Title
A cream and brown sleeveless op-art cheongsam
Year/Period
1960s-1980s
Region
Singapore
Dimension
Gross measurement: 144.2 x 49.8 cm
Accession No.
2011-00126
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Irene Lim
This is an ankle-length cream and brown cheongsam decorated with op-art prints. Op art, short for optical art, was an abstract style popular in the 1960s in which geometric prints and vivd colours were used to create illusions of movement.The cheongsam is a ubiquitous Chinese dress that first gained popularity in the early 20th century and was an essential part of a typical woman’s wardrobe. It has its origins in the originally long robes worn by Manchu women of the Qing Dynasty. The cheongsam is usually bespoked to ensure a fitted silhouette and its other distinctive features include a high collar, side slits at the hem and a decorative knot and loop fastener for the collar or shoulder flap, called the ‘hua niu’.
