festival is uber chic.

At the mention of qi pao, who could forget the haunting imagery of Maggie Cheong in the movie ' In the Mood for Love ' where she entered every scene with her figure hugging qi pao cut to perfection and single-handedly made the Oriental fashion statement the most desired look to spot.



The original qipao was wide and loose. It covered most of the woman's body, revealing only the head, hands, and the tips of the toes. The baggy nature of the clothing also served to conceal the figure of the
wearer regardless of age. With time, though, the qipao were tailored to become more form fitting and revealing. The modern version, which is now recognized popularly in China as the "standard" qipao, was first developed in Shanghai after 1900, after the Qing Dynasty fell. People eagerly sought a more modernized style of dress and transformed the old qipao to suit their tastes. Slender and form fitting with a high cut, it contrasted sharply with the traditional qipao. However, it was high-class courtesans and socialites in the city that would make these redesigned tight fitting qipao popular at that time.









Source: Chinese Clothing by Valery M Garret and Wikipedia
Qi Pao designed by Maison de Poupee
Photography by Republic of Studio