tet but also used in sightseeing trips, gatherings, and cultural exchanges. Especially for professions related to services and tourism, the áo bà ba is even worn daily in the office." At Khanh Linh Shop, depending on the material, women's traditional Vietnamese blouses (áo bà ba) currently range from 310,000-330,000 VND/set, men's áo bà ba from 250,000-270,000 VND/set, and children's áo bà ba from 180,000-240,000 VND/set.

In today's market, the traditional Vietnamese blouse (áo bà ba) is not only diverse in color and material, but also features flexible designs that better suit the tastes of wearers. While the original áo bà ba only came in two main colors, brown or black, suitable for agricultural work, modern áo bà ba is designed in many different colors, from bright colors (orange, red, blue, yellow, pink...) to neutral colors (brown, cream, moss green, gray-blue, gray-brown...).

The materials used to make the traditional Vietnamese blouse (áo bà ba) are incredibly diverse, including silk, brocade, chiffon, satin, kate fabric, cotton, velvet, and more. Depending on the purpose and personal preference, wearers can choose different fabrics for their blouses, from soft and breathable materials like silk and chiffon to thick and luxurious materials like brocade and velvet. These materials contribute to the diversity and elegance of the modern áo bà ba.

Accordingly, thick brocade fabric, printed with various classic yet elegant patterns, gives the traditional Vietnamese blouse (áo bà ba) a nostalgic beauty. Silk is soft, shiny, and absorbs sweat well, so the wearer always feels comfortable. Satin fabric has a surface similar to brocade and silk, but is combined with synthetic components such as cotton or polyester. As a result, the fabric wrinkles less and its durability is increased over time. Kate fabric, although not as soft, holds its shape well, is affordable, highly durable, absorbs sweat well, and wrinkles less.

According to business sources, throughout its various stages of development, the ao ba ba (traditional Vietnamese blouse) has undergone design innovations (collar, sleeves, waistline, etc.), but the core design element remains understated and ostentatious, aiming to honor the soft and gentle beauty of women.

Ms. Ngo Thi Thuy Linh, an online seller on Facebook, shared: "Regarding patterns, modern ao ba ba (traditional Vietnamese blouse) not only feature printed or embroidered floral designs but also incorporate details about the Mekong Delta and Vietnamese culture. Another notable feature is that, in addition to round and V-neck styles, we also offer boat neck designs. For sleeves, customers can choose traditional long sleeves or youthful, comfortable 3/4 sleeves; the shoulders come in both plain and puffed designs to add a touch of style. Traditional ao ba ba had a rather straight and loose fit, but modern designs emphasize the waist, abdomen, and chest to flatter the wearer's figure. However, for children's ao ba ba, the elderly, or men's ao ba ba, a loose and straight fit remains the preferred choice for maximum comfort."

According to Ms. Doan Thi Ngoc Cam, although modernized to keep up with contemporary life, the ao ba ba (traditional Vietnamese blouse) is inherently a very basic and minimalist design, making it much easier to style compared to other outfits.

"Traditional Vietnamese trousers (áo bà ba) are usually available in two popular colors, black and white, to match all styles of áo bà ba tops. However, when choosing to pair them with an áo bà ba top, wearers can combine them according to the principle of contrasting colors or colors that are similar to the top – both are good choices. Besides colors and materials suitable for age and occasion, women can pair the áo bà ba top with checkered scarves, conical hats, wooden clogs, or traditional handbags – accessories that enhance the graceful and gentle beauty of the áo bà ba," shared Ms. Đoàn Thị Ngọc Cầm.

Text and photos: CHI MAI

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/them-net-duyen-khi-dien-ao-ba-ba-a189137.html