Title
Beige sleeveless knee-length cheongsam
Year/Period
1960s-1970s
Region
Singapore
Dimension
Gross measurement: 98.3 x 48.5 cm
Accession No.
2008-06202
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Judy Lee
This beige sleeveless knee-length cheongsam comes with a matching brown checked jacket. It belonged to the late Datin Aw Cheng Hu, daughter of Mr. Aw Boon Par. Mr. Aw was a philanthropist best known for introducing the heat rub, Tiger Balm. The cheongsam has a nipped-in waist which was typical of the 1950s Western silhouette. In order to create a more fitted and three-dimensional effect, a series of darts were gradually introduced to the upper part of cheongsam in the 1950s and 1960s, making it resemble a Western-style dress. The cheongsam and jacket were made by Shanghainese tailors with fabric bought from High Street. Datin Aw also had a matching set of jewellery for each cheongsam.
