It’s always been too long since I’ve drawn my original baby… and I think I’m about to take him back to the drawing board and give him a new lease of life.
[Image: a digital sketch, in purple and cyan tones. The subject is Mitchell, a drow wizard, wearing a cross-collar robe and a wéimào: a wide-brimmed bamboo hat with a long, translucent veil that opens at the front to either side. He has long, pointed ears with folded tips, pale hair in a loose braid over one shoulder, white freckles, and a reserved smile, and stands backlit by a pale cyan glow. There are leaves visible silhouetted in the foreground and background, implying surrounding wilderness. End ID.]
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Qipao/Cheongsam Taobao Shop Recs
A while ago I received a direct message asking for recs on where to buy qipao/cheongsam, and I figured I’d make a post for others who’d also be interested.
First of all - I think qipao should be tried on and bought in-person if at all possible, since having the right fit is important - especially if it’s for a formal occasion like a wedding. However, since that’s often not possible, I’ve compiled a list of online shop recs, mainly for more casual occasions.
Since English-language online qipao shops are plentiful and easy to find, I’ll be focusing this list on Taobao shops only. Please note that these are my personal recs, based on my own aesthetic preferences. Thus most of the recs are for shops focused on retro-inspired, minguo-style qipao made using the traditional 平裁/pingcai (flat tailoring) method. Also, I have not actually purchased qipao from any of these shops (all my qipao were bought in person) - this is based mainly on how appealing I find the designs.
1. 嬉姷/Xi You - Elegant qipao modelled closely on historical designs, mainly from the Republican era/minguo. Careful attention paid to historical details. My favorite qipao shop to browse for fun:
2. 海上芳时/Shanghai Fancy - Specializes in chic minguo-style designs of the 1920s-1940s. Recently came out with a neat art deco-inspired collection:
3. 唐之语/Tang Zhi Yu - Retro-style qipao in a variety of bold prints, with a focus on the form-fitting designs of the 1950s-1960s, including those from the film “In the Mood for Love”:
4. 繁莳/Fancy Dream - Dreamy, delicate retro-inspired qipao and modified qipao. Also has a nice selection of winter majia (vests):
5. Top Ulara - A large selection of classic, retro-style qipao with a hint of glamour. Offers lots of long/thick/layered qipao suitable for colder weather:
6. 梦回故里/Menghui Guli - Nostalgic, conservative retro-style qipao for all seasons. Old-fashioned in a good way:
7. 柳园旗袍/Liuyuan Qipao - Retro-style qipao with bold and interesting prints, in styles from the 1910s to the 1960s. The shop currently doesn’t show any products, but hopefully it’ll restock soon:
8. 限时赏味/Xianshi Shangwei - Streamlined, retro-style qipao in subtle colors and prints that exemplify understated elegance:
9. 茉茉/Momo - Tons of options for simple, cute, and casual retro-style qipao suitable for daily wear. Designs tend towards monochromes and all-over prints. Another review/rec here:
10. 珞珞如石/RoseEra - Simple yet elegant retro-style and contemporary qipao. I love the shop’s use of sheer fabrics & layering in its designs:
11. 向南飞FLY - Offers a selection of casually stylish retro-style qipao and modified qipao for daily chic:
12. 川黛/Chuan Dai - Soft, feminine, pastel-infused qipao & modified qipao in retro-inspired and contemporary styles:
13. 四斤自制/Sijin Studio - Creative, avant-garde takes on (modified) qipao & qipao-inspired outfits:
14. 密扇/Mukzin - Colorful, playful, and irreverent modified qipao and qipao-inspired outfits. There’s also an English website here:
If you like the above qipao but still want an English website, there are several Taobao resellers that carry similar designs - for example, Beth and Brian Qipao.
Finally, when it comes to in-person shops, I want to highlight Xiangjiang Silk Co., a relatively new boutique in New York City specializing in actual vintage 1950s-1960s qipao. There’s an article here on the boutique and its founder Heather Guo (who was featured in Vogue). Store visits are appointment-only, so you’ll have to reach out to Heather via her social media if you want to drop by.
If anyone has reviews of the above shops and/or more qipao shop recs, please share! ^^
Bonus: I also have online shop recs for hanfu (1, 2), modified hanfu/hanyuansu (1, 2), hanfu accessories, weimao, and hair accessories.
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a couple random Dune fashion things because I need them to round the world out better in my head when I'm reading <3
My newest obsessions have been Milis and Weimaos, the traditional veiled hats of the Tang dynasty I'm in love with the symbolism and the characterization they could provide...endless possibilities. I've been imagining them as a staple of the Fenrings and their court, mostly because the name Fenring reminds me of Chinese surnames a bit (In Chinese, Fen means fragrant or perfume if used in the feminine, and strive or exert if used in the masculine). So I think it would be cool if there were a future-ized version of these veiled hats, especially for Lady Margot like imagine her rolling up in a black one, her and her fellow bene gesserit obscured by mystery and also this gauze veil.
I've already talked about the Bedouin inspired clothes for the Bremen, and how I wished there was more color, so now for hair. I really adore the Tuareg peoples traditional hairstyles for women, all these complex braids that I imagine are a coming of age/status symbol thing when I'm reading Dune. Tuareg men are actually the ones who traditionally wear face veils out in the open, which I also think is fitting (though most likely fremen men and women will wear them outdoors, but the women still have the braids)
I toss around a lot of ideas for what I think imperial clothing looks like, but if I'm talking about the new films interpretation specifically, I really enjoyed the route they took and want to elaborate on those ideas. The loose, bordering on shapeless silhouette gives off two ideas to me. 1: these people are rich enough to afford lots of excess fabric, and not have to utilize every scrap to survive like the Fremen do. Luxury and leisure is available. 2: They don't need to prove themselves. They're the top dog, there's no need to show off power when they already have all the power. However I do like the idea of actual ornamentation when the occasion calls for it or when a member of the imperial family wants to show off, but the shape is still flowing and loose.
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wandering dan heng :3
[ID: digital drawing of imbibitor lunae dan heng in jin yi wei style attire. he is wearing a weimao with a dark veil with his horns sticking out from the top. One arm is tucked behind him while the other arm is holding cloudpiercer. His robe has a stylized dragon with wave and cloud motifs throughout. The background has an ink wash style landscape of mountains with a moon in the sky behind him. ]
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