Bespoke cheongsam dresses are often worn at weddings, mostly during the tea ceremony or as a reception outfit. Here’s everything you need to know about them.
As an Asian woman about to get married, settling the operational elements of the wedding may be your concern.
But once it’s all settled, you can have the time to play with the design elements.
Of course, fashion is the first to take center stage.
For gowns, aside from the traditional white gown, you may want to consider a second gown for the tea ceremony or reception party.
Something traditional, something red, something telling of your Chinese heritage.
If you’ve always had a soft spot for Chinese culture, you’d have to somehow incorporate it into your wedding.
For traditional Chinese gowns, there are several bespoke cheongsam categories to choose from.
You can choose the common classic Cheongsam (or Qipao), or the popular, modified Michelle HuiMin designer cheongsam that couples prefer nowadays.
Keep reading to learn more.
What’s Cheongsam?
The cheongsam is a traditional Chinese dress. It’s also called the qipao or “mandarin dress” in Cantonese.
The qipao originated from Changfu. A tight-fitting dress made from a single piece of cloth.
Cheongsam or Qipao dresses are traditional Chinese garments for women.
The dress has a close-fitting upper part with a mandarin collar and long sleeves.
The cheongsam is generally cut with a straight skirt that hugs the body and then flares out at the hem.
Styles of Cheongsam
There are different styles of cheongsam that include the fitted cheongsam, the straight cheongsam, and the flared cheongsam.
The fitted cheongsam is more popular in China than in other countries. It has a straight skirt that tapers at the waist and narrows towards the hem.
The straight cheongsam is similar to the fitted cheongsam, but has a straight skirt that does not taper at the waist.
The flared cheongsam is characterized by a flared skirt that can be split into two parts.
How to Wear Cheongsam Dresses
Cheongsam dresses are usually worn with a qipao undershirt or qipao top, trousers, shoes, and accessories.
The qipao top is a short-sleeved, loose-fitting blouse that is often made of silk or chiffon.
The qipao trousers are tight-fitting and made of silk or satin.
The qipao shoes are high-heeled and made of leather or suede.
The qipao accessories include a Xiapei, a Yajin, and a qipao hat.
The Xiapei is a long piece of fabric worn over the shoulders and draped over the hips.
The Yajin is a tassel pendant, similar to a brooch, that is worn on the pankou knots.
The qipao hat is made of lace fabric and has a brim that extends from the crown to the forehead.
This traditional Chinese garment for women is characterized by a tight-fitting bodice with a mandarin collar and long sleeves.
The dress has a straight skirt that hugs the body and then flares out at the hem.
5 Chinese Dress Components That Make Cheongsam
You’ve decided to wear a bespoke cheongsam to your wedding or tea ceremony, but what exactly defines it?
There are five important components of a qipao that inspire the design, so you can honor your ancestry while staying loyal to your personal style.
Here are the five components:
1. The Qipao’s Material
Qipaos can be created from different materials, but the traditional ones are made out of silk cloth with needlework or embroidery on top.
The commonly chosen embroidery by women for their wedding qipao is one with a phoenix and/or dragon.
This is because they both represent good luck and a happy marriage in Chinese tradition.
2. The Qipao’s Color
The colors you choose for your Chinese wedding gown are important.
No one color is uniquely associated with qipaos, but the color of choice for Chinese weddings is red.
In Chinese culture, red represents good luck, happiness, and joy, everything you could possibly want.
So, the Chinese New Year envelopes are also crimson. That’s why brides often choose crimson for their Chinese wedding gown for good luck.
One amazing way to add some more color to your modern qipao (frog buttons) is to use a different color for the trim around the collar, sleeves, and pankou knots.
You can add a different color accent or flowers to your cheongsam patterned cloth. Secondary qipao shades include gold, white, blue, purple, and pink.
3. Qipao Mandarin Collar
The Mandarin collar is the most recognizable feature of any qipao. It became fashionable in the 17th century.
This happened when the Manchurians overthrew China’s existing reigning dynasty and established the Qing Dynasty.
One of the classic elements of Manchu robes was the collar. It’s usually two to five cm tall, standing erect and unfolded.
You’ll find some of these collars are approximately three to four cm in length for comfort.
4. Knots Of Pankou
In Chinese, they call the classic knotted buttons (frog buttons) used on qipaos as pankou (those fancy fabric buttons).
Another name for them is frog fasteners.
They are customarily made of silk or satin wrapped around a thickening substance like copper to help keep their form, and are available in different animal and floral motifs.
You may be as elaborate as you want with pankou knots. Straight pankou knots are the most basic form.
A basic knotted button with a loop fastening is used.
Then again, you may make your qipao more complex and classy by using flowery pankou knots.
The phoenix tail pankou knots are a common choice for Chinese wedding qipaos.
The phoenix customarily signifies the bride and is a popular Chinese wedding emblem.
5. Top Diagonal
The front of a qipao usually has a diagonal shape across the chest, with a row of pankou knots along the top part.
Most of the time, the diagonal starts near the right armpit and goes up to the bottom of the collar in the middle.
There are different styles. Some are straight, some have two sides, and some go all the way down to the waist.
Conclusion
Today, the bespoke cheongsam is an important part of Chinese culture.
Even though there are some things that make it stand out, you can now change up the design to match your own style.
Michelle HuiMin Bridal Veil makes special Chinese-style clothes for weddings.
You can get your cheongsam or qipao made just for you, so it fits well and shows off your own style.
If you want a classic, modern, or trendy look, we’ll help you find the right outfit for your big day.
You’ll find us in the east of Singapore, and our shop is a calm, friendly place where you can take your time and find the perfect dress for your special occasion.
Hurry, book an appointment with us.
