2015 UMFF Cultural Block
The Qipao red carpet Show

The Qipao is a body-hugging one-piece Chinese dress for women, also known as Mandarin gown in English. The stylish and often tight-fitting qipao that is best known today was created in the 1920s in Shanghai and made fashionable by socialites and upper class women. In 1929, Qipao was decided by the National Republic of China to be one of the national dresses.
Since 1930s, Qipao was popularized from young female students to all women in China regardless of their ages and social status. More and more female workers and celebrities put on Qipao. The style of Qipao also varied due to western costume’s influence. It changed from a wide and loose style to a more form fitting and revealing cut, which put more emphasis on women’s body line. The length of Qipao was also reduced from ankle reaching to above the knee. Besides, the design of Cheongsam got various inventions like ruffled collar, bell-like sleeves and black lace frothing.
With the rise of Chinese economy, Qipao also enters people’s sight in the world fashion realm. Many western designers integrated elements of Qipao in their costume designing. French designer Pierre Cardin once admitted that Qipao was his inspiration of many evening dress designing. In more and more films and movies, Cheongsam are also used to make an exotic impression. Like in the movie One Day (2011), Anne Hathaway wore a set of dark blue Qipao as evening dress, which won her an extensive appreciation. Many western stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Nicole Kidman, Paris Hilton, Emma Watson, and Celine Dion also made their public appearance in Qipao.

Rehearsal Performance Time: 2:30-4:30PM; April 19, 2015.  Center Fountain area; Promenade On The Peninsula, 550 Deep Valley Drive; Rolling Hills Estate, CA 90275
Red Carpet Show Time: 5:30-6:00PM; April 19, 2015. RHCC Community Center; 735 Silver Spur Road; Rolling Hills Estate, CA 90275

Juries: Ms.He Huang; Mr. Marco Rea; Mr.Jon Allen; Ms. R Victoria Jodis