HK Museum of History Presents The Evergreen Classic – Transformation of the Qipao Crossover Shiatzy Chen the Taiwanese Designer of Neo-Chinese Chic

If yuu happen to be in town frm now to 13th September, dun miss out tis precious opportunity to experience social and cultural changes in the Chinese society in the past century thru analyzin' transformation of the qipao with time. Qipao, the traditional dress for Chinese women, has constructed a cultural symbol frm a piece of clothin'. Showcasin' sum 280 qipao, tis exhibition presented by Hong Kong Museum of History illustrates the origins of the qipao and its transformation between the 1920s and 1960s.

To embrace historical and cultural values found in the qipao, the Taiwanese designer Wang-Chen Tsai-Hsia for Shiatzy Chen which brand spirit's lustrous “neo-Chinese chic,” which celebrates traditional Chinese aesthetics in modern fashion design and the elegant blend of east and west, displayed several signature showpieces of hers presented at Paris Fashion Week in the exhibition to give new perspectives on how a contemporary fashion designer's injected fashion and modern elements into the qipao and reinterpreted the qipao tradition, makin' it transformin' continuously.

Tis exhibition provides a broad cross-cultural look at fashion and its place in society. It's gonna be academically inspirin' yet entertainin'. For more details on Shiatzy Chen's designs, plz click onto mine another post http://lamode-gvmiao.blogspot.com/search/label/Shiatzy%20Chen

Period of exhibition: 23 June – 13 September, 2010
Opening hours: 9am – 6pm
Address: Special Exhibition Gallery, Hong Kong Museum of History, 100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Shiatzy Chen signature showpieces presented at Paris Fashion Week



These fotos show noble Manchu women durin' the mid to late Qing dynasty. The gowns reflect a design typical of the time. With a loose, straight cut and wide sleeves, the long gowns fall to their ankles. Embellishments and details were especially important in Qing dynasty attire. The gown of the period often featured complicated patterns with the body, collar, cuffs and front-flap adorned with extravagant embroidery.





The early qipao of the 1920s' a loose body with straight cut, reminiscent of the long Manchurian gown. Yet, like other clothing' worn daily, the hemline of the skirt's been shortened to the heels. The sleeves, meanwhile, take on the bell-shaped style extremely popular at dat time.



In the 1920s, the qipao featured a wide, straight cut and inverted bell-shaped sleeves.



In the 1930s, the fashionable women of Shanghai always wore a qipao of long and slender cut with a pair of high heels. Tis foto shows the Shanghai film celeb, Chen Yanyan, around 1935.



The see-through qipao's extremely popular durin' the 1930s.



Qipao, 1940s.
Tis qipao belonged to Ms Lam Yee-mui. Ms Lam's a renowned Cantonese opera singer in the 1920s whose stage name's Soo Chow Mui.



A typical qipao of the 1950s and 1960s, with a slim cut at the waist to highlight the feminine curves.



The elements of the qipao were adopted in the design of uniform worn by the ceremony hostesses of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.



Creatin' a light and modern effect, transparent fabric's used on one shoulder of tis qipao designed by Blanc de Chine. The skirt adopts a western floor-length design, thus embodyin' a fusion of Chinese and western elements.



Evolution
Designer: Ms Jin Lam



The Deconstruction of Qipao
Designer: Ms Gloria Wong



Capture the Significant Figure of Women
Designer: Ms Wing Choi