Qipao - The Traditional Chinese Dress

The qipao (Mandarin) or cheongsam (Cantonese) is robe chinoise traditionnelle for Chinese women. It is an elegant dress that shows the feminine forms, because it is so close-fitting and often has a big split.

Qipao is the most widespread word for this traditional robe chinoise. Cheongsam simply means long dress and originally referred to the long, collarless piece of clothing for both men and women.

History

In the early 17th century Manchu men and women wore the forerunner of the qipao. It was a loose, long clothes with a straight hem and wide sleeves. In the time that the Manchu ruled China over the various tribes were Manchu under banners and Qiren called standard meaning people. The Manchu women usually wore a dress that was called a banner dress or qipao.

The more modern version we know dates from the early twentieth century. The new qipao became the standard outfit for Chinese women of all classes: peasant women, students, elite, etc. In the 1930s, the qipao was even the official dress code on formal occasions. Much has changed in the qipao since the 1940s. From loose-fitting it becomes a dress that shows the female forms. There is also experimenting with color and dust.

In 1949 with the rise of communism everyone must wear the same clothes, so the elegant, bourgoise qipao is out of favor. Nowadays qipao is seen as a perfect marketing product for China and the dress is enjoying increasing popularity in China.

What makes a qipao elegant?

The qipao is ideal for the Chinese female figure and can be worn by young and old. The robe de chinoise shows modesty, softness and beauty.

The dress is one-piece with buttons on the right side. The collar is high and symmetrically closed, accentuating the female neck. The sleeves are variable depending on taste, weather and occasion. There are long sleeves, half sleeves and short sleeves, but the best known is the qipao without sleeves. This shows the soft female arms to the world. The chest is loose, but the qipao is tight around the waist. In combination with the straight back, this leads to a very flattering accent of the female forms. The dress usually has two long splits on both sides so that the woman can move comfortably and at the same time show her legs. While a miniskirt has no secrets, the qipao only partially shows the legs which is more sensual. The design of the dress is simple and without much decoration.

The qipao shows simple feminine charm without becoming too attractive. A qipao is elegant and neat.

When do you wear a qipao?

Due to the variable lengths and materials, a qipao is suitable for every occasion. The rule of thumb is that in formal matters the dress should be of top material such as brocade or silk with a modest style. Popular designs are Chinese paintings or embroidered flower and animal patterns. All buttons must be closed and no assistants are worn. With a more informal occasion, such as a family outing, a party with friends or while travelling, the qipao may be simpler in material and style. On informal occasions it is permitted to wear assassins such as a necklace, handbag or sunglasses.

How do you maintain a qipao?

Especially the more formal qipao need good care, otherwise the dress will look dull. While wearing you have to look for sharp objects that can catch on the fabric. After going out, the qipao must be hung on a hanger, not thrown over a chair or on the floor. If the qipao is not worn for a long time, hang it on a hanger in the closet at least three centimeters from other clothing. A dry cleaning is also worth considering. It is important to hang out the qipao at least annually to air.

Robe de mariée chinoise traditionnelle

You can wash in three ways: steaming, dry cleaning and machine washing. If the qipao is not dirty, then steaming is sufficient. With a chemical cleaning, mold, wrinkles and shrinking can be prevented. This is recommended for a silk or velvet qipao. Machine washing is the simplest way, but exerts great pressure on the material. It can deform, shrink or fade the qipao. Therefore, the washing machine is only suitable for simpler qipao.

After washing, the qipao should be gently ironed with a steam iron. Preferably, the iron has a protective cover so that the temperature does not become too high. This reduces the risk of burn marks and discoloration. You can also use an ordinary iron, but then you have to lay two pieces of fabric between the iron and the qipao; a wet and a dry piece.