The Change of Chinese Garments

Before the 1920s，women’s garments remained two-piece，with little difference from Qing Dynasty garments.Shortly after the Revolution of 1911，as more Chinese students studied in Japan，the influence of Japanese women’s wear on young Chinese women could be seen in a narrow，long blouse with a high collar and a long black skirt.Known as “modern garments，”these clothes were accompanied by little jewelry.In the 1920s，Chinese women started to be conscious of“the beauty of curvaceousness，”and traditional straight，loose garments were replaced by closefitting ones.Women of that period wore blouses narrow at the waistline，with small stand-up collars，sleeves reaching the elbows，and a curving hemline.

The blouses were decorated on the collar，sleeves，front and hem.The skirts，which earlier had been pleated and reached the feet，were not pleated and shorter，though the hem still fell below the knees.The skirts were also decorated along thehem，sometimes with colorful，sparkling jewelry.

Chinese Qipao

The general characteristics of the early QiPao were a single piece of cloth that would cover the whole body，down to the feet.Around the neck，the collar would be high to help secure outfit.The materials was loose，with slits on the side only allow for easier movement.

While the Qing Dynasty fell，the center of Chinese fashion became Shanghai，where the Western influence was the highest.It was there that the form of QiPao we see most commonly today:slender fit and shorter sleeves，with two big slits at each side of the hem，for convenient movement，but now wonderfully display the slender legs of women.Simplicity is one of its features from the collar，loop，chest，waist and hips to the lower hem.QiPao almost varies with a woman’s figure.Practicality always goes with beauty.Like a Chinese woman’s temperament，QiPao is elegant and gentle.

hancheng

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