Beijing Shopping: Find Traditional Cheongsam
Incorporating elements of western fashion into traditional Chinese style, cheongsams stand out from other designs as a classic, unique dress for women. An invention from 1920s Shanghai, it soon became a popular item for the upper-class women in the city. Before the end of the 1930s, it was already a fashionable dress for all young women in China. Nowadays, cheongsams are popular all over the world, and even Hollywood movie stars wear them to show their fashion sense. When in Beijing, remember to go shopping for a beautiful, traditional cheongsam.
There is controversy as to whether or not a cheongsam can represent authentic Chinese style, because this dress was developed based on the traditional clothing of the Manchu, an ethnic minority group that ruled China from 1644 to 1911.
But nevertheless, cheongsams came to be admired as one of the rare Chinese dresses that “liberates” rather than “oppresses” Chinese women. Unlike its loose-fitting predecessor, the “qipao” that was designed to completely cover up the figure of a woman, cheongsams were designed to be worn tight on a woman’s body so her features are shown in a tantalizing way.
During the 1930′s, cheongsam fashion reached a height in mainland China, as this dress came to represent all the desirable attributes a young, modern Chinese woman wanted to possess: high status, feminine beauty, and a good taste in fashion. They also felt they had been truly liberated from an age of backwardness and ignorance during the last dynasty. However, the Communist Revolution in 1949 abruptly ended this fashion and the cheongsam disappeared on mainland China for 30 years. It was only revived here recently.
Over the last 80 years, the basic design of cheongsam has remained the same. A lot of changes have been made, but they were limited to only a few details: the zipper, collar, sleeves, slit, and the length of the dress.
Here is a brief list of the different details found on a cheongsam:
Zipper – round, straight, square, side, ruyi, and pipa
Collar – high, low, and collarless
Sleeves – long, short, and sleeveless
Slit – long, short, single, and double
Length – full-length, ankle-length, mid-thigh, and extra-short
Before 1949, mainland China had two major styles of cheongsams. They were the “Beijing Style” and the “Shanghai Style.” Beijing Style cheongsams were preferred by most traditional people because they were more restrained in design. Shanghai Style cheongsams were definitely a choice for trendy people because of their focus on western trends and vibrant themes.
Most cheongsams are made of pure silk, cloth, brocade, or wool. The patterns are mostly flower images based on Chinese paintings. Some people think there are two essential accessories to go with a cheongsam: an oil paper umbrella and a fragrant fan. A woman wearing a cheongsam and carrying these two items will have a sense of ancient grace and feminine elegance.
To keep the cheongsam you buy in a good condition, remember to store it properly. There are many ways to properly store a cheongsam, but one thing you should keep in mind is to always dry-clean it and hang it in a closet. When you are shopping in Beijing, it’s a good idea to find a personal shopper to help you find the best cheongsam shops.
