This is a cheongsam from the early 1950s. Its sleek silhouette follows an overall trend in women's fashion towards more body-hugging clothing, an effect that would have been magnified by the use of fuji-silk, a thin fabric originally manufactured in Japan which had a fluid drape and would therefore fall according to the contours of a woman's body.The cheongsam saw a shift in its cultural connotations in the 1950s - from a dress worn by the elite of society, it was appropriated by the every day woman for daily wear in offices, schools and commercial firms. This one in particular was worn by Sin Mee Kuen, a mandarin teacher in Nan Hua Girls' School. She would wear a cheongsam to school, paired with a watch and high heeled shoes.
