avatarMulan

Summary

The article reflects on the unique choice of an elderly woman to wear a cheongsam while traveling, challenging conventional travel attire and highlighting the versatility of this traditional Chinese dress.

Abstract

The author discusses the unexpected sighting of an old lady wearing a cheongsam on a cruise ship, contrasting it with typical casual travel wear like jeans and T-shirts. The cheongsam, a traditional Chinese dress known for its figure-hugging elegance, is traditionally associated with formal occasions. However, the woman's choice to wear it for travel expands the perception of its versatility. The article educates readers about the cheongsam's history and its popularity in the 1920s-1940s among Shanghai's elite. It also addresses the misconception that cheongsams are only for formal events, noting the existence of casual, modified versions suitable for daily wear. While the author admires the woman's bold fashion choice, they personally prefer the comfort of jeans and sneakers for travel. The piece concludes by affirming the freedom of clothing choice and invites readers to consider their own travel attire preferences.

Opinions

  • The author admires the old lady's boldness in wearing a cheongsam for travel, finding it both cool and brave.
  • There is a recognition that the cheongsam can be adapted for casual wear, despite its formal connotations.
  • The article suggests that societal biases influence fashion choices, such as the idea that cheongsams are only for special occasions.
  • The author recalls a past experience of encountering a woman climbing a mountain in high heels, acknowledging it as a fashion fad they didn't understand at the time.
  • Despite the admiration for the cheongsam, the author expresses a personal preference for comfortable clothing like jeans and sneakers for travel.
  • The author values the diversity of personal style and the freedom to choose one's attire, emphasizing that everyone should wear what makes them comfortable.

humor

Travel In A Cheongsam

No, it’s not me!

Photo by Eirc Shi on Unsplash

Summer is the peak season for vacations. What do you wear when you travel?

I prefer loose, casual clothes like jeans, a T-shirt, and sneakers.

Of course, everyone has different ideas and choices.

Someone recently posted a set of photos on social media of her traveling with her family. One of them was her mother, an old lady in a cheongsam, standing on the deck of a cruise ship. Really cool!😎

If you don’t know cheongsam, you can see the pictures above.

Cheongsam, also known as Qipao (旗袍), is a Chinese dress worn by women.

According to Wikipedia

The characteristic of the cheongsam is that it perfectly accentuates the female figure, so it is very close-fitting, elegant, and noble, popular in China from the 1920s to the 1940s, and popularized by Chinese socialites and upper-class women in Shanghai.

Based on the above characteristics, cheongsam has become the preferred clothing for various celebrations, such as cultural celebrations, theatrical performances, weddings, etc.

Photo by East Meets Dress on Unsplash

I never thought about traveling in a cheongsam.

How brave is this old lady!

I quickly searched on the internet and found that the cheongsam, like other clothing, has a distinction between formal and informal occasions.

There are many short cheongsams and various modified cheongsams, which are perfect for everyday wear.

That cheongsam is only suitable for formal occasions or some specific occasions should be a prejudice, a big mistake.

I remember one time I was climbing a mountain and saw a woman in high heels climbing the mountain as well.

I was wondering why. Looking back now, it must have been a fad too. I’m out of date! 😲

Bias seems to be everywhere!

However, I still like to travel in jeans and sneakers. Wearing a T-shirt in summer makes me feel much more comfortable than wrapping in a cheongsam that highlights curves. 😁😁

Fortunately, everyone is free to choose what to wear.

Thank you for reading! How about you? Do you want to travel in a cheongsam?

You might like my other stories on travel tips below.

💟 For only $ 5/month you can read all of the stories on Medium and start to write your own. Become a member with my referral link! 
👥 Connect with me on Twitter!
Fun
Bias
Travel
Clothes
Modern Life
Recommended from ReadMedium