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The cheongsam, also known as the qipao, is a form-fitting Chinese dress with a high neckline and ankle-length skirt. It was created in Shanghai in the 1920s and became popular among socialites and courtesans. Today, it is generally only worn for formal occasions and as uniforms. Variations include two-piece versions, sleeveless styles, and stretchy materials. There is also a men’s version called the changsan.
A cheongsam is a form-fitting Chinese dress, also called a mandarin dress in English and a qipao in Mandarin Chinese. The word cheongsam is an Anglicized version of the Cantonese pronunciation of the Shanghainese name for the garment, zanze, literally “long dress.” The cheongsam was created in the 1920s in Shanghai. The dress is traditionally ankle-length, with slits on the sides of the skirt, a high neckline, and sleeves that end above the elbow. Cheongsams are made in a variety of materials, though perhaps the most traditional is shiny, embroidered silk.
The cheongsam invented in Shanghai is a modernized version of the traditional qipao, a garment worn by Chinese women since the 17th century. While the original qipao was wide and flowing, the version invented in the 1920s was form-fitting and cut at the sides. The dress was first worn by socialites and courtesans, and soon became immensely popular. In the 1950s, cheongsams were also made in materials such as wool and twill for women to wear in the workplace. The dress also briefly became popular in the West during the 1960s.
Although the cheongsam is a very attractive garment, it can also be quite uncomfortable due to its high, stiff neckline and tight-fitting shape. Traditionally, the dress is made of a material that does not stretch, such as silk. Consequently, cheongsams are generally only worn for formal occasions today. They are also sometimes worn as uniforms, for example, by flight attendants in Chinese restaurants, flight attendants on Chinese airlines, and students in some Chinese girls’ schools.
Today, there are many variations on the cheongsam, including two-piece versions, sleeveless and long-sleeved styles, knee-length or shorter skirts, and stretchy materials. There is also a men’s version of the cheongsam, called changsan, literally “long shirt.” Like the female variety, the changsan is generally worn for formal occasions today. It also features the high, stiff collar known as the mandarin collar, and is traditionally ankle-length.
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