To promote the continuing culture of women wearing the qipao, the Global Times will be hosting its Qipao Festival in Sanlitun's 1949, The Hidden City on Saturday, May 29. This is also the 29th anniversary of the death of Madam Soong Ching Ling, the wife of Sun Yat-sen, former vice president of China, who was famous for her love of the traditional dress.

The qipao, or cheongsam, can lay claim to a history stretching back to the Qing Dynasty; today's look has evolved from the straight-cut, loose-fit dress with wide sleeves to a short sleeved one-piece, emphasizing female curves. It has also become a symbol of Chinese femininity, remaining both fashionable and sexy by being donned by the likes of Hong Kong movie star, Maggie Cheung, who wore 23 different qipao in the 1960s-based film In the Mood for Love (2000).

The film propelled the dress back into the limelight and popular taste, at least for a while, before beauty Tang Wei upped the game, stunning audiences in Ang Lee's controversial erotic thriller Lust, Caution by donning (and removing) 27 of the figure-hugging dresses. The sexy cinematic treat sent pulses racing and ladies rushing out to buy a qipao to recreate the look - and perhaps even some of the action!

Wang Jinqiao has been working with the dress for 16 years and is currently CEO of dress manufacturer Beijing Gege Qipao Co. Ltd. "Different fabrics apply for different occasions and with different effects," she explained. "Cotton, either plain or with a low-key flower pattern, is a middle-ground material, comfortable for daily wear. It is natural, life-like and feels cozy."

She went on to list the fabric styles. Linen has a bucolic, back-to nature, earthy feel, while silk denotes luxury and is thus suitable really only for grand occasions, such as formal parties, banquets or to welcome important guests into your home. For an even more upscale look, Wang uses expensive materials such as brocade and velvet with sophisticated embroidery.

Besides the fabric element, the collar design is also essential to the whole piece, Wang added. As a general rule, a low-collar is more day-to-day while a high, tight-fitting neckline has a noble look that is really only suitable for formal occasions.

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