Hong Kong museum celebrates 100 years of Cheongsam

Cheongsam, the ultra feminine body-hugging one-piece Chinese dress, was the subject of the just concluded ‘A Century of Fashion: Hong Kong Cheongsam Story’ exhibit.

 

Held at the Hong Kong Museum of History, the event chronicled the history and evolution of the classic womenswear, also known by the name of Qipao, since the era of the late Qing dynasty to the present times. 

 

With a sumptuous display of more than 130 pieces, the showcase included pieces sourced from famous Hong Kong socialites and celebrities as well as popular movies like ‘In the Mood for Love’ and ‘The World of Suzie Wong’ (1960).

 

The exhibits included a black floral print sleeveless silk cheongsam dress, worn by the film actress Linda Lin Dai in the early 1960s, and a long-sleeved black cheongsam with floral medallions, donned by the Cantonese opera star Pak Suet Sin in the 1970s-1980s. 

 

Also a vertical and horizontal motif short-sleeved cheongsam, designed by Master Chow Yuen-kwai for his daughter Chow Yu-ching in 1977, and an orange sleeveless silk cheongsam decorated with jacquard-woven phoenix-and-peony motifs, created by Master Woo Chuen-chen for his daughter Wu Mei-fung in 1977 formed a part of the display.

 

Additionally, two modern day pieces—sequined halter-neck cheongsam (2000) and a Master Mong Kar-mo made deep pink short-sleeved silk cheongsam with jacquard-woven floral motifs (2005)—were also exhibited at the showcase.

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