Archive for October, 2009

Shirt

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

There are as many different types of Chinese shirts as there are hours in the day; and with summer fast approaching, the latest styles and fashions of that long time staple of menswear – the Asian shirt – are sure to cause a buzz in the fashion scene all over the country and across the globe. Women’s inspirational sexy Chinese style shirts are a great way to display how you feel about keeping a positive outlook on life.

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Displaying proudly encouraging words for others to see portrays an upbeat image that will attract other positive people into your life. Whilst the American usage of the term “Oriental silk shirt” generally refers to any garment other than a jacket worn on the top half of the body, in Britain the term normally refers to a garment with buttons up the middle and on the collar, and long-sleeves with full cuffs – an item of clothing known as a sexy elegant Chinese silk shirt in America.

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Whilst more formal men’s shirts are often associated with special occasions and restrictive job-wear, young men in particular should not make the mistake of overlooking the fashionable men’s shirt! Chinese inspired shirts are also a great way to give a gift to that special woman in your life. She will be reminded every time she wears it and the positive message will keep her thoughts on the outlook that the Asian style shirt carries. The variety of garments that this definition can provide stretches is both wide and far-reaching. At one end of the spectrum, you’ll find the extremely informal white sleeveless Chinese inspired shirt which has long been popular in punk and alternative fashions; while at the other end of the scale, people will find the only Asian silk shirt that was officially recognised in mainland China for many years – the double breasted Chinese shirt with four pockets known officially as the ‘Zhongshan suit’,

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but long referred to as the ‘Mao suit.’ Long sleeved traditional Chinese shirts are also changing to keep up with the times. Oriental style shirts with deliberately pre-rolled up sleeves are proving to be popular, with long vertical stripes and a comfortable but fitted look winning through. Let’s not forget as well updates to the classic smart Asian style shirt – and of course the ties to go with them!

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Pajamas

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

The word “pyjama” was incorporated into English from the Hindustani language. The word originally derives from the Persian word پايجامه Payjama meaning “leg garment.”

The worldwide use of pyjamas, both the word and the garment, is the result of British presence in South Asia in the 18th and 19th centuries. According to Yule and Burnell’s Hobson-Jobson (1903)the word originally referred to loose trousers tied around the waist.

Such a garment is used by various persons in India e.g. by women of various classes, by Sikh men, and most by Muslim of both sexes. It was adopted from the Muslim by Europeans as an article of dishabille and of night attire … It is probable that we English took the habit like a good many others from the Portuguese. Thus Pyrard (c. 1610) says, in speaking of Goa Hospital: “Ils ont force calsons sans quoy ne couchent iamais les Portugais des Indes” … The word is now used in London shops. A friend furnishes the following reminiscence: “The late Mr. B—, tailor in Jermyn Street, some 40 years ago, in reply to a question why pyjammas had feet sewn on to them (as was sometimes the case with those furnished by London outfitters) answered: ‘I believe, Sir, it is because of the White Ants.”

Examples. 1828: “His chief joy smoking a cigar in loose Paee-jams and native slippers.” Orient. Sport. Mag. reprint 1873, i. 64. 1881: “The rest of our attire consisted of that particularly light and airy white flannel garment, known throughout India as a pyjama suit.” Haekel, Ceylon, p. 329.

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, “They were introduced in England as lounging attire in the 17th century but soon went out of fashion. About 1870 they reappeared in the Western world as sleeping attire for men, after returning British colonials brought (them) back ….”

Over the past few decades pyjamas have become less popular and many younger men now sleep in their underwear or naked.

Paper cutting

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Paper cutting is a traditional art that has evolved throughout the course of Chinese cultural development. Its origin is closely connected with the invention of paper during the Eastern Han dynasty (25 A.D.-221 A.D.). In the days after its inception, paper was extremely precious, as a result, paper cutting was only popular among court ladies in the royal palaces and houses of nobility. During the 7th through 13th centuries, paper cutting was immensely popular among the commoners. By the 15th century, paper cut art works had become an integral part of the everyday life of the people. Paper cutting also became one of the crafts that every girl was to master and that were often used to judge brides. The influence of paper cutting on Europe and Asia can be traced back to the 7th century as well. The art spread to Japan and then to the Middle East and Europe via the Silk Road, thus leading to the creation of many different styles.

The art of paper cutting has remained unfading in China through the ages principally because its devotees used the skills of knife and scissors to dynamically depict splendid Chinese culture and folk festivals in all its many facets. For example in ancient times, social calls by ordinary folk involved giving paper cuts as gifts and using fancy paper cut likenesses for beautiful adornment to signify auspiciousness. Subsequently, mutual emulation and minute study led to a superb level of paper cutting technique.

By later generations, paper cutting ranged from clipping complicated patterns using a tiny pair of scissors to often making cutouts into window decorations, clothes-making stencils, or embroidery patterns for shoes.

As the art passed down through the generations, the mainstream techniques developed many diverse forms, but the themes of the subject matter primarily remained folk motifs, with two-dimensional illustrations as the primary form. The technique they display consists of a combination of trimming with scissors and carving with a knife. The rendering of their visual appearance involves such methods as applying multiple layers of color, folding symmetrically, individually pasting, and uniquely engraving. These different cutting methods could be said to be quite beautiful, but manifestation of the unique, lively beauty of paper cutting still depends on the artistic mastery of every artisan.

Long gown

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

In traditional Chinese dress, a changshan (traditional Chinese: 長衫; simplified Chinese: 长衫; pinyin: Chángshān literally “long shirt”) is the male equivalent of the women’s qipao (cheongsam). It is also known as a changpao or dagua .

The Mandarin word changshan is cognate with the Cantonese term chèuhngsàam, which has been borrowed into English as ‘cheongsam’. Unlike the Mandarin term, however, Cantonese chèuhngsàam can refer to both male and female garments,and in Hong Kong it is frequently used for the body-hugging female garment rather than for the male changshan. The Hong Kong usage is reflected in the meaning of“cheongsam” in English, which refers exclusively to the female garment.

Changshan, along with qipao, were introduced to China during the Qing Dynasty (17th century–20th century). The Manchus ordered that all Han Chinese should adopt the changshan style of dress—or face execution. Thus, the traditional Chinese Hanfu style of clothing was gradually replaced. Over time, the Manchu style gained popularity.

Changshan was formal dress for Chinese men before Western-style suits became common in China.

The male changshan went well with the western overcoat, fedora, and scarf, and portrayed a unique East Asian modernity.

The 1949 Communist Revolution ended the wearing of changshan and other similar clothing in Shanghai, but Shanghainese emigrants and refugees brought the fashion to Hong Kong where it has remained popular. Recently there has been a revival of the Shanghainese changshan in Shanghai and elsewhere in mainland China.