Cheongsam: a typical Shanghai style fashion. The biggest feature of modern Shanghai women's wear is that they generally wear cheongsam. Qipao was originally a robe worn by Manchu women. It is characterized by wide, straight and long feet. The material used is mainly silk, and the robe is embroidered with patterns, which has not changed for 300 years. In the early 1920s, few women in Shanghai wore cheongsam. Since the 1920s, cheongsam has become popular among women in Shanghai and gradually spread to other places. However, the style of cheongsam was not born out of the flag dress in the late Qing Dynasty. By the end of 1920s, influenced by European and American clothing, the style of cheongsam had changed obviously, such as shortening the length and tightening the waist. The change of Shanghai cheongsam reflects the evolution of Shanghai style fashion. In 1930s, the style of cheongsam widely absorbed the characteristics of western suits on the basis of tradition, making it a combination of Chinese and western clothing, and constantly innovating and changing. This change is dominated by the clothing industry in Shanghai. The changes of cheongsam mainly focus on the collar, sleeves and length. First of all, the high collar is popular, and the higher the collar, the more fashionable it is. Even in midsummer, a cheongsam as thin as a cicada's wing must be accompanied by an ear-high collar. Conversely, low collars are popular. The lower the collar, the more modern it is. When it is too low, simply wear a collarless cheongsam. The same is true of the change of sleeves, sometimes long sleeves are more popular and longer than wrists; Sometimes short sleeves are very popular, as short as bare elbows or even sleeveless. As for the length of cheongsam, there are many changes. It used to be popular for long clothes, and you walked beside the clothes and swept the floor. Later, it was changed into a short one, so short that it reached the knees and even the thighs were exposed. The modeling structure of cheongsam is more and more influenced by western clothing, and more attention is paid to decoration. The 1930s and 40s of this century were the most glorious period of modern women's wear in China, and the 1930s can be said to be the brilliant peak of this period. In other words, at this time, the cheongsam has established an irreplaceable position on the stage of women's wear and has become a typical representative of women's wear in China. Cheongsam, known as China costume, Shanghai style cheongsam and western style, quickly spread from Shanghai to all parts of the country. In 1930s, the aristocratic ladies of Shanghai upper class followed the fashion and lived a luxurious life, which was unprecedented in the history of China. They advocate a westernized life: swimming, riding, dancing and playing golf, all of which require clothes to be more beautiful and fit. In addition, in the 1930s, it was popular in Europe and America to close the waist and show the beauty of women, which was bound to make the cheongsam more slender, tight-fitting and high-forked, thus conforming to the ideal image of exquisiteness, exquisiteness, openness and liveliness in the 1930s. In the 1930s, the style of cheongsam was characterized by "combining Chinese and western styles and changing". At that time, women who loved beauty wore cheongsam in various ways, some westernized, and some wore western-style coats outside cheongsam. Partial westernization refers to the practice of adopting western-style clothing for collars and sleeves. Such as western lapels, lotus leaf sleeves, split sleeves, and ruffled hem or asymmetrical lace, but these are only the social dresses of some stars and celebrities, and most people still like to wear cheongsam with western-style clothes. For example, wear a suit jacket, fur coat, sweater, vest, etc. Wearing a scarf around your neck or a pearl necklace outside a cheongsam looks elegant and chic. In the forties, the popularity of cheongsam tended to be simple. In the early forties, influenced by War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, cheongsam was simple and practical, and the fabric was not particular. In the late 1940 s, the shape of cheongsam emphasized the curve of human body, which made it more exposed. The cycloid of cheongsam moves from the upper leg to the knee and becomes shorter. At that time, the slender waist-closed cheongsam with perm, transparent stockings, high heels, necklaces, earrings, watches and purses were the most fashionable dresses, and the role of women was fully emphasized. Later, an improved cheongsam appeared, that is, many western-style cutting methods were added to the cutting to make the cheongsam more fit and practical. Cheongsam has become a unique "national costume" of the Chinese nation. In addition to clothing, jewelry used by women in modern Shanghai is also very distinctive. Some fashionable women have necklaces around their necks, and pendants are made into heart-shaped boxes containing jade photos; Stud earrings hang in the ear. Because there was no piercing at that time, earrings were mostly movable clips; Most of them wear rings on their fingers; A bracelet or watch on your wrist; There is a pin on the chest. When I go out, I usually take a small and exquisite handbag and a beautifully made silk umbrella. Comparing the cheongsam popular in Shanghai with the western fashion in the same period, we can see many interesting phenomena. The overall style change of cheongsam is almost identical with the fashion of western women's clothing, but it still maintains the traditional shape of China, which is the product of the combination of Chinese and western clothing under the influence of western civilization. It can be said that without the opening of modern Shanghai and the spread of western learning to the east, there would be no westernization of cheongsam and no "Shanghai-style cheongsam".