Cheongsam is a body-hugging one-piece Chinese dress for women.  It is called qipao or qipaor in Chinese language and in English it is known as mandarin gown.  The first traditional qipao dress was wide buggy and a bit loose when it was introduced.  It covered most of the woman’s body except head and hands.  Due to its loose buggy nature the traditional qipao conceal the figure of a woman regardless of her age.

The modern version of qipao is especially noted for accentuating the figures of women and due to this reason it is highly popular in high societies.  There are different version of modern qipao such as high-necked sleeveless dresses, bell-like sleeves and the black lace frothing at the edge of a ball gown.