Traditional Chinese clothing

Fashion re-invents itself from time to time, with some modern touches fashion breathes from its age old roots. Culture and fashion have a strong connection and both keep influencing each other making it two sides of the same coin which is used everyday. Fashion designers are using mixture of traditional and modern techniques, ideas and views to create new trends. The fusion of old and new helps sets new trends. China is an age old country with strong history and cultural values which their fashion clearly connotes, for example age old motifs such as guardian deities, lions and masks of Chinese opera characters.

Xia and Shang Dynasties embarked the dress system in China which enthused the distinctions as to color, design and adornment of dress among the emperor, officials and the common people. During the Sui and Tang dynasty the unity of ancient China and the prosperity of economy provoked a revolution in ideas, thought process with the dresses becoming more and more splendid. During the Song and Ming dynasties because of the intensity of the feudal ideology, the patterns of dress and adornment gradually became conservative whereas by influence from western cultures, the designs were more fitting and tasteful from late Ming.

An outstanding characteristic of traditional Chinese clothing is not only an external expression of elegance but it encompasses an internal symbolism. Today, Fashion designers use a mixture of traditional and modern ideas to create new fashions. Some of the examples which shows influence of Chinese culture on modern fashion includes modern bridal tiara based on the designs from Sung dynasty and the Hunan Province style of embroidered sash made in the traditional colors of pure red, blue, and green. From these examples, it can be seen how traditional Chinese dress is the foundation of modern fashion. Chinese bronze is another source of printed, woven, embroidered, and applied design for clothes. Some of the distinctive designs include dragons, phoenixes, clouds, and lightning. Motifs from traditional Chinese painting also end up in woven or printed fashion designs.

Types of Chinese clothing

There is no uniformity of information as far as the main dress of china is concerned, different dynasties brought in new forms and reforms. Different experts claim different dresses as the main dress of china. However the three main types of Chinese clothing include Pienfu, the Chang-pao and the Shen-i. The peinfu is a two piece traditional ceremonial costume similar to a tunic top extending to the knees along with a skirt or trousers extending to the ankles. The Chang-pao is a one-piece garment extending from the shoulders all the way to the heels, whereas a cross between the two is the shen-i type. Shen-I consists of a tunic and a skirt or trousers like the pien-fu, but the tunic and the skirt are sewed together and essentially one piece like the ch'ang-p'ao. Out of all the three types Shen- I was the most widely used type.

Chinese clothing and current fashion

One of the Chinese dresses getting attention from the fashion community is the cheongsam. Cheongsam is a female dress with distinctive Chinese features. The actual meaning of the word cheongsam is a long dress whereas the dress is also known by the name of gipao. There is a long history behind the name and the dress itself. It is believed that when the early Manchu rulers came to China they started calling a group of them as banner people (giren). The Manchu women wore one piece Chinese dress known as gipao or banner dress. In spite of political changes the dress survived and later went on to become traditional dress of the Chinese women. Cheongsam has high collar which is closed with sleeves which can be short, medium or long depending on the season and taste. The dress is buttoned on the right side with a loose chest, fitting waist and slits up from the sides which aids in accentuating the female shape. The dress is easy to slip on and comfortable to wear. The basic designing of the dress is very simple and it does not require many accessories to go with it.

The dress transforms itself into different piece altogether with different materials with varying lengths. They can be worn on casual or formal occasions. The overall impression the dress creates is of elegance and charm. Due to its simple cuts and stylish silhouettes the dress is admired by women all over the world. The word cheongsam is used for male and female dress both.