Heritage Apparel
Overview
The cheongsam, also known as qipao, is a one-piece Chinese ladies’ dress. It is tight fitting with side slits and high-fitted Mandarin collar. From the 1920s to the ’50s , it was an everyday wear – teachers and office ladies wore it to work. In the ’60s, as Western wear became more popular, Chinese women wore the cheongsam only on special occasions such as at parties or at wedding dinners. However in the ’70s and the ’80s, the cheongsam was slowly replaced by Western ready-to-wear garments.
From the ’90s onwards, designers such as John Galliano, Vivienne Tam, Alan Chai, Lai Chan and Priscilla Shunmugam were inspired by the elegance and the flattering silhouette of the cheongsam, showcasing it in many styles on their runway shows. And it gained more fans when they saw Maggie Cheung’s beautiful wardrobe of cheongsams in the movie "In the Mood for Love".
Today, the cheongsam is still worn by Chinese women at wedding banquets and on Chinese New Year. Younger women who wear the cheongsam see it as a modern fashion outfit rather than a traditional Chinese dress.
In this class, you will learn how to adjust the pattern of a cheong sam, and adjust it to fit your silhouette.