Qipao: The Carrier of Chinese Cultural
The Chinese Qipao dress is a staple (重要部分) of modern Chinese fashion. It also serves to express Chinese values and has philosophical connotations (内涵意义). Its colour, fabric pattern and Chinese knot buttons express wishes for happiness, luck, fortune, longevity as well as a yearning for peaceful interpersonal relationships and harmony with nature.
The history of Qipao began in the Qing Dynasty. It should be noted that the original Chinese Qipao worn by women during the Qing Dynasty did not look like the one we know today as Modern Qipao.
The original Qipao in Qing Dynasty era was loose, with a straight skirt pattern compared to what we have today and a higher neckline. At the time, it covered almost the entire female body except for a small part of the toes, hands, and neck. In the 1940s, high-heeled shoes were introduced in Shanghai and quickly became a new fashion trend, and since then, they have often been associated with the Qipao. In the 1940s, the modern design of the Qipao mostly “matured” in the shape we know today and featured a wide variety of fabrics and patterns, as well as various accessories. Nowadays, the Qipao can be a short dress, like a mid-length dress, with lace embroidered. There is something for everyone.
In China and other countries with a Chinese tradition, the Chinese Qipao is not generally worn as an everyday dress. Still, it remains a common item of clothing for formal occasions, celebrations, or the following events:
·Weddings: The Qipao is a common choice for Chinese wedding or even Western weddings when a bride is of Chinese descent or marries a Chinese family. Wearing a Qipao to attend a wedding is also considered appropriate as a guest.
·School uniform: The Qipao is the official school uniform in some primary and secondary schools.
·Work dress: The Qipao is used as a uniform in many restaurants and hotels and is also a common choice for flight attendants and ground staff for airlines in China, and in countries with Chinese influence, such as Singapore.
·Chinese New Year: The Qipao is a common item of clothing to wear during Chinese New Year or other traditional Chinese festivals.
·International fashion: Many fashion designers, including Western ones, have adopted the Qipao and its elements in their collections.
·As Chinese National Clothing: The Qipao is often used to represent China in official settings such as politics, sports, and other diplomatic occasions.
The current form of Qipao has become a mixture of traditional and modern ideas and Chinese and Western sartorial (裁缝的) techniques, illustrating versatility (多功能性), adaptability and inclusiveness (包容性).