This is a mustard and blue cheongsam with multi-prints. The rich patterns and bright hues create a distinctly ethnic aesthetic and reflects fashion’s craze for ethnic prints particularly in the 1970s. This knee length piece is made from jersey, a knitted fabric made from cotton or a blend of cotton and synthetic fibres. It is known for its stretchability and tends to cling to the body, helping to create the fitted silouhette archetypical of a cheongsam. The cheongsam is a ubiquitous Chinese dress that first gained popularity in the early 20th century and was an essential part of a typical woman’s wardrobe. It has its origins in the originally long robes worn by Manchu women of the Qing Dynasty. The cheongsam is usually bespoked to ensure a fitted silhouette and its other distinctive features include a high collar, side slits at the hem and a decorative knot and loop fastener for the collar or shoulder flap, called the ‘hua niu’.
