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Top 10 Pencil Skirts
As we have learned about the long and elegant culture, you may think of buying some pencil skirts for your summer collections. But before you go, you should So, you’ll find it as a complete guide in terms of being acknowledged about the latest pencil skirt fashion this year!

There are a lot of fabulous, mind blowing designs of pencil skirts’ collections launched for the year 2012 having a diverse variety of color combinations, patterns’ schemes and designs. The latest pencil skirts’ collections give all kind of outfits like office wear, party wear, evening wear, casual wear, formal wear, semi-formal wear and college wear etc. Here we’re going to disclose the latest top 10 trends’ ideas going to be a big fashion in 2012!
Pencil skirt is a specific style of skirts that is the most voguish trend this year. These kinds of skirts are narrow and fitted skirts that are broader at the upper edge and narrower at the bottom edge. This cut is the peculiarity of these skirts. Hobbling walks defined as with taking short steps are the style of the wearers of this kind of skirts in an attractive way.

1. Floral Pencil Skirts 2012
Floral trend is at the peak this year! They have made a comeback! It is always perfect to match your floral pencil skirt with a floral top and a pair of charm heels too! Floral patterns and designs are also introduced in the latest collections of trendy pencil skirts this year! In 2012, flowery pencil skirts are really awesome and stylish to be worn in parties, dinners and other occasions. This kind of pencil skirts seem to rock the seasons of the year 2012! So, have fun with various beautiful designs and styles of flowery pencil skirts 2012!
2. Monochromatic Pencil Skirts 2012
Monochromatic pencil skirts are the latest fashion deduced from the latest fashion runways 2012. These skirts’ collections are defined with the single color that is the main focus of fashion designers this year. Single color is always loved by those who don’t want to wear too bright and just want to stay in a simple look. There is a wide set of the hues that are being introduced in the pencil skirt collections 2012. Monochromatic pencil skirt trend gives you the extreme of elegance and attraction regardless to the occasion! So, have fun with single colored pencil skirts with beautiful and trendy tops in 2012!

3. Neutral Colored Pencil Skirts 2012
Neutral colored pencil skirts are an elegant and gorgeous fashion of the latest runways! All neutral hues like black, chocolate brown, light brown, gray and copper etc are the most gorgeous choice of the year 2012! This trend is accompanied with the bright colored tops usually to create a beautiful contrasting scheme in a fabulous manner! Neutral colored pencil skirts can be chosen as a monochromatic skirt or as a patterned pencil skirt as well. Both kinds of designs would give a beautiful look. So, catch a fabulous style by applying this trend onto the pencil skirts in 2012 and go rocking!

4. High Waisted Pencil Skirts 2012
If you want to highlight your waist, you can wear a high waisted pencil skirts are extremely voguish and eye catching trend going to be a big fashion in 2012 as this trend’s seen in runways 2012. Numerous elegant prints with fabulous materials are going to be in high demand these days. High waisted pencil skirt fashion is one of the hottest fashion ideas while combined with high heels. In 2012, this trend would rock the formal/evening dress styles as well as the informal ones! So get enjoyed by this trend in 2012!

5. Back-Zip Pencil Skirts 2012
It will be pretty cool to have pencil skirt designed with back zipper. It is considered to be the best design of pencil skirts as it’s easily wearable along with it looks good addition in pencil skirt designs too. Well, it’s your personal choice to adopt back-zip pencil skirts this year or not! But this trend is really hot and elegant in 2012 because it gives you an easy wearing and the best-fitted pencil skirt you want! So, enjoy back-zip Pencil skirt fashion to catch the attention of people this year!

6. Lace-Up Pencil Skirts 2012
Laced pieces are always the best way to make you look slim! Besides, lace can take on a luxurious and noble look. There is a wide variety of elegant laces that’re embellished on the pencil skirts’ designs this year. Contrasting laces are the best option of the year 2012, so why this trend couldn’t be applied on the pencil skirts’ collections 2012! Designers worked upon this subject in a beautiful way to launch the latest new designs of pencil skirts in 2012. So, opt for the laced pencil skirts combined with the elegant and trendy tops this year!

7. Belted Pencil Skirts 2012
Belt adornments are a nice addition into the list of the latest fashion ideas related to the pencil skirt trends 2012! There is a large number of beautiful belt designs that are added to the pencil skirts to create a unique style and trend this year. Belts are attached to the stuff of the pencil skirts instead of being as a separate piece and this kind of belts are less practical and more beautifying! So, belted pencil skirts are just going to be a big fashion in 2012, just check it out!

8. Denim/Leather Pencil Skirts 2012
Denim and leather are the ways for trimming your look more decent and luxurious as always. These materials could be assigned to the classic and traditional materials for the skirts. So, leather and denim pencil skirts are specially loved by young girls. They are also best choices for school girls, as they are not too shining or sexy, which the school rules forbid. In 2012, this affiliation is the same with a little bit new styles. This trend is the most appropriate choice for all kinds of casual/informal as well as semi-formal occasions and gatherings in 2012!

9. Embroidered Pencil Skirts 2012
Embroidered pencil skirts present the extreme of sophistication and elegance this year! This kind of pencil skirts are so good for the gala dinners, dance parties, wedding parties and other formal parties while accompanied with the latest styled tops in 2012! This trend is in high demand these days as seen in fashion events of the year 2012. So have a beautiful embroidered pencil skirt to be outstanding this year!

10. Polka Dotted Pencil Skirts 2012
Polka dots are so much voguish in pencil skirt designs 2012. Polka dots are liked on skirts’ designs too much by the trendy girls! So these kinds of pencil skirts are much appropriate for college wear, office wear or some other occasion like parties etc. So, opt for the latest polka dotted pencil skirts to wear in 2012!

Having seen all these top 10 pencil skirts, you should also pick up some and modify your look. Don’t always wear your jeans and blouses, it is time for a fresh look!

Top 10 Pencil Skirts
As we have learned about the long and elegant culture, you may think of buying some pencil skirts for your summer collections. But before you go, you should So, you’ll find it as a complete guide in terms of being acknowledged about the latest pencil skirt fashion this year!

There are a lot of fabulous, mind blowing designs of pencil skirts’ collections launched for the year 2012 having a diverse variety of color combinations, patterns’ schemes and designs. The latest pencil skirts’ collections give all kind of outfits like office wear, party wear, evening wear, casual wear, formal wear, semi-formal wear and college wear etc. Here we’re going to disclose the latest top 10 trends’ ideas going to be a big fashion in 2012!
Pencil skirt is a specific style of skirts that is the most voguish trend this year. These kinds of skirts are narrow and fitted skirts that are broader at the upper edge and narrower at the bottom edge. This cut is the peculiarity of these skirts. Hobbling walks defined as with taking short steps are the style of the wearers of this kind of skirts in an attractive way.

1. Floral Pencil Skirts 2012
Floral trend is at the peak this year! They have made a comeback! It is always perfect to match your floral pencil skirt with a floral top and a pair of charm heels too! Floral patterns and designs are also introduced in the latest collections of trendy pencil skirts this year! In 2012, flowery pencil skirts are really awesome and stylish to be worn in parties, dinners and other occasions. This kind of pencil skirts seem to rock the seasons of the year 2012! So, have fun with various beautiful designs and styles of flowery pencil skirts 2012!
2. Monochromatic Pencil Skirts 2012
Monochromatic pencil skirts are the latest fashion deduced from the latest fashion runways 2012. These skirts’ collections are defined with the single color that is the main focus of fashion designers this year. Single color is always loved by those who don’t want to wear too bright and just want to stay in a simple look. There is a wide set of the hues that are being introduced in the pencil skirt collections 2012. Monochromatic pencil skirt trend gives you the extreme of elegance and attraction regardless to the occasion! So, have fun with single colored pencil skirts with beautiful and trendy tops in 2012!

3. Neutral Colored Pencil Skirts 2012
Neutral colored pencil skirts are an elegant and gorgeous fashion of the latest runways! All neutral hues like black, chocolate brown, light brown, gray and copper etc are the most gorgeous choice of the year 2012! This trend is accompanied with the bright colored tops usually to create a beautiful contrasting scheme in a fabulous manner! Neutral colored pencil skirts can be chosen as a monochromatic skirt or as a patterned pencil skirt as well. Both kinds of designs would give a beautiful look. So, catch a fabulous style by applying this trend onto the pencil skirts in 2012 and go rocking!

4. High Waisted Pencil Skirts 2012
If you want to highlight your waist, you can wear a high waisted pencil skirts are extremely voguish and eye catching trend going to be a big fashion in 2012 as this trend’s seen in runways 2012. Numerous elegant prints with fabulous materials are going to be in high demand these days. High waisted pencil skirt fashion is one of the hottest fashion ideas while combined with high heels. In 2012, this trend would rock the formal/evening dress styles as well as the informal ones! So get enjoyed by this trend in 2012!

5. Back-Zip Pencil Skirts 2012
It will be pretty cool to have pencil skirt designed with back zipper. It is considered to be the best design of pencil skirts as it’s easily wearable along with it looks good addition in pencil skirt designs too. Well, it’s your personal choice to adopt back-zip pencil skirts this year or not! But this trend is really hot and elegant in 2012 because it gives you an easy wearing and the best-fitted pencil skirt you want! So, enjoy back-zip Pencil skirt fashion to catch the attention of people this year!

6. Lace-Up Pencil Skirts 2012
Laced pieces are always the best way to make you look slim! Besides, lace can take on a luxurious and noble look. There is a wide variety of elegant laces that’re embellished on the pencil skirts’ designs this year. Contrasting laces are the best option of the year 2012, so why this trend couldn’t be applied on the pencil skirts’ collections 2012! Designers worked upon this subject in a beautiful way to launch the latest new designs of pencil skirts in 2012. So, opt for the laced pencil skirts combined with the elegant and trendy tops this year!

7. Belted Pencil Skirts 2012
Belt adornments are a nice addition into the list of the latest fashion ideas related to the pencil skirt trends 2012! There is a large number of beautiful belt designs that are added to the pencil skirts to create a unique style and trend this year. Belts are attached to the stuff of the pencil skirts instead of being as a separate piece and this kind of belts are less practical and more beautifying! So, belted pencil skirts are just going to be a big fashion in 2012, just check it out!

8. Denim/Leather Pencil Skirts 2012
Denim and leather are the ways for trimming your look more decent and luxurious as always. These materials could be assigned to the classic and traditional materials for the skirts. So, leather and denim pencil skirts are specially loved by young girls. They are also best choices for school girls, as they are not too shining or sexy, which the school rules forbid. In 2012, this affiliation is the same with a little bit new styles. This trend is the most appropriate choice for all kinds of casual/informal as well as semi-formal occasions and gatherings in 2012!

9. Embroidered Pencil Skirts 2012
Embroidered pencil skirts present the extreme of sophistication and elegance this year! This kind of pencil skirts are so good for the gala dinners, dance parties, wedding parties and other formal parties while accompanied with the latest styled tops in 2012! This trend is in high demand these days as seen in fashion events of the year 2012. So have a beautiful embroidered pencil skirt to be outstanding this year!

10. Polka Dotted Pencil Skirts 2012
Polka dots are so much voguish in pencil skirt designs 2012. Polka dots are liked on skirts’ designs too much by the trendy girls! So these kinds of pencil skirts are much appropriate for college wear, office wear or some other occasion like parties etc. So, opt for the latest polka dotted pencil skirts to wear in 2012!

Having seen all these top 10 pencil skirts, you should also pick up some and modify your look. Don’t always wear your jeans and blouses, it is time for a fresh look!

Latest Sleepwear Trends in 2012

From cozy knits to crisp cotton to sultry silk, going to bed has never been such an adventure. Some people will just wear an old t-shirt and drawstring pants. However, you can’t ignore this fact that sleepwear also needs to be trendy if you are a fashionista.
For your first night as husband and wife, it is quite popular to try on some luxurious sleepwear. For sentiment’s sake, you both might want to choose something traditional such as white, ivory, gray or soft pastels, either solid or with a delicate floral, geometric or linear print. Floor length gowns and robes with dainty lace trims are traditionally elegant, romantic and feminine. For men, the right look is a long robe and classic pajamas. Your sleepwear can more closely resemble your “normal” casual and cozy preferences.
You can wear different sleepwear if you want to give different surprise to your husband every night. If you want to be a glamour girl tonight, here are some tips for you when choosing the right type for your glamour look. Fabrics such as silk, Carmeuse, georgette, chiffon or stretch lace (all sheer) and shimmery polyester will be good choices for you to dress like a glamour girl. As these materials will evoke ladylike elegance with an added dash of sex appeal. If you also want something that looks luxurious, try something that is made in cashmere or other better quality.
For colors, you can refer to what’s trendy this year and find same color accordingly. This season, crisp and clear colors dominated the fashion field, ranging from lighter shades such as pink, lavender, sea blue and yellow to brighter examples like hot pink, poppy, orange and turquoise. You can be a trendy girl from day till night. Why not try some colors that are prevalent this season and surprise your lover?
No one wants to have a second look on a sleepwear that is sheer colored cloth, without any patterns. Prints on sleepwear are hot this year. You can buy see all trendy sleepwear are designed with either a zebra pattern, or leopard or python patterns. For more exotic maneuvers, you can buy a mosaic, paisley, Chinese floral or tie-dye. If you want to display your pretty look, you can opt for those painted with polka dots, stripes, plaid or Lily Pulitzer versions.
Style that a glamour girl should opt for will be an elegant while sexy one. You’ll be in classic good taste by choosing a long, flowing nightgown or chemise with a matching wrap robe or kimono. The gown could feature front or slide slits, a low cross-back opening, spaghetti straps, a halter-top or a plunging neckline. If you want to experience something fresh and unique, you can try on the baby doll sleepwear. For a more casual look, try a flirty nightshirt or camisole top, paired with drawstring shorts or tap pants.
If you are tired of the formal wear in the daytime, you can explore something that is casual while chic.
You may choose fabrics such as cotton, cashmere, lycra, polyester, nylon or microfibers. They commonly have a bit of stretch and a bit tight to your body. But they are easy to care about and wrinkle-resistant.
For colors and prints, you can still follow the rules we mentioned before.
But for prints, there is a strong focus on country classics as well such as plaids, checks and bandana prints, Caribbean stripes and dainty floral.
You can find so many casual styles if you are looking for a casual chic look. There are body skimming, full-length tank top nightgowns, some with a low scoop front or back that can be paired with a matching shawl collar wrap robe. Nightgowns with little spaghetti straps are a hot trend ranging in length from knee-skimming to long and flowing.
Another option for the casual chic look will be the three-piece set. It includes a camisole top and cardigan with a long or Capri pant. Among all of them, the favorite will still be pajamas. Today’s versions range from sleeveless to short or long sleeves, while bottoms can range from a boxer or drawstring short to Capri or full-length pants. They will look both great in a stretch fabric when trimming with crisp cotton or pin tucking.
If you are looking for sleepwear that can be worn indoors and out, sportswear in cozy fabrics will satisfy your needs. It has been gaining more and more popularity for both women and men, known as loungewear Fabrics such as cashmere, cotton, silk, lightweight French terry; suede microfiber and micro fleece are all perfect materials to make such loungewear for men and women. It is a piece of good news for those who love to ease their life and have more time to sleep.
Styles like tanks, tee-shirts, easy button front blouses and shirts, zip-up hoodies and pullovers are all found as versatile sleepwear. There are belted wrap jackets and cargo pants as well as full-length dresses with varying sleeve lengths and necklines. For bottoms, there are drawstring shorts, skirts, capris and pants. Even shawls and wraps are coming into play and are perfect for traveling, curling up with a good book, walking the dog or even pairing with a pretty dress for a night on the town.
If you are looking for sleepwear that only to pleasing your lover, you can turn to sleepwear designed with sophisticated fabrics, bodies and color palettes. For material, silk, polyester or luxe lightweight cashmere can match well with your drawstring boxer shorts or pajama bottoms. A robe with shawl collar will be a perfect look exclusively for her or his appreciation.
Do you have an idea on what look you may try on these sleepwear trends?
It is right time to pick some trendy sleepwear and enjoy your night!

The Hat Bible-The Wearing of Hat Fashion History
Hats have been around for a very long time. Long time ago, people recognized that something over head can protect them from any outer injuries. The wearing of a hat fashion history dates from the first time when our ancestor put animal skin over their heads as protection against the natural force. Indeed, this can’t be considered to be a hat in real sense, but we can see that people began to have the sense to protect their head with some covering.

One of the first hats was found in a tomb painting at Thebes and shows a man wearing a coolie-style straw hat. Other early hats include the Pileus, which was a simple skull cap, the Phrygian cap, which became identified later as the ’liberty cap’ given to slaves in Greece and Rome when they were made free men, and the Pestasos which comes from ancient Greece and is the first known hat with a brim.

Although women from an early stage were always expected to have their heads covered by veils, kerchiefs, hoods, caps and wimples, it was not until the end of the 16th century that women’s structured hats, based on those of male courtiers began to be seen.
It was in the late seventeenth century that women’s headgear began to emerge gradually and not be influenced by men’s hat fashions. The word ’milliner’–a maker of women’s hats, was first recorded in 1529 when the term referred to the products for which Milan and the northern Italian regions were well known, i.e. ribbons, gloves and straws. The haberdashers who imported these highly popular straws were called ’Milliners’’ and they were spoken highly of by the women.

By the mid 1800’s Swiss and Italian straws, people began to make hats out of straws. Meanwhile, imitation straws were also made from paper, cardboard, grass and horsehair. Moreover, people began to know how to make velvet and tulle.
During the first half of the nineteenth century the bonnet dominated women’s fashion, presenting a quite large look with many ribbons, flowers, feathers and gauze trims, which have made the size of the hats even larger. By the end of the century, prevalent as bonnets, many other styles were also found, including wide brims with flat crowns, the flower pot and the toque – feathers and veils abounded.

Although early in the 1900’s most hats were enormous and adorned with flowers, feathers, ribbons and tulle, by the mid 1920’s women’s hair had become much shorter with the shingle cut and the cloche, which hugged the head like a helmet with a very small brim, had come into fashion. Women at that time liked to wear such hats to have that masculine look. Now, after World War 1, there was suddenly such a proliferation of styles and materials that many women had to rely on the advice of milliners. This has enlarged the production of hats; making hats became an easier job that nearly everyone can do that.

From the 1930’s to the 1950’s it could be said that New York, with its many European immigrants had become the world’s leading millinery city, with department stores such as Sacs Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel and Bergdorf Goodman leading the way with their own millinery workrooms.
During the 1930’s and 40’s, hats seemed to have higher crowns with smaller brims. However, it was War-Time again; women began to use turbans, which were made from pre-war materials, to cover their head from outer injuries.

By the 1950’s the arrival of ready-to-wear clothes had lessen the popularity of the hats, thus robbing the milliners of their crucial part in the fashion world. Equally during the War many women, who had not previously worked, found themselves employed and were then loathed to lose their new-found freedom and independence. This new situation meant, however, that they no longer had so much time or energy to spend on being fashionable. As a result, fats fashion seemed to have been vanished for quite a long time.

In the 1960’s the hat was once again overtaken by wigs and hairdressers, who colored, back-combed and sprayed women’s hair into exotic ’sculptures’. Both men and women also realized that they could dress less formally and the hat was inevitably a temporary casualty. They can change their look by an up do hair style or by wearing a wig. However, in the 1980’s and 90’s there has been a revival of interest in women’s millinery. This was instigated, to a large extent, by public figures such as the late Princess of Wales’s enthusiasm for wearing hats. Celebrities always are leaders in the fashion world. As a result and therefore has made the 90’s a very innovative and diverse period for hats. Hats fashion grew into a vast fashion trend since then.

Since their invention, hats have become a trimming for fashionable look. People began to wear hats in different occasions to show their stylish look.

However the styles change, hats always have two basic styles – brimmed and brimless – and two basic forms – caps and hats. Milliners have been endeavoring to make full use of the details trimming to make various hats and caps, turning our fashion world more vibrant and colorful.

How To Tell Sterling Silver From Silver Plated
Golden is a symbol of luxury and wealth. But gold is considered to be too mundane to wear, instead, people prefer to wearing silver accessories.
Silver jewelry has become a trend in the fashion field. It coordinates with every outfit and can be worn for all occasions. From weddings, business lunches, a day of shopping with friends to evening dates, silver accessories will make you look greater.
Currently, silver pendants and full silver chain links have become a trend. Authentic jewelry is a quality investment that stands the time of time and worth the money. A few pieces of silver jewelry can accessorize your wardrobe beautifully. People will pay more attention to their design but forget to notice whether it is genuine or fake.

Nowadays, the market is filled with fake silver or 925 silver jewelry, which is also costly. Replica makers have developed higher technology in making silver plated jewelry alike to the genuine ones. However they duplicate the genuine silver, there are always some methods to tell them apart from the genuine ones.
When we purchasing some jewelry, we always want to make sure that they are authentic and worth the price, no one wants to pay for something that is fake, but also cost the same price as the genuine ones. Hence, we should know how to tell the fake ones out of the genuine ones.
Talking about fake, we will think of the commonly used material in silver jewelry—925 silver.
In fact, 925 silver doesn’t indicate that it is fake jewelry; it is merely the name to distinguish different ranks of silver. The numbers are to show its percentage of silver included in the ingredient.
It is the law that metal must be identified by the makers and the metal quality. Revised Section 295 of Volume 15 of the United States Code is commonly known as the National Gold and Silver Marking Act, which was put into practices on October 1, 1981. It required all the jewelry makers must mark the ingredient and percentage applied on the jewelry that they made. The mark for sterling silver will either be stamped ”sterling” or the number 925.
925 refer to 92.5% silver which is considered sterling. The location of the stamp varies depending on the type of jewelry. The stamp on necklaces is usually on the clasp. On rings and bracelets, the stamps are usually on the inside of the sterling silver jewelry piece.
There is a famous test called “Acid Test”. With more and more cheap imitations of jewelry (including chains) has flooded the market, consumers are at a loss how to tell the jewelry is genuine or not. Luckily, a nitric test has been developed to determine if a piece is real or fake. This test can be done by yourself, but you’d better take it to the local jewelry store and ask them to test it for you. As they have more expertise on doing this.
First you should rub a certain portion of the silver jewelry that you want to test, and then try to pick an area that is not noticeable. Then apply a few drops of nitric acid onto the scratched surface. Then you will see the changes and the jewelry can be proved to be genuine or fake. If the liquid turns green, the item is only silver plated. If the liquid turns a cloudy grey color, this piece is guaranteed sterling silver.
Besides the test to avoid any fake jewelry, you should also avoid it from the first place-market. Always find some sterling silver jewelry from trusted sources. These sources can range from neighborhood jewelers to reliable online retailers. Always do some researches before you shopping online, seeing whether the company or website is with high reputation. Find out from friends where they purchased their jewelry and what kind of experiences have they had with particular retailers. After you get it, go to a trusted jeweler who can appraise any jewelry that you currently have. He or she can tell you if particular pieces are real or fake upon some tests or by his or her experience.
Price is also an important element when buying the silver jewelry. If you happen to see someone selling a sterling silver necklace at quite low price, you should first consult them to see if there is some flaws on them or if it is a second hand necklace.
If they are online sellers, go to Google their website and then you will come up with many results, click on some reviews that others made after shopping with them, if possible, contact them for any advice about their quality and their customer service.
Knowing all these tips on how to tell sterling silver jewelry, you can now free to buy some silver jewelry for your collection, accessorizing your look and have a good mood in your daily life

History of Chinese Qipao
Chinese Qipao which is also called Cheongsam, is an elegant type of dress which has a long history and legend. Designed in a close fitting style and a high neck, side slits, its history dates back to the Manchu Nationality. China is a country which has a long history and cultivates many cultures and customs. Qipao is considered to be one of the greatest inventions during its fashion history. Nowadays, we can see Chinese girls in Qipao dresses in international celebrations. Yeah, Qipao has become a symbol of the Chinese nation. Such a smart fashion design came with a legend. Here is the story:

Once upon a time, there was a young fisherwoman lived by the Jingbo Lake. Most men were attracted by her beauty and her wisdom. She always wore elegant dresses when she fishing, but she often felt hindered by her long and loose fitting dress. Then an idea struck her: why not make a more practical and fitting dress for work？ However she has no time for making such a dress for herself, then she said to those men who has a passion for her “who can make a fitting dress for me, I will date with him.”After her ammouncement, most men disappeared as they didn’t know how to make that dresses, some went to the tailor and made beautiful for her. That fisherwoman refused those men who went to the tailor for help. While she was totally disappointed at those men, one young boy showed up, taking a dress with him, he said to the woman
“Please try it on for me. I sewed it for half a month. It is all done by me.”
The fisherwomen took the dress and unfolded it, people were all screaming at its delicate design—it was a long multi-looped-button gown with slits, which enabled her to tuck in front piece of her dress, thus making her fishing job easier without any hindrance. As a fisherwoman, she never dreamed that a fortune would befall on her.
The fisherwoman can’t help dancing in that dress and gave the young boy a full embrace. From then on, they became lovers and had a romantic life. The boy still made more and more fitting dresses for the woman to wear; they lived for a long and happy life since then.
We do not know whether the story is true or not. But one thing is certain. The Cheongsam came from the Manchu who grew out of ancient Nuzhen tribes. In the early 17th century, Nurhachi, a great political and military strategist, unified the various Nuzhen tribes and set up the Eight Banners System. Over the years, a collarless, tube-shaped gown was developed, which was worn by both men and women. That is the embryo type of Qipao. The dress is called Qipao in Chinese or translated as ”banner gown”, for it came from the people who lived under the Banner System.

The Chinese apparel Qipao had extent to its largest popularity among ladies of the royal family in the Qing Dynasty. At that time, Qipaos were fitted loosely and were so long that they would reach the insteps. Usually they were made to have some exaggerated trimmings on the collars or on the sleeves and edges.
In the 1920s, Qipao / Cheongsam became popular throughout China. Every girl will dress in Qipao for an elegant look. Moreover, the influence of western dressing styles enabled Qipao to have more modern look. The length was shortened and the cuffs were cut narrower and trimmed with a thin lace. This change has allowed the feminine body type to be fully displayed.
In the 1930s, wearing a Qipao / Cheongsam became fashion among women in the whole of China. Various styles appeared during this period. Some were short; some were long, with low, high or even no collars at all. It was considered to be the blossom time of the Qipao fashion.
Cheongsams became closer-fitting and more practical since 1940s. In summer, women wore sleeveless dresses. Qipaos of this period were seldom adorned with patterns. They were all made into absolutely smooth and sleek design, more focusing on displaying women’s feminine look.
It has turned into a standard female attire in Asia since 1960s.Following Western fashion, the tailors raised the hem, even to above the knee, so that it will no longer look long, but tight and fitting.
In the West, during the sexual revolution of the 1960s the style was deemed something oppressive, like the Victorian bodice.
Things became worse that even certain western popular culture treated Qipao as the sexual objectification of women, when mentioning its name, people will think of the movie character Suzie Wong spontaneously.
However, today things have been changed and Qipao can continue to show it charms nowadays.Qipao designer also incorporate modern fashion element into its styles, making it have more modern look, while sustaining its fantastic feminine charm.
It really deserves an investment to buy one for your wardrobe.