What Kids Wear for Lunar New Year 2027: A Parent's Guide to the Year of the Ram
Lunar New Year 2027 falls on Saturday, February 6, and it opens the Year of the Ram (also called the Year of the Goat or Sheep, 羊年). For many families it is the one holiday when everyone, especially the kids, gets dressed up: new clothes for the new year (新年穿新衣) are part of the tradition, a fresh start worn head to toe. Here is a practical guide to what children wear for the holiday, what the colors and details mean, and how to pick pieces they will actually wear again.
Why kids wear new clothes for Lunar New Year
New clothes signal leaving the old year behind and welcoming good fortune into the new one. On the first days of the new year, children visit grandparents and relatives to wish them well (拜年, bainian), and they usually receive red envelopes (红包, hongbao) in return. A special outfit makes those visits, the family photos and the reunion dinner feel like an occasion, and it is often the outfit grandparents remember.
Colors and symbols worth knowing
- Red is the classic choice: it stands for luck, joy and protection, which is why it fills the decorations, envelopes and outfits.
- Gold and yellow suggest prosperity and pair well with red.
- Pink and soft jewel tones are a modern, gentler way to stay festive.
- The zodiac animal: in 2027 that means rams and lambs, a playful motif kids love. Look for embroidered or printed lambs on sweaters, jackets and pants.
- Auspicious patterns such as clouds, flowers and knot motifs, plus traditional details like the mandarin (stand) collar and frog buttons (盘扣).
Black and white are traditionally avoided for the holiday itself, since they are associated with mourning. Navy, blue and earthy tones are fine, especially with a red or gold accent.
Outfit ideas for girls
The qipao dress (旗袍, also called a cheongsam) is the most recognizable choice: a mandarin collar, a side closure and a fitted but comfortable shape. Kids' versions are cut for movement, so they work for a full day of visits. Our Year of the Ram Jacquard Qipao Dress is made for exactly this holiday. For colder cities, layer a qipao under a padded or sherpa jacket, or pair an embroidered jacket with jeans for a more relaxed look like the Girls' Landscape Embroidered Jacket & Cuffed Jeans.
Browse more in Qipao & Cheongsam.
Outfit ideas for boys
The go-to for boys is the Tang jacket (唐装, tangzhuang): a stand collar, frog-button closure and often a brocade or embroidered fabric. Padded and fleece-lined versions keep kids warm for outdoor parades and temple fairs:
- Lamb Patch Padded Tang Jacket, a Year of the Ram design
- Auspicious Print Padded Tang Jacket with traditional lucky motifs
- Lamb Print Sherpa Tang Jacket, soft and easy to layer
Many Tang jackets are unisex in cut, so they work for girls too, like the Floral Embroidered Padded Tang Jacket. See all styles in Tang Suits & Chinese Jackets.
Comfortable picks for little ones
Toddlers and younger kids often do best in soft knits rather than structured outfits. A festive sweater or cardigan still looks like a holiday outfit and survives crawling, naps and dumplings:
Matching the whole family
Coordinated family outfits (亲子装) make the reunion photo. You don't need identical pieces: a shared color or motif is enough, such as a red accent for everyone or lambs on the kids and a subtle embroidered piece for the adults. The Xu Beihong Galloping Horse Family Sweater comes in sizes for parents and children.
Practical tips from parents
- Size up for growth. If your child is between sizes, choose the larger one so the outfit still fits for spring events and next year's photos.
- Plan for the weather. February is cold in New York, Chicago and Seattle; a padded jacket over a dress or sweater works better than a thin silk piece alone.
- Choose easy closures. Snaps and zips are kinder to small kids than rows of fabric buttons.
- Order early. For delivery before February 6, order in-stock items by Wednesday, January 20 at 12pm Pacific for standard shipping, or by Wednesday, January 27 at 12pm Pacific with expedited shipping. Pre-order and made-to-order pieces need more time, so check each product page.
Quick glossary
- 拜年服 (bainian fu): an outfit for New Year visits
- 旗袍 (qipao): a fitted dress with a mandarin collar, also called a cheongsam
- 唐装 (tangzhuang): a Tang jacket with a stand collar and frog buttons
- 盘扣 (pankou): knotted frog buttons
- 羊年 (yang nian): the Year of the Ram, Goat or Sheep
- 新中式 (xin zhongshi): modern Chinese style
Find every kids' piece for the holiday in Lunar New Year Outfits for Kids and the Year of the Ram 2027 collection. 新年快乐, and happy Year of the Ram!