The Traditional Chinese Dress - The Cheongsam or the Qipao

The Chinese traditional dress is what I consider to be one of the classics.

The modern day version of the dress is very sexy and feminine and can

be worn casually or formally depending on the length and the fabric used.

The mother above looks fabulous with her short and pink cotton cheongsam.

The terms of Qipao and Cheongsam mean the same thing in different dialects.

The original cheongsam was wide and loose, covering most of the woman's

body. The baggy nature of the clothing also served to conceal the figure of the

woman. With time, though, the qipao were tailored to become more form

fitting and revealing. The modern version, which is now recognized popularly

in China as the "standard" qipao, was first developed in Shanghai around

1900, after the Qing Dynasty fell. At that time, Chinese could freely wear

whatever they liked without the fear of penalty from the government (the

Qing government had strict control over their citizens' dress code down to the

way men wore their hair).

After World War I, prostitutes from overseas flocked to Shanghai,

wearing their exposing and body-hugging dresses. This brought

pressure to local prostitutes, whom were still wearing the original

baggy qipao. Thus, high-class brothels in Shanghai redesigned the

qipao to be body-hugging with side slits for their prostitutes. However,

only high-class prostitutes could wear these redesigned qipao at that

time. Slender and form-fitting with a high cut, it contrasted sharply

with the traditional qipao.

This girl looks very pretty and

demure in her modern Qipao.

A photo from the past of women hanging

out in short summer Chinese dresses.

The shortened collar represents a more

modern style of the Cheongsam.

Formal portraits were taken

in a Cheongsam as well.

Here's a vintage advertisement with a model in a short Qipao.

Many period Chinese films also make use of

the traditional garment. Maggie Cheung in

the well known film "In the Mood for Love."

The higher collar represents an earlier

time in the 20th century.

It is also a favorite of singers and performers.

And also the choice of many

Asian movie stars.

A modified version of the Cheongsam with a halter top.

It's a great example of the melding of Eastern and Western design.

Nicole Kidman looks fabulous in this

more traditional take on the dress.

And even popular dolls in Asia are garbed with it.

Here's Blythe in a Cheongsam.

Don't forget to get your submissions in for

the Material Girl's design contest sponsored

by Swank Lighting! The grand prize is a pair

of these gorgeous lamps above in any color!

This is one contest you really don't want to miss.

Either of the links above will give you information

about the contest. I will be serving as one of the guest

judges for Swank Lighting. The submission deadline is

this Saturday on November 1, 2008.

Good Luck!

All photos from Flickr, Swank Lighting

and history bits from Wikipedia.