Chinese Dresses (CheongSam or QiPao)
 
In the international world of high fashion, Chinese dresses enjoy a growing popularity. Chinese dresses are known as the "cheongsam" or "qipao." Cheongsam is derived from the Cantonese (and Hong Kong) dialect which translates to "long dress." Qipao is a Mandarin pronunciation which translates to "banner gown."

The name for Chinese dresses were derived from the late 1800s to early 1900s. When the early Manchu rulers went to China proper, they organized certain people, mainly Manchus, into "banners" (qi) and called them "banner people" (qiren), which then became term for all Manchus. The Manchu women wore a one-piece dress which came to be called "qipao" or "banner dress." Although the 1911 Revolution toppled the rule of the Qing (Manchu) Dynasty, the female dress survived the political change and, with later improvements, has become the traditional dress for Chinese women.

Originally, the cheongsam was a loose fitting, ankle length dress with long sleeves, a high mandarin collar, and side slits. With the changing times, hemlines rose and fell, and fabrics reflected the trends at the time. However, with these changes certain features still remain: Easy to slip on and comfortable to wear, the cheongsam fits the female Chinese figure elegantly. The dresses neck is high, the collar is closed, and its sleeves may be either short, medium, or full length, depending on season and taste. The dress is buttoned on the right side, with a loose chest, a fitting waist, and slits up from the sides, all of which combine to enhance the beauty of the female shape. Some modern adaptations include zippers and snaps taking the place of frogs, and closures varying from the asymmetrical front flap to the easy zip back.