Cheongsams were invented in Shanghai during the 1920′s by people who wished to add modern flair to traditional women’s dresses, and they turned out to be a huge success. In the beginning, they were only worn by upper-class women in Shanghai. But in a very short time, they became popular with almost all young women throughout China. Nowadays they are still very popular, and even international movie stars like to wear them at important events. Look for a beautiful cheongsam in one of the local shops when you are shopping in Beijing.

The cheongsam was designed based on traditional Manchu clothing. Since the Manchu is an ethnic minority group that ruled China for 300 years, many people don’t consider cheongsams as representative of genuine Chinese style.

Despite the controversy, people find this tight-fitting women’s dress to be a perfect fit for women who want to exhibit their essential feminine qualities: a sexy, slim body. Unlike its predecessor, the “qipao” that was designed to completely conceal the figure of a woman, cheongsams are designed to tantalizingly display all the parts of a woman’s body and allow imaginations to run free.

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 and excellent taste in clothes. Not only that, wearing it was also a way for them to display high status and claim their identity as a new generation, librated from a dark age of conservatism and oppression. In 1949, this fashion was brought to a halt by the Communist Revolution, and the cheongsam was banned in mainland China for over 30 years. Only recently was this dress revived in Shanghai and other cities across the country.

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

“Beijing Style” from Beijing and “Shanghai Style” from Shanghai were two main styles of cheongsams in mainland China before 1949. “Beijing Style” was a conservative design that was more welcomed by the government officials and traditional people. “Shanghai Style” was a progressive design that borrowed heavily from western trends and suited the needs of the young and trendy.

The materials used to make cheongsams are usually pure silk, cloth, brocade, and wool. The patterns on them are mostly flower images that mimic Chinese paintings. A classic scene from Chinese culture is an ancient woman wearing a cheongsam, carrying an oil-paper umbrella and a fragrant fan. It is said this represents a highest level of feminine elegance.

To keep it in a good condition, store your cheongsam properly. Ask the dealer or your personal shopper in Beijing for information on the right way to store a cheongsam. But as a general rule, always dry-clean it and hang your cheongsam in a closet instead of folding it. When you shop for cheongsams in Beijing, find a personal shopping assistant to help you get to the best shops with high quality work.

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