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Circa 1930 Women's Gown (cheong sam)

Object Details

Description
The donor, Virginia Lee, posed in a similar cheong sam for a US World War II poster and for the "Miss China" contest in New York. Also known as a qu pao, the Chinese traditional loose dress shape was modified by Western designers in the 1920's to be more close-fitting to accentuate a woman's figure. The altered dress form became broadly popular in the United States as evening wear in the late 1950's and 1960's.
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Museum of American History
user
Mead, Virginia Lee
maker
unknown
date made
ca 1930
Credit Line
Gift of James Edgar Mead and Virginia Lee Mead
Physical Description
satin (overall material)
silk (overall material)
embroidered (overall production method/technique)
Measurements
overall: 51 cm x 116 cm; 20 3/32 in x 45 21/32 in
Object Name
dress
Object Type
Dress
Woman
Main Dress

Featured In

  • Clothes and Heritage: Chinese American Clothes from the Virginia Lee Mead Collection
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