Chinese Dress Traditions

[snow_happy]

Hi everyone,

I was looking through the wedding dress thread (all twenty-something pages of it!) and noticed the traditional Chinese dresses - they are absolutely breath-taking. I was thinking about wearing a traditional white wedding dress for the ceremony and then changing into the Chinese dress for the reception.

Besides the traditional RED color, are there any embroidery patterns that are typical for weddings? Or is it basically anything on red?

Does anyone know of a good place to get them custom made in Los Angeles? (maybe with a website I can drool over?)

For those that wore them for their weddings... were they comfortable? (to eat in, dance a little, walk around)


Thanks in advance!

 

[flee12]

Hi,

There are so many variations to the Chinese cheongsam. You can have it short, knee-length or long, with lace overlay, brocade or beaded. 2 of my friends wore them for their weddings, one had a turquoise long cheongsam with gold lace overlay and a huge keyhole at the back and the other one has a long, cap-sleeved red china silk (with crystal beadings) cheongsam with sheer back and a little train. They both looked gorgeous in them! They had the cheongsam made at this bridal salon in Singapore: http://www.dangbridal.com.sg/. I’m not sure if they will ship to US tho.

 

[flee12]

Here’s another one:
Amor Meus (Tel: 65-6336-6930)
Amor Meus interwine fashion with beauty and love - very much like their name, which means "my love" in Latin. Their luxurious designs include ready-to-wear or made-to-measure designs of Straits-Chinese sarong kebayas, cheongsams, tea dresses, evening gowns, bridal wear, hand-sewn beaded shoes and slippers, brooches, silk fabrics, shawls and other work of art.

This place has breathtaking Chinese dresses as well. I’ve been there and I was so attracted to their fabrics and fine workmanship. I think they will ship overseas.

 

[flopkins]

snow_happy-
I believe there will be places in LA Chinatown that can make them, but I don''t have any recommendations. There is an ebay seller efushop that sells non-silk ones for pretty cheap, custom made.

Of course, the traditional color is red. I think common patterns include the dragon and pheonix, and also the double happiness symbol/word for weddings. And gold trim! Anything gold is good! hehe

I think a higher quality silk custom made you can expect to pay 300 and up. I wore my mom''s qi pao before a long time ago (I''m hoping I can still fit into it for my wedding!) and I think it''s pretty comfortable. Of course bc of the slits etc.. you can''t go break dancing or something, but if it''s well made and fits right, should be very comfortable. Except the collar is kinda stiff. I''m not used to having a collar like that, so maybe that''s why. Makes you hold your head up straight though! hehe. Maybe some others can chime in on this.

 

[snow_happy]

Thanks for the responses!

As for the silk fabric - will it already have the embroidery on it? ie can I buy the fabric with the embroidered designs? (not the silk screened)

 

[Dancing Fire]

snow _happy

here''s some old pictures.

 

[luckyhonu]

DF, are those pictures of your wedding? I like the pink qipao!

snow_happy: I think you can get the embroidery on silk. I am in the process of getting a qipao made with efushop.com and they can make it with silk and embroidery. If you email them they can make whatever you want on their website.

http://www.efushop.com/p_qzh.php3

 

[qtiekiki]

It can be any colors... just depends on what you like. Mines will be red silk with gold thread embroidery... the embroidery was already on the silk when I got the fabric and I think that''s mostly the case. You can probably try to find a place that would let you custom embroidery but that''s probably will get to the cost. I am getting mines custom made in the Bay Area tho because I had seen their work... while I was searching, here are places I found Vinshop USA in Hacienda Heights, Nancy''s Tailor & Cleaners (145 E. Duarte Rd, #A A, Arcadia) and stores along Las Tunas in Temple City, but I haven''t seen their works at any of these stores so they are just suggestions of places to check out. Like flopkins mentioned, real silk ones are at least $300. If you want the typical brocade, you might want to check out online sites. Here are a few of them: efushop, eaststore, and chinesemall. Custom made Chinese qi pao should be comfortable and fitted to show off your curve. The reason I went with a store instead of an online vendor is that I can tell the tailor how fitted I want my dress is and that I don''t have to measure myself. So it totally depends on what you want and how you want to get it.

 

[snow_happy]

Thanks everyone!


qtiekiki--I will definitely check out those places. About how long does it take to have them made?

Dancing Fire--I really like your pink qipao too!

 

[Dancing Fire]

hey girls
i''m the one in white

i don''t think i would fit in the pink or the red.

any way i thought the pink one is call cheongsam and the red one is call qipao.

 

[qtiekiki]

I don''t know for sure how long it takes. My tailor told me to go in for measurements in August for my November 5th wedding, but I think she is including time for fittings just in case, and taking into account that I live in LA and she is in Oakland. I think it''s a good idea to give them at least a month. You should probably check with the stores.

 

[tachi]

hi all! here''s a pic of me in my cheongsam. it has a cherry blossom design on it. i totally love it!! i''m wearing it for the tea ceremony in the morning before the actual wedding ceremony and then i''m wearing a normal red dress for the evening dinner. we should have a posting where everyone can share their cheongsams/ethnic dresses.

 

[tachi]

ok, let me try this again

 

[tachi]

ok, one last try. after this, i give up.

 

[snow_happy]

qtiekiki--

I think I read on another thread that you are getting yours made at Lings in Oakland? Why did you decide to go with them since you live in LA? Did you just see pics online? Or have a friend who was really happy with their work? Are there a lot of alterations done on a cheongsam after its made?

Sorry for all the questions! Thanks in advance

 

[luckyhonu]

When I asked about the qipao at Jinza in SF, they told me that there would be 3 fittings, and the last fitting would be 6 weeks before the wedding in case of weight loss.

HTH

 

[qtiekiki]

It''s because I am originally from the Bay Area and I just moved down to live with my FI about 6 months ago, and I had seen their works at weddings. Since my mom and sis are still in the Bay Area, they can make appointments and communicate with the tailor for me, plus I visit occasionally anyways so it''s pretty easy for me. Also I am having a second reception banquet in the Bay Area, so it''s not a lot of extra work for me.

I really don''t think there should be that much alterations to the qipao since it is being custom made to your measurements. I am thinking no more than one fitting unless your weight changes dramatically. I will be visiting the Bay Area in a couple of weeks. I will keep you updated when I get more info.

BTW, there isn''t a difference between qipao and cheongsam. People in different regions used the two different words. I think Cantonese are the only one to use qipao, but I am not 100% sure.

 

[aphisiglovessae]

Here''s a site I came across: China Bridal