Unique, Beautiful, Elegant Cheongsams For Beijing’s Shoppers
by Andy Lao
A cheongsam unique Chinese dress for women. It classic example eastern style combined with western fashion trends. Invented Shanghai during the 1920s quickly became fashionable clothing item for women the upper class whose passion for this new design inspired generation fashion designers who made cheongsams popular across the world. When shopping Beijing you ll see lot beautiful cheongsams can make you look fabulous.
There controversy as to whether or not cheongsam can represent authentic Chinese style because this dress was developed based on the traditional clothing the Manchu an ethnic minority group ruled China from 1644 to 1911.
But genuine or not cheongsam undoubtedly one the best dresses designed for women. Its tight body-hugging outline gracefully highlights woman s figure. While its predecessor the loose & long qipao was designed to hide woman as much as possible the cheongsam was designed to tantalizingly show the sexy slim body woman.
In mainland China cheongsam fashion reached its zenith during the 1930s when young women from all over the country wore this dress to show their feminine beauty & excellent taste clothes. Not only wearing was also way for them to display high status & claim their identity as new generation librated from dark age conservatism & oppression. In 1949 this fashion was brought to halt by the Communist Revolution & the cheongsam was banned mainland China for over 30 years. Only recently was this dress revived Shanghai & other cities across the country.
Over the last 80 years the basic design cheongsam has remained the same. A lot changes have been made but they were limited to only few details the zipper collar sleeves slit & the length the dress.
Below short list the specially-made details on cheongsam:
Zipper round straight square side ruyi & pipa
Collar high low & collarless
Sleeves long short & sleeveless
Slit long short single & double
Length full-length ankle-length mid-thigh & extra-short
In mainland China before 1949 there were two major styles cheongsams developed Beijing & Shanghai. They are called Beijing Style & Shanghai Style. The Beijing Style more conservative & restrained & more favored by traditional people. Shanghai Style more vibrant & risqu with focus on western fashion trends.
Most cheongsams are made 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 cheongsam an oil paper umbrella & fragrant fan. A woman wearing cheongsam & carrying these two items will have sense ancient grace & feminine elegance.
To keep good condition store your cheongsam properly. Ask the dealer or your personal shopper Beijing for information on the right way to store cheongsam. But as general rule always dry-clean & hang your cheongsam closet instead folding it. When you shop for cheongsams Beijing find personal shopping assistant to help you get to the best shops with high quality work.
About the Author:
A. Lao has written about Chinese arts & crafts for years. He assists Personal Shopper Beijing http://www. myshoppingbeijing. com/ who brings customers to special Chinese stores. Sometimes he personally tailors personal shopping trips. http://www. myshoppingbeijing. com/article. php?id=32