The cheongsam
"The Cheongsam, the first comprehensive account of the garment to be written in English, traces the garment's history from its origins in the robes of the rulers of the Manchu dynasty (1644-1911) to its popularity on the catwalks of today's major international fashion shows. Evolving from the classless, androgynous long robes traditionally worn by Chinese men, the cheongsam offered freedom from the layers of restrictive clothing traditionally worn by Chinese women. It came into its own in the 1930s in Shanghai, and its subsequent development in many ways paralleled the emergence of the 'modern' woman in China."
Print Book, English, 2000
Oxford University Press, New York, 2000