While most men wore round-toed thousand-bottom cloth shoes, young men preferred western-style leather shoes. Students favored peaked or visor caps, and laborers, the terais. In summer some wore straw hats, and in winter people wore hoods, either attached to a robe or jacket or separate. Top hats were quite popular during this period. In the 1930's, there was a growing trend in advanced cities like Shanghai, to combine western clothing with Chinese cheongsams, such as adding a puffy sleeve, or wearing a scarf or a mantle. Because of cheongsams' popularity, various styles emerged there are long skirted, short skirted, long sleeved, short sleeved, or even sleeveless cheongsams. Therefore, cheongsams became tighter and shorter to enhance women's bodily curves.

During the early times of the Republic of China, cheongsams' style followed the Qing Dynasty: straight, and loosely fitted one-piece dress.Īfter the 1920's, the emergence of western culture influenced Chinese values and in turn had reflected on cheongsams. During this era, Ao became tighter and Qun became shorter.Įvolved from Qing Dynasty's Chang Pao, the typical Manchu's wear, cheongsams became Chinese women's main fashion during this period. There were two types of pants a man can wear under Chang Pao one was the western pants with narrower trousers, and the other was the Chinese 'lantern pants' with larger trousers and a string attached to close up the trouser ends.Īo (jacket) and Qun (skirt), the two-piece dress remained popular among female. After 1920, men from prosperous cities such as Shanghai started to wear the western style suit - a three-piece male business suit.īut western style suit did not replace Chang Pao and Ma Gua, which also became men's formal wear. Japanese paper fan, red doors in the back and golden oriental style decoration around. 3d illustrated rabbit sitting on hexagon podium. The new government passed a 'Queue Cutting Notice' and most significantly, it abolished the clothing hierarchical custom and rules, and promoted that everyone, regardless of his social status could wear what he wanted.ĭuring the late 1920's, the new government passed out a new 'Apparel Regulations' specifically regulating citizen's formal wear and government officials' uniform.ĭuring the initial period of Republic of China, people continue to wear Qing Dynasty's clothing. 131,295 chinese costume stock photos, vectors, and illustrations are available royalty-free. Dragon and phoenix Kwa (longfeng kwa) is a traditional wedding dress favored by Chinese brides nowadays.On October 10th, 1911, Sun Yet Sen initiated Xin Hai Revolution and successfully overthrew the Qing government and abolished China's dynastic and imperial control thus established the Republic of China (1911-1949). Brides in southern China wear Qipao or a two-piece dress name Qungua or Kwa, which is elaborately adorned with a gold dragon and phoenix pattern. Cheongsam is usually embroidered with elaborate gold and silver designs. It is popularly worn in North China as the wedding dress, traditionally in red. And it can either be long or short.Ĭheongsam is recognized around the world and has inspired many foreign adaptations because of its simple yet exotic lines. It is suitable for wearing all the year round for both young and elderly group. There is no 'typical' Chinese costume, although today, if any style of clothing epitomizes 'Chinese', it would be the Cheongsam, or call it Qipao, which has evolved from ancient clothing of the Manchu ethnic minority. Cheongsam is Popular because it fits the Chinese female figure well, and has simple lines and looks elegant. As for the ministers, generals, councilors and their wives, their uniforms were also restrictively regulated for how many lions or cranes etc can be embroidered on. Among the upper dominating classes, only the Emperor was assigned the colour yellow and the dragon emblem on traditional Chinese imperial dress as an exclusive affirmation of their power. In ancient feudal society, people's rank and social status could easily be figured out from their daily dressing, especially for the ordinary people and the upper-class. They were not only evolving over time but also transforming dramatically following dynastic changes or the imperial decree of a new ruler. Each type of clothe has their unique way of making and sewing methods and lucky pattern exquisites.

We have traditional Zhongshan suit, Cheongsam and many other suits created by ethnic groups scattered on this vast ancient civilization land.

Till 3,000 years ago, sericulture and silk weaving were already significantly developed in ancient China.Ĭhinese clothing has many types and suits according to various occasions. According to archaeologists, Chinese has acknowledged weaving since Neolithic ages 5000 to 6000 years ago. China was the first country in the world to cultivate silkworms and develop silk weaving. With a world reputation of exquisite silk producing nation, Chinese clothing enjoys a time-honored culture.

Chinese queue costume