Qipao: Difference between revisions

[[File:rsz qipao 9822.jpg|frame]]

 

 

In popular culture, nothing spells "Chinese" like a ''qipao'', and as a result, if a [[Chinese Girl]] or a [[Dragon Lady]] shows up, chances are she'll be wearing one. The qipao was not originally Chinese, but introduced by the Manchu invaders who established the Qing Dynasty, and was traditionally loose-fitting. The high-slit, body-hugging dress with which the name is now associated was invented in Shanghai in the 1920s.

 

The ''qipao'', or at least a dress cut like it, is also occasionally worn by non-Chinese women, as its tight fit and [[Show Some Leg|slit up the side]] ramp up the sexiness of the character while still being relatively modest. Almost always used as [[Fan Service]].

 

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{{examples}}

* ''[[Naruto]]'': Sakura Haruno wears a qipao, and Tenten wears a pink qipao blouse before the timeskip in the series.

* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'': Ku Fei and Kaede both are fond of qipaos.

* Ran-Mao in ''[[Black Butler]]'' wears a [[Mini-Dress of Power|mini-dress version]] of the qipao... in the Victorian era when showing ankle was considered indecent.

 

* ''[[Les Innommables]]'': Alix frequently wears a qipao, and so do the prostitutes at the Purple Lotus.

* An old ''[[Archie]]'' comic has Veronica wearing a qipao, and getting furious when everyone comments on her "ripped dress".

* The [[DC Comics]] villainess Roulette wears one as her signature outfit, despite being white.

 

 

* Nancy Kwan famously wore one in ''The World of Suzie Wong''.

* The two Chinese women who show up at the party in ''[[Breakfast at Tiffany's]]'' wear qipaos. Another guest tells one of them "Hey, honey, your skirt's split there."

* Many characters in [[Flower Drum Song]] since it's set in 1950's Chinatown, San Francisco and the characters are either Chinese immigrants or children of Chinese immigrants.

* In ''[[Brick]]'', the [[Femme Fatale]] Laura Dannon wears a rather striking red one in an early party scene.

 

* The protagonists of ''[[Shanghai Girls]]'', being fashion-conscious upper-class young women, make a big deal of wearing qipaos in the latest styles.

 

* Anna Wu wore this in an episode of ''[[Chuck]]'', to impress her very traditional parents.

* In ''[[The Man from U.N.C.L.E.]]'' episode "The Hong Kong Shilling Affair", Heavenly Cortelle wears a qipao.

 

* Chun Li in ''[[Street Fighter]]'' wears a modified version. Among the differences to the traditional kind are short, puffy sleeves, a white obi lining the waist, and one huge slit on each side (instead of a single slit over one of the legs, making the skirt look more like a cloth on the front and a tail on the back), which allows for more freedom of movement (and not coincidentally [[Show Some Leg|shows off her muscular thighs]]).

* An outfit for the thief class for females in ''[[Maple Story]]''.

* ''[[Guild Wars]]'': Female mesmer clothing in factions.

* Hong Meiling of the ''[[Touhou]]'' series is also depicted in fanart as wearing one, though in the original ZUN art, she wears a cheongsam with a pair of pants.

* Part of the 'official' uniform for female Monks in ''[[Dragon Quest IX]]''.

* One of Lei-Fang's costumes in ''[[Dead or Alive]]''. Very iconic of the series since almost every attack she does while in it guarantees a [[Panty Shot]].

* Maggie Chow in ''[[Deus Ex]]'' wears one to go with her [[Dragon Lady]] character.

* ''[[Final Fantasy V]]'': Lenna wears one when she becomes the [[Bare-Fisted Monk|Monk]] class.

* Shadow Yamato in the Sega CD version of ''[[Eternal Champions]]''. She's a [[Ninja]], [[Rule of Sexy|by the]] [[Highly-Visible Ninja|way.]]

* Fumi in ''[[Devil Survivor 2]]''.

 

* ''[[Least I Could Do]]'': Cyndi Wang wears a qipao while waitressing in a Chinese restaurant, and while attending Rayne's New Year party.

 

* Chinese superheroes Cloud Dragon and Summer Cloud (no relation), from the ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]'', both wear qipaos as part of their costumes.

 

* ''[[The Venture Brothers]]'' - Dr. Girlfriend wears one to pick up an on-the-prowl Rusty as part of a scheme of the Monarch's.

* Wing, the real life Chinese songstress appearing on the eponymous episode of ''[[South Park]]'' wears a red qipao.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Dresses, Gowns, and Skirts]]

[[Category:Fanservice Costumes]]

[[Category:Useful Notes/China]]