Chinese qipao dress (Cheongsam dress)
![Chinese qipao dress (Cheongsam dress)](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/croppedtop/450-255/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--32.jpg)
Dresses in national motives are now in great demand by fashionistas. And among them, the Chinese dress, which is called qipao, stands out for its special attractiveness and graceful lines.
![Long qipao dress with beige train with gold print](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--10.jpg)
![Light Blue Gold Print Qipao Dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--11.jpg)
![Long qipao dress with lace trim on top](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--12.jpg)
Peculiarities
The qipao dress, whose second name is cheongsam, is a sheath dress that has a slanting closure on the chest. In addition, this dress traditionally has a stand-up collar.
![Short gold qipao dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/337-472/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--13.jpg)
![Short black qipao dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/337-472/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--14.jpg)
A bit of history
A dress of this style was originally worn by Manchurians. This outfit was distinguished by a loose fit, a high collar, floor length and long sleeves. Such clothes hid almost all of its wearer, leaving only the head, socks on the feet and fingers in sight.
![Traditional qipao dress (Cheongsam dress)](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/thumb/450-0/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam-.jpg)
After the end of the Qing Dynasty, Chinese national dress was influenced by Western fashions. This changed the fit of the cheongsam, making the outfit more revealing as well as narrower. The qipao dress has acquired a tight-fitting silhouette, and to make it convenient to move around in it, the dress has a rather deep slit on the side.
![Long red qipao dress with side slits](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/337-472/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--1.jpg)
![Green midi qipao dress with side slits](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/337-472/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--2.jpg)
The sleeves of the product also narrowed and became more varied in length (qipao began to sew with both three-quarter sleeves and shorter sleeves). The length of the dress itself has also changed - now you can see both long models and short qipao dresses. From the old version of the cheongsam, only the collar remained, although it became lower, and an asymmetric fastener also appeared.
![Sleeveless short qipao dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-220/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--3.jpg)
![Three Quarter Sleeve Mid-Length Qipao Dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-220/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--4.jpg)
![Long qipao dress with short sleeves](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-220/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--5.jpg)
Qipao's first outfits were formal and festive, but since the 1960s, Hong Kong women began to wear such dresses as uniforms while working in the service industry.
![Qipao dress as a uniform](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/thumb/450-0/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--6.jpg)
The popularity of the outfit increased after Hong Kong merged with the PRC. Now cheongsam is worn on a solemn occasion and every day.In this style, you can see both business dresses and home clothes, but most often these are elegant products made from expensive fabrics.
![Elegant short red qipao dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/337-337/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--7.jpg)
![Long Party Qipao Dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/337-337/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--8.jpg)
Who is it for?
The qipao dress is not suitable for all girls due to the peculiarities of its cut:
- This outfit looks best on an hourglass-like figure.
- If a girl is short, she should not wear a long cheongsam dress.
- With a short neck, the collar of such an outfit should be located low, and with a long neck, a high collar looks better.
- Choose a piece with short sleeves to accentuate your pretty arms.
- Broad-shouldered girls should pay attention to the silk qipao dress, and on the "rectangle" figure, products made of heavy and dense fabric look better.
- Beauties with a "triangle" figure are recommended to wear a cheongsam slightly above the knee.
- You can emphasize large breasts with a monochromatic qipao outfit.
![Short qipao dress (Cheongsam dress) in large floral print with asymmetrical hem](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/337-472/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--15.jpg)
![Short straight qipao dress (Cheongsam dress)](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/337-472/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--16.jpg)
![Qipao dress (Cheongsam dress) of medium length with a low stand-up collar](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--17.jpg)
![Short tight-fitting qipao dress (Cheongsam dress)](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--18.jpg)
![Long crimson qipao dress (Cheongsam dress) with short sleeves](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--19.jpg)
What to wear with?
Choosing a qipao for a celebration, you should choose suitable jewelry and other accessories for such an outfit.
- It is best to wear nude tights under such a dress.
- The optimal shoes for cheongsam will be classic shoes with medium heels.
- Beads and other decorations on the neck are not worn with such a dress.
- Any earrings are suitable for such an outfit, but they should not be too large.
- You can wear a bracelet on your hand to match the color of the dress or its decoration, pattern.
- Pick up a small bag or clutch in addition to such an outfit.
![Decorations for the qipao dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--20.jpg)
![Accessories and jewelry for qipao dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--21.jpg)
![Qipao dress accessories](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--22.jpg)
![Chiongsam dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--23.jpg)
![Chiongsam dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--26.jpg)
![Chiongsam dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--24.jpg)
![Qipao dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--27.jpg)
![Qipao dress white and blue](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--29.jpg)
![Long red qipao dress](https://fashion.decorexpro.com/images/article/cropped/220-308/2016/02/plate-cipao-plate-cheongsam--28.jpg)