Chinese Vintage Qipao Fashion

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China has become a truly powerful country in the last decade...not just economically but also in the fashion world! Many high-end fashion brands have built flagship stores in China because of the huge growth in consumerism. One of our contributors recently went to Beijing and was astounded by the diversity in culture. There are young modern areas, as well as, old village communities that have been virtually intact for hundreds of years. As a center of apparel manufacturing, the fashion world keeps growing and growing in China.  Brands keep investing, while the consumers keep spending.  The Chinese consumers really admire hand-made or handcrafted products. They are quite willing to invest in high value clothes as long as they are made by hand. 
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We are all familiar with 1920's fashion, as it was a style which really took root in America. However, vintage history from other countries is also interesting because it is completely different from country to country. Qipao is the Chinese traditional costume.  It is the traditional dress most of us have seen in film and vintage prints. Nowadays Chinese women still wear it for special occasions such as weddings. The bride usually wears a Western wedding gown for the church event, but wears her Qipao for a separate tea event in the morning.
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We love the print of the Qipao as it really illustrates the beauty of Chinese culture. The embroidered flowers and dragons are truly a signature of the country. 
In Chinese vintage fashion, women also preferred to wear a long split dress instead of pants. They adapted Qipao fashion to a daily outfit by changing the fabric and cut in order to provide comfort for every activity.
Hollywood starlet, Anna May Wong showed us beautiful adaptations in her films.  Her fashion was a perfect mix of Qipao and the quintessential flapper style!
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Have you ever tried Qipao? 
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