Why are fewer women choosing to wear the Cheongsam in Singapore?
As I got dressed to attend the Nurses' Merit Award 2025 at Shangri-La Hotel yesterday, I looked at my wardrobe and thought about which outfit would be appropriate.
I had initially wanted to wear a tailored red dupion silk dress, but changed my mind at the very last minute and picked my silver Cheongsam.
At the event, I spotted one other person wearing a Cheongsam, with a cardigan over it. Needless to say, she looked absolutely beautiful.
I wondered why so few choose to wear a Cheongsam in present times, and then I thought about all the challenges a person wanting to wear one may face.
Let's discuss this.
I personally faced many challenges when I wanted to wear one for my wedding. Firstly, physical stores that sell good-quality Cheongsams in Singapore are known to have very high prices. I went to a few stores and also enquired about having a custom Cheongsam made. The prices ranged between S$600-800.
From my observation, most of the readymade Cheongsams had high side slits and were of shorter length. Ankle length and maxi length Cheongsams were few and definitely more expensive.
Based on the material and fit of the readymade Cheongsams available, I was not convinced that they were worth the price. Especially since most were made from polyester materials, and not real silk. They also were not made for more curvy individuals. I was a UK 6 to 8 back then, and an L-sized Cheongsam would be tight for me. The cutting at the hips were on the smaller side.
Despite all of that, under pressure to get an outfit for my wedding, I settled for a Cheongsam from a local shop that used to have a store at Tanglin Mall. I paid just under S$500 for it. Weeks before the wedding, I didn't feel like it was 'the' dress and opted for a velvet evening dress instead.
But that unfortunate incident did not end my journey with the Cheongsam. I returned to my hometown, Ipoh in search of a good dressmaker. I found Chic N Sleek, located nearby Hospital Fatimah. She's made many outfits for me since with fabrics ranging from silk to linen and denim which I source when I travel and bring over, and I love every one of the outfits she's made.
She made my first custom Cheongsam and it'll always have a special place in my heart. I sourced the material, a pure silk Dupion from India and she made the pankou buttons and piping from black satin, as requested by me.
I also changed some elements to suit my body type. I requested for a back slit, as opposed to 2 side slits in a traditional Cheongsam. Instead of being one straight cut piece, she did a high waist and pencil bottom with length up to my ankle, just like I wanted. It fit my body type and made me feel confident.
From my experience, I found that limited sizing and the high price points of good Cheongsams in Singapore could be a challenge for those wanting to own one. I found my solution in a tailor-made Cheongsam in Ipoh, using high-quality material, sewn to fit to my body.
If you're looking for high-quality fabric, you can checkout what I have in stock here - FABRICS.
