Everyone imitates Shanghainese, but never successful. Once they gets improved, Shanghai has also changed a lot. This idiom prevailed in the 1930's and 1940's. And we can see the significant position of Shanghai in the clothing field apparently.

  During the 1930's and 1940's, Chinese modern times couture covered its shining period, or rather, 1930's is the gorgeous pinnacle. That is to say right at that time, cheongsam created the steady base and became the typical delegate of the attire base. Quickly, cheongsam that is so-called Chinese mandarin dress and formed the Shanghai style that is modern in touch and Chinese in feel, came into fashion all over the country even the world.

  Cheongsam is fit to Chinese women's slim figure, especially the Shanghai girls. The following four factors promote the fashion's generation and popularity:

  1) At that time, foreign stuff entered Chinese market continuously;

  2) There were fashion column in all big newspapers and magazines;

  3) Fashionable dressed girl with monthly calendar was very popular;

  4) Some department stores also held many fashion shows.

  In Shanghai, the city of the fashion center of China, the all new style popular in Occident was blew here in only three or four months. And other areas in China all imitated Shanghai style as the template. The chance of trade relations with overseas business became more frequent. For example, there were a lot of dry goods, such as piece goods, camlet, woolen cloth and etc, imported from Europe so that people's selection range and concept was broaden and updated. Therefore, haipai cheongsam was the main stream as the leading actor of haipai culture in the 1930's mandarin dress. In addition, the life style was unique in Chinese history that the swelldom and gentlefolk in Shanghai followed the fashion and enjoyed luxury. Since they were in pursuit of western life ways such as swim, promenade, dance and golf, cheongsam was ordered to be more slinky and formfitting. Influenced by the occidental fashion, cheongsam got more slender and skintight with high-kick pleat so as to match the delicate, fairily and lively perfect figure of the 1930's.

  Cheongsam of that time had two traits: combining Chinese with Western style and varying a lot. Then, fine ladies had many different ways to wear cheongsam: partial western style and matching the surcoat outside. Partial western style meant that collar and sleeves were tailored according to the western-style fashion's craft such as lapel, lotus-leaf-like sleeves, furcal sleeves, flouncing lap and etc. These were nothing but the stars or noblewomen's social and formal dress. The majority of women preferred to wear cheongsam with western-style costume. For example, wearing the western-style coat, fur coat, woolen coat and vest or tying scarf and finery all can show brilliant and charming figure.

  Moreover, slender cheongsamwith marcel, silk stockings, high-heeled shoes, necklace, earbob and portfolio, was most fashionable toilette. At the same time, women¡¯s role of the society was fully stressed. Later, there was a kind of improved cheongsam with many western tailoring-skills in the couture market, which made cheongsam more fitted and applied. Cheongsam, then, turned into Chinese national dress in unique style.

  It can be said that without the neoteric Shanghai's opening to the world or combination of the Chinese and occidental culture, there wouldn't be the cheongsam with western style, then say nothing of the haipai cheongsam.

  In Northern China, e.g. Beijing, the term "Qipao" is popular - for the term's origin please have a look at the history of Qipao. In Southern China the Qipao is also known as "Cheongsam". Cheongsam means "long dress", entered the English vocabulary from the dialect of China's Guangdong Province (Cantonese). 

  Qipao, the classic dress for Chinese women, combines the elaborate elegance of Chinese tradition with unique elements of style. The high-necked, closed-collar Qipao / Cheongsam with a loose chest, fitting waist, and the attractive slits, is one of the most versatile costumes in the world. It can be long or short, some with full, medium, short or even no sleeves at all - to suit different occasions, weather and individual tastes. 

  The Qipao / Cheongsam can display all women's modesty, softness and beauty. Like Chinese women's temperament, the Qipao / Cheongsam is elegant and gentle, its long-standing elegance and serenity makes wearers fascinating. Mature women in Qipao / Cheongsam can display their graceful refined manner. A Qipao / Cheongsam almost varies with a woman's figure.

  What serves as a worthy testament to the beauty of the Qipao / Cheongsam is, however, it does not require the wearer to pep up the look with accessories like scarves and belts. Designed to show off the natural softness of the female form, it also creates the illusion of slender legs. The overall picture: practical, yet sexy.

  Because of its particular charm Qipao / Cheongsam is like a wonderful flower in the Chinese colorful fashion scene. Another beauty of the Qipao / Cheongsam is that it is made of different materials and can be worn either on casual or formal occasions. 

  In either case, Qipao / Cheongsam creates an impression of simple and quiet charm, elegance and attraction. With distinctive Chinese features Qipao / Cheongsam enjoys a growing popularity in the international world of high fashion.