Opening on Dec 23 at the Shanghai Museum on People's Square, the exhibition QIPAO: Glamour and Modernity beyond Shanghai explores the rich cultural heritage and transformative journey of the Shanghai-style qipao, the traditional Chinese dress for women. across more than a century of fashion history.

Bringing together nearly 300 items from the 1910s onward, the exhibition traces the stylistic evolution of the qipao and examines its role as a cultural vessel that reflects shifting aesthetics and social currents. Highlights along the timeline include:

• The 1920s-30s, when Western influences shaped a modern silhouette featuring a fitted upper body and a gracefully flared hem.
• The 1940s, marked by wartime practicality and cleaner, more streamlined lines.
• The 1950s, when tailoring reached maturity with the classic hourglass "X" silhouette that accentuated feminine curves, cementing the qipao's status as an iconic Chinese garment worldwide.
• The post-1960s era, in which the qipao entered a creative dialogue with global fashion, absorbing elements of Parisian haute couture, the practicality of New York ready-to-wear, and the fluid lines of Southeast Asian ao dai, while retaining its distinctive Eastern aesthetics.

The exhibits are drawn primarily from the donation of Patricia Pei, president of the board of directors at American Friends of the Shanghai Museum, as well as from the personal collection of singer Jeff Chang. Additional pieces come from the Shanghai History Museum, the Soong Ching Ling Memorial Residence in Shanghai, and the Shanghai Auto Museum. These are complemented by archival works from renowned international and domestic fashion houses, including Dior, Chanel, Gucci, and Lao Feng Xiang Jewelry. Together, this cross-cultural, century-spanning display vividly illustrates the diverse stylistic directions of qipao design and its limitless potential to integrate with complementary accessories.

To present these treasures with greater authenticity, the exhibition has specially developed 13 foundational dress forms designed for Shanghai-style qipao. With variations in shoulder width, bust, waist, and hip proportions, they reflect the real and diverse body shapes of women throughout the 20th century.

If you go

• When: De 23, 2025 to May 5, 2026
• Where: No 201 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu district
• Admission: Free

Source: WeChat account of Shanghai Museum at "SH-Museum"