Qipao

Qipao, the Qing Dynasty’s Manchu, born in the early 20th century,Qipaos are worn not only by the average Chinese person but also by influential people on special occasions: We can see that young girls wear qipaos to celebrate the New Year; brides wear them to their weddings; and movie stars and wives of diplomats have been seen sporting qipaos at social functions. And qipaos have become a source of inspiration for renowned fashion designers. Versace and Ralph Lauren have both cited elements of the qipao in their designs.

And Qipao has an English name, Cheongsam, though it is from the Cantonese. The same dress in China, including the modern Beijing city, the dress is known by the name Qipao, the word having its roots in Chinese history.

What Do Qipaos Look Like?

The original qipao was wide and baggy. The one-piece dress featured a high neck and straight skirt. It covered all of a woman’s body except for her head, hands, and toes. The qipao was traditionally made of silk and featured intricateembroidery.

Why do people like to wear the Qipaos?

People like to wear Qipaos. The main reason is that the Qipao fits the Chinese women well and it is elegant on their bodies and since the dress can suit any season, old or young, it continues to be popular. Qipaos can either be long or short, unlined or interlined, woolen or made of silk floss. Besides, with different materials, Qipao presents different styles. Qipaos made of silk with patterns of flowerlet, plain lattices or thin lines demonstrate charm of femininity and staidness; those made of brocade are eye-catching and magnificent and suitable for occasions of greeting guests and attending banquets. Qipao features strong national flavor and embodies beauty of Chinese traditional costume. It not only represents Chinese female costume but also becomes a symbol of the oriental traditional costume.

In addition, in the thought clashes of tradition and the modern,of preservation of traditional “googness” and pursuit of beauty,the cheongsam is becoming ever more suited to the current time and life.Its style has been modified,making it less expensive,more convenient,more pleasant to the eye and more suited to the body.The cheongsam combines the kaleidoscopic past and the brand new present.It is historic and aesthetic,hence good for collection.