This is a green and orange ankle-length cheongsam decorated with floral motifs arranged in geometric squares, a reflection of the preference for bright colours and bold prints during the 1970s. This 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 silhouette archetypal of a cheongsam.When the cheongsam first emerged as a fashion style in the 1920s and 1930s, it was worn long with the hem ending at the ankles. As shorter hemlines became popular in the 1950s and 1960s, long cheongsams were worn mostly as evening wear or on more formal occasions.