Hong Lou Meng

written by Cao Xueqin and completed by Gao E

is one of the most famous novels in Chinese classics. In the novel

all protagonists wear costume which suits their social status

personalities and reveals their aesthetic images. This paper focus on two translated versions of Hong Lou Meng: the one is translated by David Hawkes and John Minsord

the other is translated by Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang. Based on chapter fortynine from the original text and the two translations

this paper is going to analyze whether the costume translations has the same effects of corroborating status

embodying personality and transmitting aesthetic image as the original text did. To study the characterization of the costume translations is mean to help targeted readers understand the protagonists and their aesthetic images in Hong Lou Meng. Through the study

this paper found that both English versions have the same effect on corroborate protagonists’ status

but both of them can not reveal the personalities and transmit aesthetic images successfully. When the costume is related to aesthetic images with Chinese culture background

the English versions can not transmit the cultural images to targeted readers. To narrow the culture gap need the effort of language experts both at home and aboard

so that as the communications and exchanges between different cultures

it would be possible to transmit the aesthetic images full of culture background to targeted readers.