The best place to buy a modern qipao is from the independent Chinese labels that are re-cutting it. Go to OFAKIVA for art-print and reversible midis, LULUSWINGS for mesh and oil-painting-print maxis, Selene Chow for embroidered evening gowns, BLOOD SUPPLY for denim and velvet, and JYOSEI or BUM STUDIO for short, sharp minis. All six are stocked at CHINASQUAD.
A qipao, also called a cheongsam, is the fitted Chinese dress defined by a high mandarin collar, a close silhouette and, often, knotted frog buttons along the closure. "Modern qipao" is shorthand for designers who keep that frame and change nearly everything else: the fabric, the length, the print, sometimes the attitude. For ideas on wearing one, see our modern qipao styling guide.
OFAKIVA: The Art-Print Qipao
OFAKIVA treats the qipao like a canvas. The 'Poppy' Golden Halo Print Knitted Qipao Dress is a sleeveless knitted midi with a soft A-line and a golden floral halo print, offered in Halo Gold Green or Metallic Black Purple. The Tri-color Reversible Printed Qipao Dress goes further, with a different print on each side, so you can wear it two ways; it comes in Black with Khaki or Purple with Beige. The Roman Poem print and a reversible fishtail style named "Window" round out the range. Most styles come in a regular version and an Extended or Long version, worth checking if you are tall, and the tri-color runs from XS to XXL. Start with the OFAKIVA collection, or read our OFAKIVA brand guide.
LULUSWINGS: Mesh and Oil-Painting Maxis
LULUSWINGS works mostly in floor-length, new-Chinese-style qipao, often in low-saturation color. The Iris Purple Mesh Qipao pairs a soft purple tone and an ink-style floral print with a sheer mesh overlay, which gives the dress a light, layered look, while the Spring Oil Painting Qipao Dress carries an oil-paint-inspired floral lace print. For something darker, the Dark Floral Mesh Qipao Dress sets a subtle blossom pattern on a black base. The label also makes cleaner jacquard cheongsam maxis: one in moss green with a fitted waist, side slit and sculpted shoulder line, and a slim black version with a minimalist structure. Sizes run XS to M, and several styles list pre-sale sizes alongside in-stock ones, so check before ordering. Browse the LULUSWINGS edit.
Selene Chow: Embroidered Cheongsam Gowns for Formal Events
If the invitation has a dress code, Selene Chow is the answer. This is the most formal label here, built on embroidered, beaded and lace cheongsam gowns. The Black Lace Mandarin Collar Cheongsam Dress is the quiet option, with a keyhole neckline, scalloped cap sleeves and a slim, full-length line. From there it escalates. The Blush Gold Jacquard Mandarin Collar Cheongsam Dress has a floral-and-bird jacquard with a subtle sheen, the Scarlet Opulence gown adds gold floral embroidery and a back train, and several pieces, such as the Champagne Illusion sequin cheongsam, come with a detachable bow train. There are also mandarin-collar minis and two-piece sets for daytime events. Think weddings, galas and cultural celebrations, then explore the full Selene Chow collection.
BLOOD SUPPLY: Denim Dragons and Dark Velvet
BLOOD SUPPLY is where to look for a denim qipao, a phrase that sounds like a contradiction until you see one. The Washed Denim Dragon Qipao Dress is cut from soft washed cotton stretch denim with a dragon-pattern jacquard, and it reworks the silhouette through a light punk lens. An X-shaped construction defines the waist for a streamlined shape you can wear every day. For colder months, the Jacquard Velvet Fishtail Qipao Dress takes the opposite mood: thick silver-gray velvet with an embossed texture, a fishtail skirt, a classic cheongsam collar with Chinese knot detailing, a semi-sheer lace V insert, puffed shoulders, bell sleeves and hand-sewn silver metal frog buttons. It was made with Halloween and dark-romantic dressing in mind, and one variant includes a faux fox-fur hat with a detachable rose brooch. Shop BLOOD SUPPLY.
JYOSEI: The Lace Cheongsam Mini
JYOSEI's Floral Lace Cheongsam Dress is proof that a cheongsam does not need a long hem to keep its identity. It is a fitted mini with the essentials intact, a mandarin collar and frog-button accents, then adds a front cut-out and a band of black lace at the hem for contrast. Black is the only color, in S, M and L, with a pre-sale option listed alongside stock. It suits parties and dinners where a gown would be too much and a plain black dress too little. Because the fit is close and the length is short, it is less forgiving than an A-line midi, so check your measurements against the size chart before ordering. Explore JYOSEI.
BUM STUDIO: The Cheongsam as a Mesh Bodycon
BUM STUDIO pushes the idea furthest. Its Chinese Embroidered Cheongsam Dress keeps the mandarin collar and the new-Chinese-style shape but rebuilds it as a close-fitting bodycon mini: a sheer mesh upper with cap sleeves, plus contrasting satin bust cups that give the bodice structure. The fabric is nylon spandex, so stretch does much of the fitting work. It comes in black, from XS to L. This is a qipao for a night out rather than a family banquet, and the contrast between mesh and satin means it needs very little styling. If you want one mandarin-collar piece that feels like evening clubwear, start with BUM STUDIO.
How to Choose Your Qipao
Start with the occasion. A wedding or gala points to Selene Chow; dinners and events suit LULUSWINGS or OFAKIVA; a party is JYOSEI or BUM STUDIO territory; and BLOOD SUPPLY covers both everyday denim and dark-romantic velvet. Then pick a length, mini, midi or maxi, remembering that most OFAKIVA styles come in an extended version. Fabric sets the season, from knit and mesh in warmer weather to velvet in autumn and winter. Fit matters most, because a qipao is cut close to the body. Measure your bust, waist and hips, compare them with each product's size chart, and if you fall between sizes in a fitted style, size for your largest measurement.
If nothing here is quite right yet, keep an eye on our new arrivals for the latest qipao and cheongsam styles.
