Chinese Cheongsam - The Beautiful Dress for Women

Today, with the development of the market in China, designs or styles of fashions are so dazzling as the stars that eye cannot take them all in. The cheongsam sleeves have already changed from no sleeves to long-sleeves, elbow-length sleeves, cornet sleeves, double sleeves, etc and some cheongsams have change from long robe to short. It represents people's spirit, living standards and aspirations towards beauty. The cheongsam is not a fixed form, and a change in the process of development. The cheongsam as Bannermen gown or flag female gown, seemingly a big mistake, they would inevitably suspected expected too literally. Cheongsam connotation than Bannermen gown or flag female gown is much richer.

Cheongsam with the modern flavor emerge in the early of 20th century combined with the style of western dress and was regarded as the representation of Chinese traditional clothing. Popular in the 1930s and 1940s, cheongsam has been basically mature. Cheongsam is common Chinese costume. It was women's everyday life. Later, with time modifications, it's hardly ever noticed in life, but typically appears in some formal occasions, like wedding or reception. The design of cheongsam can flatter Chinese women's virtuous, elegant, gentle and gorgeous temperaments. Now, it has become a well-known option for wedding dress. Cheongsam becomes a kind of fashion in the world, whether in fashion shows or on the streets, we will find this China character. Especially in the Chinese wedding, the bridal's dress will include cheongsam. It is showing graciousness, elegant, disposition and temperament of women.

Cheongsam, the most well-known Chinese dress for women, originates from Qing Dynasty and has been afterwards modified by Han Chinese in early 20th century. While many people hold that Cheongsam is traditional dress for women in China, such statement proves inaccurate. As a nation going through around 80 dynasties in the past five thousand years, China can hardly claim any dress as 'traditional'. Often, each dynasty has its own style of clothing. For instance, though Cheongsam has been passed on from Qing Dynasty, Han clothing was invented by Han Chinese. Since the Chinese society in modern age has been largely shaped by Qing Dynasty, Cheongsam inevitably became the most influential clothing.

Chinese Cheongsam becomes a kind of fashion in the world, whether in fashion shows or on the streets, we will find this China character. Especially in the Chinese wedding, the bridal's dress will include cheongsam. It is showing graciousness, elegant, disposition and temperament of women. Cheongsam is the traditional costume for Chinese women in the ancient time. When it comes to the tradition, we will think of the feudal and conservative ideas, but the cheongsam's came out that may a way to stand out women's beauty. And China is a country which has a long history, while the cloth for women would also develop.

The History of Cheongsam Dress

Girl's traditional Chinese dresses are called QiPaos or qi pao and is the traditional Chinese clothing. It was started to be worn during the Ching Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), which was established by the Manchu people who were from Northern China. It is now worn for formal occasions such as weddings, engagements, and on the Chinese New Year. The Ching Dynasty in also spelled Qing Dynasty. Traditionally elements include brocaded cloth, frog knots, and mandarin collars. Cheongsam is the Cantonese word, that is often used in English for QiPao. After the communist took over, wearing of the QiPao in China was seen as capitalistic during Mao's era.

The cheongsam is a traditional chinese dress that has a long history since its inception. Cheongsam as they are known today means 'long dress', but they were originally known as qipao. They first appeared in the 17th century China during the Qing Dynasty in its basic form. It was basically a one-piece suit dress that covered the wearer from neck to foot and were long-sleeved. There were some variants that consisted of a two-piece dress set, a pair of trousers with long overdress. QiPaos are made out of many materials, with the high end ones made out of beads (like the one I wore for my wedding) and are often custom made. In weddings, the bride will often have multiple QiPaos. The traditional color for weddings is Red (a good luck color in Chinese).  In the movie, In The Mood For Love, the female protagonist wears beautiful QiPaos.

Over the years the qipao dress had evolved from a single long wide fitting dress to its body hugging fit today. In its original form, the qipao was more of a functional piece of clothing and did protect the modesty of the wearer. Depending on the social class of the individual, they were often decorated with beautiful embroidery. This type of chinese dress is typical of 17th Century and 18th Century China. Over the years, as the qipao evolved, it became more stylized and in the 1920s it was modernized to become more fitted to the wearer. With the more flattering and sexier look, the qipao was increasingly worn by high-class courtesans and celebrities, this popularized this style of oriental dress. As the style of the dress evolved, it started to become known more as cheongsam (or long dress).

The modern Cheongsam Dress is a piece of chinese clothing that is considered quite sexy and extremely feminine. As such they are ideally worn at certain social functions where the lady wants to stand out from the crowd and wear something a little different. There are so many styles today that some could be worn day to day but more often than not, these chinese dresses are saved for very special occasions. Most cheongsam dresses are bought online from Internet retailers and are usually made in China but shipped worldwide. A cheongsam chinese dress made anywhere but China just wouldn't be the same!

Cheongsam Dresses - Important Accessories and Symbols

During the Communist Revolution many of the popular styles of qipao or cheongsam were banned. However, many of the Shanghainese emigrants and refugees from the Revolution brought the fashion with them to Hong Kong. Here, the cheongsam was embraced and became more popular and has eventually evolved into the modern body fitting form that you see today. The cheongsam chinese dresses are very much associated with the far east and oriental community. They are various styles available but essentially they are one piece long dresses that are usually short-sleeved or sleeveless. Another characteristic of the cheongsam chinese dress is that they often feature a side-silt along the leg. The length of this varies depending upon style of dress.

A Cheongsam is a traditional dress that's evolved over many centuries throughout China. Worn by both men and women in China, they've gained worldwide popularity mainly by being worn by women in the West. Cheongsams can range from simple basic fabrics to elaborate silks and brocades. With a wide array of cuts and styles available, anyone can comfortably wear one of these beautiful dresses for any occasion.

Cheongsam are not often worn nowadays during daily wear as they can seem a bit took 'sexy' and dressed up. Some companies and businesses do employ them in their workforce. This would include chinese restaurants and some airlines have variations of the cheongsam. Classic China fashion becomes more and more popular not only in China but also in Western culture. It additionally is an absolutely good-looking attire for a mature lady, while on young marriageable women or girls it is also stylish and enticing charming . Classic cheongsam changes its style and types all the time. China classic fashion combines the elaborate elegance of Chinese tradition with unique elements of style, like the high collar and the attractive slits, which set off the beauty of the female shape.

Now China fashion has been the top of the world fashion handwagon. When we feel proud of the modern fashion, at the same time, we will take the classic style into heart especially for nostalgic person, like me. However, China fashion everytime creates a flair of simple and quiet charm, elegance and attraction. Traditional beautiful China costumes are known in the Mandarin tongue as the qipao dress. Nearly all good Chinese red dresses are custom made so that they can emphasize every good part and belittle any problematic part of woman's figure.

Nowadays, more and more Chinese brides choose the Cheongsam Dresses as their wedding dress which not because Chinese culture influence but the beauty and elegant designs of Cheongsam show perfectly the brides figure on their wedding days. Usually, the brides will wear in the red colour of Cheongsam and embroidered with gold dragon and phoenix symbol which related with Chinese belief that will bring good luck for the couples. This similar Cheongsam also will choose for ladies as festival dress during Chinese New Year. Besides that, any social function party such as birthday party, wedding party, annual dinner party, full moon party, festival celebrities' party, ladies can choose this Cheongsam dress to attend as formal or informal dress.