The cheongsam is a popular wear during winter because it could be padded easily, most of the time with cotton, like this blue floral cheongsam from the 1950s. This one piece dress belonged to Mrs Kwok Swee Ying, who is the donor’s mother, Mr Kenson Kwok. Mrs Kwok was born in KL in 1914. In 1953 she moved with her family from Penang to Singapore. Her husband Kwok Chan Kwan (Alfred) was the General Manager of Lee Wah Bank. As the wife of a banker, Mrs Kwok likes to wear the cheongsam because she felt that it was elegant and appropriate for all occasions. She would have worn this winter cheongsam when she travelled to colder countries such as Hong Kong.
