How to Style Qipao Dresses?

In films and TV series set in China in the first half of the 20th century, women wearing various Qipao dresses are a beautiful sight. They may be the source of a large number of girls' desire for Qipao dresses .

With a history of more than one hundred years, Qipao dresses have rejuvenated with the rising of Neo-Chinese Style. Based on the Qipao dresses in the 1920s and 1930s, they have evolved into plenty of forms. Although Qipao dresses are traditional Chinese clothes, they are now popular around the world. Qipao dresses have attracted attention all over the world because of their elegance and delicacy today, and can be called as “the most eye-catching ones” in your wardrobe absolutely, making women's figures more graceful. 

Qipao dresses originated from the clothing of the Manchu people. The original qipao dresses were mostly sewn from expensive fabrics such as silk. With a stand-up collar and a buckle on the chest, they are in a loose cut to make it easier for people to ride horses. Since the 1910s, influenced by Western fashion trends and the women's liberation movement, women were no longer afraid of showing their figures. The shape of Qipao dresses has undergone magnificent changes: they became tighter and were with splits on the side.

In addition, the style of the Qipao dresses has also become diversified. Some are simple and dignified, suitable for commuting and work, while some are luxurious and beautiful, suitable for social events such as dances or parties. From then on, women have more choices for clothing.

In the late 1990s, fashion was mixing cultural elements from different nations and experimenting with cultural appropriation. During this era, Qipao dresses became a staple in the closet of today’s young women, and Chinese collar clothing was sold in both simple shopping centers and expensive boutiques. Compared to the early Qipao dresses, the cheongsams of this period have become very creative. 

Nowadays, the styles of Qipao dresses have become even more fashionable and more and more able to meet the various needs of people. Some people even choose to wear Qipao dresses to participate in their own wedding ceremony, since Qipao dresses are beautiful on the one hand, and it is also a symbol of Chinese excellent traditional culture on the other hand.

In general, Qipao dresses are more suitable for women of an “hourglass figure”. But today, Qipao dresses have evolved into many different styles. Although most people associate Qipao dresses with dignity and elegance, in fact, many new and refined Qipao dresses can also be sweet and nifty. The old-fashioned Qipao dresses may be more suitable for plump figures. But now, slim girls are also provided with more choices. Therefore, almost all girls can choose the style of Qipao dresses that suits them best and try them on. The question should be “What type of Qipao dresses is suitable for me?” rather than “What kind of people are suitable to wear Qipao dresses?” Qipao dresses with splits on different positions and collars of different length vary widely in their styles. Please notice that the choice of Qipao dresses depends on your figure, disposition and the temperature outside.

💖If you are calm and steady, a relatively long Qipao dress with lower splits might be more suitable for you. And in terms of patterns, exaggerated ones may not be a good choice for you. But if you are energetic and outgoing, a shorter Qipao dress with plenty of patterns may be more in line with your temperament.

💖In autumn or winter, it is recommended to choose Qipao dresses made of cotton to keep warm, while in summer, you can wear silk Qipao dresses, which will make you cooler. Whats more, the length of sleeves also matters. To feel cooler, you can choose Qipao dresses with shorter sleeves or even without sleeves in summer.

💖If you are not tall in stature, try not to choose a Qipao dress that is too long. A knee- length Qipao dress may better modify your figure. If your neck is relatively short, choose a Qipao dress with a lower collar. Your neck will look longer with a lower collar.

💖If you need to wear a Qipao dress to work or class, it is recommended to choose one with more elegant color or pattern. Qipao dresses in light pink or light blue may be more suitable for daily commuting.

Someone may believe that the Qipao dresses are an outdated antique from the last century. However, Qipao dresses today which are improved are no less fashionable and can highlight the charm of modern women. Like many other things that last for centuries, the Qipao dresses have proven their vitality to people. Nowadays, not only ordinary people love Qipao dresses, but even models and celebrities have a special liking for them. In China and even Asia, Qipao dresses are still one of the most popular clothes today. The reason why Qipao dresses are still attractive to people after more than a hundred years is that they keep pace with the times and can meet the needs of women in different eras. So, what design can make Qipao dresses more modernized?

💖Fabric changes. With the constant development of textile technology, the fabrics of Qipao dresses are no longer limited to traditional cotton or silk. Various currently trendy fabrics such as chiffon and acetate can also be used to make Qipao dresses, giving them a modern flavor.

💖Style changes. Qipao dresses today no longer reach to the ankle as they did in the last century, but there are many knee-length styles available. While retaining traditional Chinese imprints such as pankou, the shape of certain types of Qipao dresses is approaching ordinary dresses to make it more comfortable for modern women to travel and work, as well as to highlight the beauty of the female figure.

💖Pattern choice. Traditional Qipao dresses are mostly monochrome or with only plaid, floral and other patterns on them. But in the hands of modern designers, more colorful patterns include polka dots , animals and plants Qipao dresses. In addition, the development of cut-out and embroidery techniques has made modern Qipao dresses more exquisite and more distinctive.

💖The application of elements such as mesh, lace and sequins can also enhance the modernity of Qipao dresses to a considerable extent. Those elements make Qipao dresses vivid, and are more suitable for modern females.

💖The popularity of sleeveless Qipao dresses. Traditional Qipao dresses are mainly short-sleeved or long-sleeved, while sleeveless Qipao dresses are relatively rear. In sleeveless Qipao dresses, people would feel much more comfortable in summer.

For a long time, some people have had many misunderstandings about Qipao dresses. For example, some people may believe that Qipao dresses are only suitable for performances and cannot be worn in daily life; and some people think that Qipao dresses are only suitable for young people and cannot be worn by older people. There is no doubt that in this Neo-Chinese style craze, Qipao dresses will continue to be popular and loved by more and more people. They have gone through the process from being seen as strange clothing to being accepted by more and more people. Nowadays, plenty of women, from housewives to female celebrities, are attracted by Qipao dresses. People from all over the world are willing to try on this beautiful dress. So, how should we wear Qipao dresses to be comfortable and good-looking?

First of all, you need to choose the Qipao dresses according to your size so that you don't feel too tight when wearing them. And as mentioned above, your figure, your preference, as well as the season and occasion should also be taken into consideration. The right clothes can enhance your charm.

Secondly, pairing a Qipao dresses with some accessories can make your entire outfit more stylish and beautiful, such as:

💖When wearing a Qipao dresses, you can pair it with a delicate hairpin or tassel earrings. These retro accessories will perfectly complement the classic style of the Qipao dresses. If you take this advice, you will experience the classical beauty of Qipao dresses immersively as if you were traveling through time to the last century.

💖Exquisite handbags and high heels may help improve feminine charm, and are also suitable for commuting, dinner and other occasions. Together with your Qipao dress, you will look particularly elegant.

💖In autumn and winter, you can wear Qipao dresses with a shawl, which combines beauty and warmth. In terms of material of the shawl, silk and wool are both good choices. In addition, it is better to choose a shawl of the same or similar color to match your Qipao dress.

💖In addition, you can also combine the Qipao dresses with other clothes, such as shorts , pants and trench coats . Although these clothes may belong to different styles, they may create different effects when paired together!