In the 1950s and 1960s, cheongsam were usually worn by high-society ladies and working women. The Mandarin term (qipao) best describes this one-piece dress because it was developed from the robes (pao) worn by Manchu women during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). In Singapore and Hong Kong, however, the Cantonese term, cheongsam (men’s long robe), is more commonly used.
