"What is the difference between Qipao and Cheongsam?" We get asked this question a lot. In fact, both Qipao and Cheongsam refer to the exact same traditional Chinese garment featuring a standing collar, and nowadays, the two terms can be used interchangeably. The main difference lies in their linguistic origins. "Cheongsam" literally translates to "long shirt." It was originally used to describe the loose-fitting garments worn by Chinese men in the early 20th century, but it has now evolved into the Cantonese word used to refer to this national dress for women. "Qipao," on the other hand, is the Mandarin term that literally means "robe worn by the Banner people (Manchus)."
The exact origins of the Qipao remain a mystery to this day, but the mainstream view links it back to the long robes commonly worn by both Han men and women during the early Qing Dynasty. The Manchu Qipao of that era was not form-fitting like it is today; instead, it was loose and designed to conceal a woman's body shape. It was not until the 1920s that the Qipao began to evolve into the form-fitting silhouette we know today, as Western fashion influences started to shape Chinese fashion trends.