Style Glossary: Cheongsam

July 18, 2008

Cheongsam

A body-hugging one-piece Chinese dress for women. Also referred to as a mandarin gown. Some waitresses and receptionists in Chinese restaurants over the world wear cheongsam uniforms. They are usually long, often foot-length or floor-length. They have slit high to the waist or hip, usually no sleeves or cap sleeves. They are often made of brightly-colored silk or satin with rich Chinese embroidery.

Embrace the exotic in this Oscar de la Renta Cheongsam-inspired Floral Dress ($5,990).

14 Comments

3 years 20 weeks

Is this buy from stylishcn.com? I want have one for my wife

3 years 20 weeks

Susanna 4 years 43 weeks

I love qipao (Cheongsam in Mandarin). Traditionally they were looser and longer (past knee-length). It wasn't until the 1930s (in Shanghai) when they began to be cut more tightly, and them hemline was raised.

suyen 4 years 43 weeks

I'm part-Chinese and I'd love to wear a custom made cheongsam at some point! The fit is nice but very unforgiving.. haha... you really have to workout to fit this beautifully. (I think...)

suyen 4 years 43 weeks

I'm part-Chinese and I'd love to wear a custom made cheongsam at some point! The fit is nice but very unforgiving.. haha... you really have to workout to fit this beautifully. (I think...)

myystque 4 years 44 weeks

I've always loved this type of dress (although I never knew the official term). They are so gorgeous.

hyzenthlay20 4 years 44 weeks

Simply gorgeous.

hyzenthlay20 4 years 44 weeks

Simply gorgeous.

hoiza 4 years 44 weeks

If you do a bit of research, cheongsams were never meant to be super body hugging, but modest and slightly baggy. It was the whole Suzy Wong Madama Butterfly-esque fantasy make them sexy - for better or for worse. But nothing beats a tailor-made cheongsam, even in a simple linen-cotton / cotton fabric.

hoiza 4 years 44 weeks