New Year Party Dress

Today in China, Qipao and Chongsam are two names for the same dress. The dress is considered the epitome of Chinese fashion. However, they were originally two different dresses, and due to different historical circumstances, the names overlapped, and over time they became the same dress. However, the original dresses carried significant differences. The main difference between the two words lies in their linguistic origin. Cheongsam is the English version of Cantonese long dress. It is used in the southern part of China, while Qipao is used in northern part of the country. Cantonese cheongsam eventually arrived in Shanghai and evolved into English cheongsam. Another English term for this dress is "mandarin dress."

Both cheongsam and qipao originated in the dress of Manchu women. The dress is characterized by silk with a high or low mandarin collar. The dress may have different sleeve lengths. It can be sleeveless, long sleeves, short sleeves, or quarter-length sleeves. The suit may have high or low slits on one or both sides of the skirt. The slits may reach the waist or hips. The dress has a diagonal opening from the neck to the right armhole. The garment is designed to be closed by attaching frog or button closures to the right front of the garment.

Cheongsam or Qipao has a variety of designs and patterns. Embroidered or solid-color fabrics can be used with a wide range of patterns. The pattern can range from various floral patterns to symbolic patterns such as fish, dragons, or phoenixes. Colors can range from two to several depending on the fabric and design. The dress can be embellished with accessories and jewelry.

The original cheongsam or qipao is a wide and loose type of dress that shows only the head, arms, and tips of the toes. This became modern and evolved into a revolutionary design with a tighter shape and more appropriate for the female form.

Qipao
Meaning： It means "banner clothes".
Year of origin： It originated in the 16th century.