Title
Purple cheongsam with pink synthetic lining and padded shoulders
Year/Period
1980s
Region
Singapore
Dimension
Gross measurement: 133 x 108 cm
Accession No.
2010-01332
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs Betty Chen
This cheongsam with white piping and floral prints all over belonged to the donor’s late mother, May Wong. The cheongsam has padded shoulders, reflective of the fashion trend in the 1980s.May Wong was known as the First Lady of Charity in Singapore. Born in Sacramento, California, Wong settled down in Singapore after marriage with the late bank manager, Wong Shiu Kei. She held positions such as president of the Chinese Women’s Association and chairman of the Henderson Senior Citizens’ Home. Wong liked to wear the cheongsam to assert her identity as a Chinese.
