Bottoms first. That is the sentence Eric's father used before every Chuseok dinner in Seoul, and it is still the sentence Eric uses when a father-of-the-bride calls in a panic on the morning of a wedding. 바지, then 저고리, then vest, then coat.
Men's hanbok is built in four calm layers, each with its own tie and its own place on the body. Get the order right and the silhouette sits the way it did five hundred years ago. Here is the sequence, in plain English, for the man dressing himself.
Step 1. Wear the baji (pants) and jeogori (top).
Step 2. Wear the baeja (tied sleeveless vest).
Step 3. Wear the durumagi (long coat).
If you are wearing the jokki (buttoned sleeveless vest):
Step 1. Wear the baji (pants) and jeogori (top).
Step 2. Wear the jokki (buttoned sleeveless vest).
Step 3. Wear the majoga (long-sleeved jacket).
Step 4. Wear the durumagi (long coat).
Check out our collection of men’s hanbok to find a great style for you.
Find out how women’s hanbok is worn: How to Wear Hanbok – Women’s Hanbok Guide.