{"product_id":"paperblanks-2026-2027-blue-willow-maxi-softback-flexi-18-month-diary-week-to-view-vertical-fe1988-7","title":"Paperblanks 2026–2027 Blue Willow Maxi Softback Flexi 18-Month Diary – Week-to-View Vertical","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlan eighteen months ahead in style with this 2026–2027 Blue Willow maxi softback flexi diary from Paperblanks, running from July 2026 to December 2027 in a week-to-view vertical layout, with each day set out in its own column across two facing pages.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe design reproduced here is taken from a panelled skirt known as a mamianqun, a garment worn by Han Chinese women in the traditional Hanfu dress style. Hanfu dates back more than three millennia to the Song and Liao dynasties, when it became popular due to both its functionality and its aesthetic style.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe Story Behind the Design\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe beauty of Chinese embroidery is exquisitely represented on our Blue Willow cover. The design reproduced here is taken from a panelled skirt called a \u003cem\u003emamianqun\u003c\/em\u003e, or “horse face” skirt, a garment worn by Han Chinese women in the traditional dress style known as \u003cstrong\u003eHanfu\u003c\/strong\u003e. An ancient form of Chinese clothing, Hanfu dates back more than three millennia to the Song and Liao dynasties, when it became popular due to both its functionality and its aesthetic style.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginating in the Qing Dynasty (1850–1900), the variation of \u003cem\u003emamianqun\u003c\/em\u003e on our cover is called a \u003cem\u003elangaqun\u003c\/em\u003e, a style characterised by its sharp pleats, often trimmed in black. Shown here is an example made from delicate pale blue silk damask, embroidered in golden silk thread and edged with silk satin.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHanfu style has shaped the traditional clothing of many cultures including the Korean \u003cem\u003ehanbok\u003c\/em\u003e and the Japanese kimono. The \u003cem\u003emamianqun\u003c\/em\u003e in particular has undergone various changes throughout history, surviving multiple dynasties and going on to influence style in the Western world by finding its way into the pages of \u003cem\u003eVogue\u003c\/em\u003e and onto fashionable British royalty.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003emamianqun\u003c\/em\u003e represents an important aesthetic and cultural concept in the life history of Chinese women. The choice of colour, pattern, and ornamentation on the \u003cem\u003emamianqun\u003c\/em\u003e reflected situational and social contexts and could communicate relationship standing during weddings, as well as the hierarchy between women in a household.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe construction of the \u003cem\u003emamianqun\u003c\/em\u003e reflects its roots in practicality as well as style. Traditionally made for horse-riding, the unique overlapping of the garment allows for greater ease of movement when both riding and walking. The latter was particularly necessary for Chinese women who had bound feet and walked with small, shuffling steps. This delicate movement and the fall of the \u003cem\u003emamianqun\u003c\/em\u003e’s pleats compelled Chinese poets to liken the effect to a \u003cem\u003e“waving of the willow.”\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eToday this Blue Willow design can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum’s East Asia collection. By reproducing this wonderfully intricate and vibrant embroidered traditional Chinese clothing, we hope to share a piece of the rich history of the Han Chinese and celebrate the depth of Hanfu’s aesthetic and cultural influence that endures to this day. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal artwork:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mamianqun panelled skirt\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEra:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1850–1900\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e China\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e Maxi – 135 × 205 × 15 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDate range:\u003c\/strong\u003e July 2026 – December 2027\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLayout:\u003c\/strong\u003e Week-to-View Vertical\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e English\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 224 (112 sheets)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePaper:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80 gsm acid-free smooth paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCover:\u003c\/strong\u003e Softback flexi (flexible cover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClosure:\u003c\/strong\u003e Elastic band\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBinding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smyth sewn – lies flat and stays durable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCorners:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rounded\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePouch:\u003c\/strong\u003e Back cover pouch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDesign:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blue Willow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeries:\u003c\/strong\u003e Celebrate Hanfu\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDecorative printed cover paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinted on acid-free paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThreaded stitching and glue, as needed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 satin ribbon markers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMemento pouch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eName plate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonthly planner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConversion tables\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYear planner\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInternational dialling codes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMini calendars\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInternational holidays\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNational holidays\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWorld time zones\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNote-taking pages\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 390 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProduct code:\u003c\/strong\u003e FE1988-7 | \u003cstrong\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9780349719887\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout Paperblanks\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePaperblanks works with museums, libraries, galleries and artists around the world to faithfully reproduce remarkable artwork, historic bindings and treasured manuscripts, and every notebook is crafted with the same attention to detail, from the paper inside to the finish of the cover.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Paperblanks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54386134942024,"sku":"FE1988-7","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0920\/5114\/5032\/files\/9780349719887_Front_HighRes.png?v=1792778880","url":"https:\/\/shop.penandpaper.co.uk\/products\/paperblanks-2026-2027-blue-willow-maxi-softback-flexi-18-month-diary-week-to-view-vertical-fe1988-7","provider":"The Pen and Paper Stationery Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}