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The Cheongsam is a tight-fitting, waist- and figure-hugging, side slit dress with a stand-up collar and short sleeves, which is closed by a button placket on the side. The length of the sleeves and the height of the collar can be varied, as can the length of the dress, which can reach the knees or ankles or even touch the floor when walking. The Cheongsam is regarded by Western people as the ultimate symbol of female Chinese clothing culture. This form was developed in Shanghai.

The fabrics range from crepe, silk, satin, tweed and cotton, poplin, polyester silk to many other materials. The patterns are either woven or printed and vary from flowers to animals, stripes, geometric ornaments, feathers, etc. Until the development of the qipao, the traditional clothing of the Chinese women consisted of two parts, consisting of trousers and a jacket. The Cheongsam originated from the combination of western influences and the traditional clothing of the Manchu women. The combination between eastern and western culture is the main characteristic of this dress. It is not surprising that it originated in Shanghai, because the city was a European center in China at the time thanks to the so-called concessions, i.e. large districts that were inhabited by Europeans. The Cheongsam has been part of the city's intangible cultural heritage since 2007. The charm and beauty of Shanghai qipao have influenced an entire generation of Chinese women when it comes to dress choices. The garment reached its fashionable peak in the 1930s. When the communists proclaimed the People's Republic, many tailors left Shanghai and went to Hong Kong, where the qipao remained very popular until the 1950s and 1960s. The Cheongsam today At the annual show on Chinese state television for the New Year festival in 2020, a choreography was shown that picks up on the style of the Cheongsam-wearing Shanghai women in the 20s and 30s. The number with these dreamy, almost ethereal female figures who seem to be floating is impressive. To see them, click the link below Choreography in Qipao dresses at the 2020 New Year Show In the film "In the Mood for Love" by Wong Kar Wei, actress Maggie Cheung wears a Cheongsam in every scene. The melancholy film, which won two Golden Palms in Cannes and is about a platonic, unrequited love in Hong Kong in the 1960s, made the Cheongsam very popular again. The same effect was achieved by the portrayal of Tang Wei in Ang Lee's grandiose but tragic film "Danger and Desire", which is set in Shanghai in the 1940s under Japanese occupation. As you can see, I cannot deny a love for Chinese cinema. To see the Danger and Desire trailer, click the link below Trailer for the film "Danger and Desire" At the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, the Cheongsam became the attire of the hostesses, with which this garment attracted worldwide attention. In Shanghai today women buy their qipao on Changle Road and Maoming Road when they want a very special piece, as the best tailors and the largest selection of fabrics and materials can be found there.

Qipao, Cheongsam, Shanghai, Maoming Road