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Wearing History — Chinese Dress Since 1949

 

Maggie Cheung wore cheongsam in the popular film In the Mood for Love.

In line with the growth of national power, people's confidence and sense of pride to their own culture has also increased. Movie star Maggie Cheung wore over 20 cheongsams in the popular film In the Mood for Love, which gave Chinese women a feel for the beauty of traditional Chinese clothing. Cheongsams have consequently become a favorite style once again. Showing little resemblance to the cheongsams of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), today's dresses reveal not only the distinctive elegance and tenderness of Chinese women, but also their graceful posture. Revised Chinese jackets have also enjoyed a resurgence in popularity after world leaders were photographed wearing Tang-style suits at the APEC meeting in Shanghai in 2001.

People who love Chinese classical culture have advocated the campaign for Han Dynasty costumes. They believe stylish Chinese styles actually embody the characteristics of ethnic minorities in north China, but not the genuine clothing of the Han majority, which impressed people with its free and elegant feel. Participants in the campaign are mainly young people born in the 1980s and 1990s.

World leaders were photographed wearing Tang-style suits at the APEC meeting in Shanghai in 2001. This photo displayed in a shop window attracted Shanghai citizens.

As illustrated above, nearly every decade has seen Chinese society remade to an astonishing extent, which can be traced through clothing: from cheongsams to the People's Suit, "Lenin Coat" to military uniforms, etc. Garments tell the story of China's modern history.

Editor:Wen Yi

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