History Main / Qipao

* CleavageWindow: A hole in a woman's top that accentuates cleavage.

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[[quoteright:350:[[Series/LoveInHanYuan https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/qipao2_4.png]]]]
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''Qipao'' (旗袍 qípáo and pronounced roughly ''chee-pow'') is the Mandarin Chinese name for the body-hugging, high-necked dress (sleeves optional) fashionable in the Chinese world between the 1920s and 1960s, and still popular on [[SheCleansUpNicely formal occasions]] to this day.

The qipao was not originally Chinese, but introduced by the Manchu invaders who established the Qing Dynasty and implemented laws that required the populace to adopt Manchu clothing and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queue_(hairstyle) hairstyles]] instead of the traditional Chinese [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanfu hanfu]]. However, since the Manchu were vassals to the former Han-led Ming Dynasty, the qipao itself had already been influenced by the clothing of the ethnic Chinese, making the qipao a bit of a recursive piece of fashion. The qipao was originally a loose-fitting outfit combining a tunic and long skirt; the high-slit, body-hugging dress with which the name is now associated was invented in Shanghai in the 1920s. The qipao was also influenced in cut and style by 1930s fashion style.

In English, the same garment is often called a ''cheongsam'', a loan-word derived from the Cantonese pronunciation of the Shanghainese name for the dress (which is ''zansae''), due to the large numbers of Shanghainese fleeing to Hong Kong during the communist revolution of 1949. The word ''cheongsam'' is actually gender neutral while qipao refers to a woman's dress; the male equivalent of the qipao is called changshan (长衫). Both of these are usually only worn for parties or formal events.

In popular culture, nothing spells "Chinese" like a ''qipao'', so if a native [[AnimeChineseGirl Chinese girl]] or a DragonLady shows up in a work (especially if it's a historical piece or a movie or animated short made back when Chinese women were stereotypically depicted as seductive, but dangerous), the chances are high that she'll be wearing one. The ''qipao'', or at least a dress cut like it, is also occasionally worn by non-Chinese characters, as its tight fit and [[ShowSomeLeg slit up the side]] ramp up the sexiness of the character while still being relatively modest. Almost always used as {{Fanservice}}. However, in RealLife a significant proportion of Chinese people disapprove of non-Chinese women wearing it unless they have specifically invited them to for a special occasion.

The "sex appeal" of the qipao has many UnfortunateImplications due to Orientalism, YellowPeril stereotypes, ongoing racist stereotypes of Chinese people (such as hypersexualization of Chinese women) and fetishistic CultureEqualsCostume use by non-Chinese people. In Japan it is known as the "China dress", and the popularity of the dress in Japanese media stems back to [[UnfortunateImplications the Japanese occupation of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War]] when Chinese women still used the qipao as daily wear.

As a humorous side note, the {{fanservice}}y qipao (the ones with the diamond CleavageWindow, are so short that it shows the upper thighs, and the slit goes up to the undies) that are commonly featured in Western and Japanese media are only in use in RealLife as lingerie or prostitute wear. They are ''never'' used for formal events.

The qipao itself has developed an increasingly mixed reputation in China. While once regarded as highly fashionable and the mainstream dress for Han Chinese women, it has come under criticism over the past few decades for not accurately representing the traditional ethnic clothing of the Han people. It has given rise to the "Hanfu movement" -- a subculture and cultural movement seeking to revitalize pre-Qing dynasty Han Chinese fashion. While the current Hanfu movement only dates back to the early 21st century, various "re-Siniczation" movements had occurred throughout Chinese history as a way to rid the nation of "barbarian" influences. Even the KMT during early Republican China had attempted to bring back Ming-era hanfu for formal events, religious ceremonies, and government positions. While the Hanfu movement has nationalistic sentiments attached to it and could be described as a backlash against Manchu-derived clothing such as the qipao, others simply prefer hanfu for personal and stylistic choices. The uncomfortable tight-fit and constant sexualisation of the qipao is actually regarded as one of the reasons why many Chinese women from the mainland are now more drawn to wearing the conservative and loose-fitting hanfu over the qipao.

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!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* Shenhua of ''Manga/BlackLagoon'' loves wearing these, though she's Taiwanese to be precise.
** Revy herself [[https://comicvine1.cbsistatic.com/uploads/original/4/47703/3019954-7989911447-e642b.jpg proves she can rock a Qipao]] as well as Shenhua can.
* Liang Qi from ''Anime/{{Canaan}}'' wears these, specially a [[LadyInRed red]] one.
* In the first ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'' movie, Syaoran's older sisters all wear these. [[AllThereInTheManual (And it is a way of telling the four apart, apparently.)]]
* Ryoko wear one for a dinner at the restaurant in episode 3 of ''Literature/TheCaseFilesOfYakushijiRyoko.''
* ''Manga/{{Cyborg009}}'' has Francoise wear one while working at Chang's restaurant, sparking humorous reactions from her coworkers.
* ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'': Misaki wears one with a slit ''very'' high up the side at a party thrown by a former high school classmate. Being more used to understated outfits, she feels embarrassingly exposed in it.
* Shiuchon (Suzie in the dub) of ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' wears a qipao blouse.
* A 3WA trouble consultant named Beryl in the ''LightNovel/DirtyPair'' [=OVAs=] wears one.
* Tsuruten's wife from ''Manga/DoctorSlump''. She usually wears a cheongsam and has been seen wearing several different colors of them.
* Chi-Chi in ''Manga/DragonBall'' usually wears qipao [[SheIsAllGrownUp as an adult]]. But she negates some of the fanservice factor by wearing them over long, baggy trousers. In {{Filler}} Android 18 raids Chi-Chi's wardrobe and tries on her qipaos in front of the mirror but dislikes them.
* [[DisguisedInDrag Kazahaya]] is forced to wear one as part of a school popularity/beauty contest in ''Manga/DrugAndDrop''. As Rikuo notes, no matter how much Kazahaya tries, he just can't manage to hide [[ShesGotLegs those long legs of his]] in that getup.
* Miyoko Hojo from ''Manga/FoodWars'' is usually seen in one.
* Every once in a while, Kagura from ''Manga/{{Gintama}}'' is dressed in one.
* ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'':
** Hong Kong wears a normal changshan, but his [[GenderFlip girl self]] wears a short qipao [[ShesGotLegs that shows off her legs.]]
** Taiwan wears a variant of one. Macau wears one as well.
** China commonly wears a changshan, [[AnachronismStew even when he first met a little Japan in the bamboo forest]]. Interestingly, China is never seen wearing a hanfu, except on the the artwork of some disc covers.
* ''Manga/IkkiTousen'':
** Kakouen Myousai wears a white qipao as her battle clothes.
** Hakufu gets to be seen in one while waitressing in a Chinese restaurant. She also wore a blue one after [[spoiler:being awakened from her coma by Ukitsu's HeroicSacrifice and returning to the battlefield to fight Sousou alongside Ryuubi.]]
* Mun Mun (the leader of the TerribleTrio) in ''Anime/TimeBokan'' series ''Ippatsuman'' often wears this dress as a civilian outfit.
* This is the fanservice outfit Umi [[RunningJoke dreads]] having to wear as an idol in ''Anime/LoveLive''. Which is, of course, subject to MemeticMutation like so many of their costumes. There is also a set of cards in the game with these on all nine of them.
* ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'':
** Ixpellia has this as her most common outfit.
** [[PlayingWithFire Rio]] [[ShockAndAwe Wesley]] also seems to have this as the base of her [[ImpossiblyCoolClothes Barrier Jacket]].
* Wang Liu Mei is best known for wearing qipao dresses in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00''
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': Sakura Haruno wears a qipao, and Tenten wears a pink qipao blouse before the timeskip in the series. In 'Road to Sakura', Hinata is made to don one as well.
* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'': Ku Fei and Kaede both are fond of qipao.
* Yukina of ''Anime/NightRaid1931'' is shown wearing a qipao in a lot of official art. While this kind of makes sense given the series' Chinese setting, she never wears one within the actual series.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** Boa Hancock wears a purple one. In that case the exposing-leg part is justified because it helps [[KickChick her fighting style.]]
** Not to be out done, Nami has worn multiple Qipaos, ''just never in canon''. She wears a [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/onepiece/images/2/25/Chapter_32.png/revision/latest?cb=20130121031301 orange one]] on the cover of chapter 32, a [[https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/onepiece/images/8/8d/Nami_Special_3_Second_Outfit.png/revision/latest?cb=20130623220400 jade colored one]] in TV Special 3 and a particularly [[https://i.imgur.com/riaMppk.jpg sexy red one]] on the chapter 710 cover spread (the one where EverybodyWasKungFuFighting).
* In ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' this is the standard fashion for Chinese amazon Shampoo, as well as worn occasionally by other characters like Akane and female!Ranma.
** When in his male form--and occasionally when female--Ranma is almost always seen wearing a changshan.
* ''Anime/RODTheTV'':
** Michelle wears a qipao when serving Chinese food to Nenene.
* ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire''
** The girls dressing up when they're trying to get support for the new Chinese character's polygamy idea.
** Moka also wears a white qipao in an episode of the anime's second season, in the grounds of {{Fanservice}} (as she was under a hypnotic trance).
* The outfits of the main characters from ''AudioPlay/SaintBeast'' are actually based off of this.
* In ''LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana'', Shana is shown wearing one in a flashback to her past. She complained that it was too impractical to fight in, but Wilhelmina told her not to make excuses, and that she's seen many warriors wear one.
* Tao Jun, Ren's older sister, wears a qipao in ''Manga/ShamanKing''. Fitting, as they're actually from China.
* ''Anime/{{Stratos4}}'': The girls all wear these at their jobs as waitresses. The skirt portion is so short they barely even cover their undergarments.
* The music video for the song "S.t.a.r.S" from ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' features MsFanservice Yoko Littner in various costumes. Of the two foreign ones, one is a qipao with a CleavageWindow, combined with OdangoHair.
* In ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}: Kiss Players'', Shaoshao Li wears one a lot.
* ''Manga/UzakiChanWantsToHangOut'': One chapter has Shinichi's lone karaoke night being spoiled when Hana and Ami find him by mere chance. Ami convinces Hana to don some cosplay costumes to give him some {{Fanservice}}, starting with qipao.
* Sumire from ''Manga/TheWorldGodOnlyKnows'' wears the qipao of her [[ParentalAbandonment escaped]] mother.
* ''Anime/YuGiOh'': Vivian Wong wears a skimpy yellow qipao. So skimpy, in fact, that [[Creator/FourKidsEntertainment Mr. Digital Paint Bucket]] added ModestyShorts in the English dub.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* An old ''ComicBook/{{Archie|Comics}}'' comic has Veronica wearing a qipao, and getting furious when everyone comments on her "ripped dress".
* The Creator/DCComics villainess Roulette wears one as her signature outfit, despite being white.
* [[McNinja Ninjette]] wears one in ''ComicBook/{{Empowered}} #4'', at the Capeys Awards.
** this is particularly jarring in that she usually dresses in either Western style clothing or her McNinja costume.
* ''ComicBook/LesInnommables'': Alix frequently wears a qipao, and so do the prostitutes at the Purple Lotus.
* While ComicBook/LadyShiva changes her outfits constantly she most often wears a long black coat that's styled after a qipao at the neck and clasps and has a richly colored and patterned silk lining. In her original appearances she mostly donned her jacket to dramatically toss it before entering a fight but these days she usually just keeps it on.
* In ''ComicBook/{{WITCH}}'' and [[WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}} its animated adaptation]] Hay Lin's Guardian outfit is modeled on the qipao.
** In her Guardian form, Hay Lin's grandmother Yan Lin (who, differently from Hay Lin, was actually born in China and lived there for a while) wears a similar-looking ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangzhuang tangzhuang]]'' (fashionable for both genders).
** {{Averted}} with the ancient human generation of Guardians, who, while Chinese, wear the ''hanfu''. {{Justified}} as they lived millennia before the qipao was even invented.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In ''Fanfic/FriendshipIsMagicalGirls'', this is Rarity's mahoushoujo outfit. She complains how, while she likes it, it doesn't quite suit her, being as she prefers judo to kung-fu.
* ''Fanfic/OnePieceParallelWorks'': Aki usually wears a qipao or a qipao blouse.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* Some of the outfits Mulan wore in the DirectToVideo film ''WesternAnimation/MulanII'' [[AnachronismStew resemble this]]. Other times, she would be either wearing the training uniform and/or her battle armor or various types of hanfu dresses.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/TwoThousandFortySix'' also by Creator/WongKarWai is pretty much just the main character reminiscing with how great Maggie Cheung looked in her ''qipao'', complete with long lingering shots of her standing in halls and walking in slow motion.
* ''Film/BladeRunner2049'': One of Joi's outfits, a romantic AI, is a colorful cheongsam--the world of Blade Runner was already established as a multicultural hodgepodge with certain Asian influences.
* The two Chinese women who show up at the party in ''Film/BreakfastAtTiffanys'' wear qipao. Another guest tells one of them "Hey, honey, your skirt's split there."
* In ''Film/{{Brick}}'', the FemmeFatale Laura Dannon wears a rather striking red one in an early party scene.
* Many characters in ''Literature/FlowerDrumSong'' since it's set in UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco's Chinatown circa TheFifties, and the characters are either Chinese immigrants or children of Chinese immigrants. Mei Li is planning to wear one for a party, but she's given a western evening gown instead (some of the guests are Chinese-Americans wearing them too).
* Cho Chang wore a qipao-style dress at the Yule Ball in the film version of ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire''. The book didn't state what she was wearing; just that everyone had to wear 'dress robes'.
* The title character of ''Film/HouseOfHarmony'' (played by Maggie Q) wears a qipao as a matter of course, except on one occasion, when she put on a Western-style dress in an unsuccessful attempt to blend in.
* ''Film/IndecentProposal''. Gage provides Diana with one for their evening together.
* Willie wears a qipao influenced dress in the opening scene of ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'' while performing "Anything Goes" in Mandarin.
* Creator/MaggieCheung in ''Film/InTheMoodForLove''. Not only is she wearing a qipao in every single scene, it's always [[UnlimitedWardrobe a different one]].
* ''Film/JamesBond:'' In ''Film/DrNo'', Creator/UrsulaAndress and Zena Marshall are both seen wearing qipao.
* In ''Film/TheKarateKid2010'' remake, Dre's mother dons a qipao on the occasion the UsefulNotes/{{Qixi}} festival.
* In ''Film/KillBill'', Sofie Fatale wears a garment resembling a qipao, but it is actually much closer to the man's ''changshan''. This may have been deliberate to suggest that she's a lesbian.
* In ''Film/LustCaution'', Wong Chia-chi wears a qipao as part of her bored upper-class woman persona. In one scene, she goes to the tailor in the company of Mr. Yee to have a new one fitted, but it turns out to be slightly too tight. The result does not leave Mr. Yee indifferent.
* In ''Film/SoIMarriedAnAxeMurderer'' Nancy Travis wears a red qipao to a dinner on her honeymoon night with Mike Myers.
* Mary-Jane Watson wears a qipao during a social occasion in the film version of ''Franchise/SpiderMan'', confusing a great deal of the audience. The juxtaposition is explained somewhat by the fact she wears it at a "World Unity Fair."
* Nancy Kwan famously wore one in ''Film/TheWorldOfSuzieWong''.
* The titular heroine from ''Film/MyYoungAuntie'' (played by Kara Wai) has a fight scene while clad in a white ''qipao''. And winning. Although in this case the ''qipao'' ends up being torn in various places by the end of the fight.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* The protagonists of ''Literature/ShanghaiGirls'', being fashion-conscious upper-class young women, make a big deal of wearing qipao in the latest styles.
* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': Since most of the world is based very roughly on Asian cultures, it is no surprise that something like a qipao shows up. The havah is a Vorin dress with long sleeves and a skirt, but it is designed to be form-fitting in the chest area. Most other nations dismiss it as prudish, but Shallan catches the sailors sneaking glances at Jasnah in her dress.
* In one of the ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' novelizations, Sabrina is taken to an Other Realm tailor for a potential prom dress. One of the options is a qipao, with a dragon who actually comes to life on the design.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* Anna Wu wore this in an episode of ''Series/{{Chuck}}'', to impress her very traditional parents.
* In ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' episode "Slapsgiving III...", during the segment "The Cruel Tutelage of 'Red Bird'", Robin (CobieSmulders) wears a tight form-fitting dress with a Chinese design.
* [[LoveMartyr Mele]] in ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger'' wears a green one (aptly, as she's effectively a chameleon monster in human form).
* In ''Series/TheManFromUNCLE'' episode "The Hong Kong Shilling Affair", Heavenly Cortelle wears a qipao.
* In ''Series/PushingDaisies'', Chuck's "aunt" Vivian often wears elegant qipao. Also both Chuck and Olive wear them (along with the VictimOfTheWeek, as well as background characters) in the [[FriendlyNeighborhoodChinatown Chinatown episode.]]
* Routinely worn by several of the characters of ''Series/SerangoonRoad'', which is set in Singapore in the mid-1960s.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* One of the many outfits that Creator/MinoriChihara wears in the ''Self Producer'' music video.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* [[MsFanservice Marilyn Sue]] from ''VideoGame/AkatsukiBlitzkampf'' fights in a gold qipao with very high slits running up either side. This doesn't pose much of a problem for her during fights, since her style emphasises powerful jabs, chops and palm strikes over kicks.
* Occasionally on winning, Mei-Fang in ''VideoGame/ArcanaHeart'' changes costume into a Qipao.
* One of the alternate costumes for [[VideoGame/{{Bayonetta2}} Bayonetta]] in the sequel, available in blue, white, and red.
* Litchi Faye-Ling from ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' wears a highly {{Fanservice}}-riffic version. How? It shows a lot of her curvy legs from the front, and it features AbsoluteCleavage, displaying her big boobies. [[MsFanservice Sweet]].
* One of Morrigan Aensland's favorite VictoryPose outfits in the ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}'' series.
* One of Lei-Fang's costumes in ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive''. Very iconic of the series since almost every attack she does while in it guarantees a PantyShot.
* Maggie Chow in ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' wears one to go with her DragonLady character.
* Fumi in ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor2'' wears a cheongsam under her JP's longcoat.
* Part of the 'official' uniform for female Monks in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX''.
* Shadow Yamato in the Sega CD version of ''VideoGame/EternalChampions'' and its spinoff, ''VideoGame/XPerts''. She's a {{ninja}}, [[RuleOfSexy by the]] [[HighlyVisibleNinja way.]]
* Vera's dress from ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas: Dead Money'' looks like this, minus the high neck. Bonus points if an Asian Courier is wearing it.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'': Lenna wears one when she becomes the [[BareFistedMonk Monk]] class. Female monks in some other games followed suit. Examples include Ursula from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears'', and all three female characters in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyDimensions'' when they are in the Monk class.
** in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'' Tifa will wear one to the Wall Market if you tell her to wear something sporty, and will even get to do some of her martial arts in it when fighting off Corneo's goons for good measure.
* ''VideoGame/GuildWars'': Female mesmer clothing in factions.
* In the 2016 Lunar Festivities' celebration on ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm'', [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft Jaina Proudmoore]] gets a 'Lunar Jaina' skin, where she wears one.
* ''VideoGame/HongKongNinja'', given the setting, have multi-coloured qipao as the attires of female triad mooks.
* Mei Ying, the female lead in ''VideoGame/IndianaJonesAndTheEmperorsTomb'' wears a pink qipao for much of the third and fourth sections of the game.
* Lilly Satou dresses up in one of these on her first date with Hisao in her route in ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo''.
* In ''VideoGame/LostHorizon'', Kim wears the shorter, shirt-like version over trousers. (The freedom of movement is probably useful when kicking people.) Other women seen in Hong Kong have fuller versions.
* An outfit for the thief class for females in ''VideoGame/MapleStory''.
* Xiaomu in ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom'', ''VideoGame/EndlessFrontier'' and ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'' wears one with a conveniently-placed zipper for either conservative or fanservice purposes.
* In the 2017 Lunar Year on ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'', Symmetra (an Indian) got a recolor of her skin that made her look like wearing a red Qipao. The resident Chinese girl, Mei, got something else fancier.
* Flare and Rayea in ''VideoGame/PanelDePon''.
* In ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'', Joanna Dark dons a qipao with a red dragon print in preparation for a formal event, as seen [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUJMdhKnIdU here]] (spoilers).
* The "China Dress" is a costume in ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2''. There's also a shorter variation.
* In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'', Ada Wong fights zombies in an ''incredibly'' tight qipao. One wonders how she manages to walk without falling in it, let alone pull some of the stunts she does.
* Li Kohran, the [[AnimeChineseGirl Chinese girl]] of ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'', is often seen wearing one.
* ''VideoGame/{{Shenmue}} 2'': Xiuying Hong.
* Lunar Blaze, a special version of Blaze that can be unlocked during the 2019 Blazing Lunar New Year event in ''VideoGame/SonicForces: Speed Battle'', wears a red one.
* Chun Li in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' wears a modified version. Among the differences to the traditional kind are short, puffy sleeves, a white obi-like sash lining the waist, and one huge slit on each side (instead of a single slit over one of the legs, making the skirt look more like a cloth on the front and a tail on the back), which allows for [[KickChick more freedom of movement and kicking]] (and not coincidentally [[ShowSomeLeg shows off her muscular thighs]]).
* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Valis}} Syd of Valis]]'', a "Chinese Dress" with a CleavageWindow is Yuko's first costume upgrade.
* Anna Williams in ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}''. Oddly Xiaoyu, the actual ChineseGirl of the game, largely eschews ethnic dress, mostly favoring athletic wear instead until ''5'' when she wears it as her default costume.
* Hong Meiling of the ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' series is also depicted in fanart as wearing one, though in the original ZUN art, she wears a cheongsam with a pair of pants.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* ''Webcomic/BladeBunny'': Bunny is given a qipao to wear when she wakes up after a long fight. [[InnocentFanserviceGirl She takes a while to work out that she's meant to put it on.]]
* ''Webcomic/LeastICouldDo'': Cyndi Wang wears a qipao while waitressing in a Chinese restaurant, and while attending Rayne's New Year party.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Rhapsodies}}'' a qipao is the only formal evening dress Kate has available to wear to a fancy charity ball.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Video]]
* The main female hosts of ''WebVideo/WeirdSchoolRulesInHongKong'', Na-mei (Episodes 1-8, 10) and Tonie (Episodes 9, 11, 13–20), usually wear blue ''cheongsam'', as well as many of the female student characters in the skits. Since several UsefulNotes/HongKong secondary schools have this as a uniform for their female students, the latter is actually TruthInTelevision.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* As in the DC Comics, ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' depicts Roulette's standard costume as a qipao.
* Wing, the real life Chinese songstress appearing on the eponymous episode of ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' wears a red qipao.
* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': Marinette's mother, Sabine, wears a white cheongsam with pants as her everyday wear. It is not sexualized in any way.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' -- Dr. Girlfriend wears one to pick up an on-the-prowl Rusty as part of a scheme of the Monarch's.
[[/folder]]

As a humorous side note, the {{fanservice}}y qipao (the ones with the diamond CleavageWindow, are [[DangerouslyShortSkirt so short that it shows the upper thighs]], and the slit goes up to the undies) that are commonly featured in Western and Japanese media are only in use in RealLife as lingerie or prostitute wear. They are ''never'' used for formal events.

* The "China Dress" is a costume in ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2''. There's also a [[DangerouslyShortSkirt shorter variation]].

In popular culture, nothing spells "Chinese" like a ''qipao'', so if a native [[AnimeChineseGirl Chinese girl]] or a DragonLady shows up in a work (especially if it's a historical piece or a movie or animated short made back when Chinese women were stereotypically depicted as seductive, but dangerous), the chances are high that she'll be wearing one. The ''qipao'', or at least a dress cut like it, is also occasionally worn by non-Chinese characters, as its tight fit and [[ShowSomeLeg slit up the side]] ramp up the sexiness of the character while still being relatively modest. Almost always used as {{Fanservice}}. However, in RealLife a significant population of Chinese disapprove of non-Chinese women wearing it unless they have specifically invited them to for a special occasion.

The qipao itself has developed an increasingly mixed reputation in China. While once regarded as highly fashionable and the mainstream dress for Han Chinese women, it has some under criticism over the past few decades for not accurately representing the traditional ethnic clothing of the Han people. It has given rise to the "Hanfu movement" -- a subculture and cultural movement seeking to revitalize pre-Qing dynasty Han Chinese fashion. While the current Hanfu movement only dates back to the early 21st century, various "re-siniczation" movements had occurred throughout Chinese history as a way to rid the nation of "northern barbarian" influences. Even the KMT during early Republican China had attempted to bring back Ming-era hanfu for formal events, religious ceremonies, and government positions. While the Hanfu movement has nationalistic sentiments attached to it and could be described as a backlash against Manchu-derived clothing such as the qipao, others simply prefer hanfu for personal and stylistic choices. The uncomfortable tight-fit and constant sexualisation of the qipao is actually regarded as one of the reasons why many Chinese women from the mainland are now more drawn to wearing the conservative and loose-fitting hanfu.

The "sex appeal" of the qipao has many UnfortunateImplications due to Orientalism, YellowPeril stereotypes, ongoing racist stereotypes of Chinese people (such as hypersexualization of Chinese women) and fetishistic CultureEqualsCostume use by non-Chinese people. In Japan it it known as the "China dress" and the popularity of the dress in Japanese media stems back to [[UnfortunateImplications the Japanese occupation of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War]] when Chinese women still used the qipao as daily wear.

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As a humorous side note, the [[{{Fanservice}} fanservicey]] qipao (the ones with the diamond CleavageWindow, are [[DangerouslyShortSkirt so short that it shows the upper thighs]], and the slit goes up to the undies) that are commonly featured in Western and Japanese media are only in use in RealLife as lingerie or prostitute wear. They are ''never'' used for formal events.

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* Chichi in ''Manga/DragonBall'' usually wears qipao [[SheIsAllGrownUp as an adult]]. But she negates some of the fanservice factor by wearing them over long, baggy trousers. In {{Filler}} Android 18 raids [=ChiChi=]'s wardrobe and tries on her qipaos in front of the mirror but dislikes them.

* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': Subverted. Marinette's mother, Sabine, wears a white cheongsam with pants as her everyday wear, but it's not sexualized in any way and is simply considered what she wears.

* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': Subverted. Marinette's mother, Sabine, wears a white cheongsam with pants as her everyday wear, but it's not sexualized in any way and is simply considered what she wears.

* ''Manga/RosarioToVampire''

* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': Averted. Marinette's mother, Sabine, wears a white cheongsam with pants as her everyday wear, but it's not sexualized in any way and is simply considered what she wears.

The qipao itself has developed an increasingly mixed reputation in China. While once regarded as highly fashionable and the mainstream dress for Han Chinese women, it has some under criticism over the past few decades for not accurately representing the traditional ethnic clothing of the Han people. It has given rise to the "Hanfu movement" -- a subculture and cultural movement seeking to revitalize pre-Qing dynasty Han Chinese fashion that developed in China at the beginning of the 21st century. While the current Hanfu movement only dates back to the early 21st century, various "re-siniczation" movements had occurred throughout Chinese history as a way to rid the nation of "northern barbarian" influences. Even the KMT during early Republican China had attempted to bring back Ming-era hanfu for formal events and government positions. While the Hanfu movement has nationalistic sentiments attached to it and could be described as a backlash against Manchu-derived clothing such as the qipao, others simply prefer hanfu for personal and stylistic choices. The uncomfortable tight-fit and constant sexualisation of the qipao is actually regarded as one of the reasons why many Chinese women from the mainland are now more drawn to wearing the conservative and loose-fitting hanfu.

As a humorous side note, the [[{{Fanservice}} fanservicey]] qipao (the ones with the diamond CleavageWindow, the Qipao is [[DangerouslyShortSkirt so short it shows the upper thighs]] and the slit goes up to the undies) that are commonly featured in Western and Chinese media are only in use in RealLife as sexy pajamas/lingerie or prostitute wear. They are ''never'' used for formal events.

In popular culture, nothing spells "Chinese" like a ''qipao'', so if a native [[AnimeChineseGirl Chinese girl]] or a DragonLady shows up in a work (especially if it's a historical piece or a movie or animated short made back when Chinese women were stereotypically depicted as seductive, but dangerous), the chances are high that she'll be wearing one. The ''qipao'', or at least a dress cut like it, is also occasionally worn by non-Chinese characters, as its tight fit and [[ShowSomeLeg slit up the side]] ramp up the sexiness of the character while still being relatively modest. Almost always used as {{Fanservice}}. However, in RealLife a significant population of Chinese-Westerners disapprove of non-Chinese women wearing it unless they have specifically invited them to for a special occasion.

As a humorous side note, most Western video game style [[{{Fanservice}} fanservicey]] qipaos characters wear (The ones with the diamond CleavageWindow, the Qipao is [[DangerouslyShortSkirt so short it shows the upper thighs]] and the slit goes up to the undies) are in use in RealLife as sexy pajamas/lingerie or prostitute wear.

The qipao was not originally Chinese, but introduced by the Manchu invaders who established the Qing Dynasty and implemented laws that required the populace to adopt Manchu clothing and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queue_(hairstyle) hairstyles]] instead of the traditional Chinese [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanfu hanfu]]. However, since the Manchu were vassals to the former Han-led Ming Dynasty, the qipao itself had already been influenced by the clothing of the ethnic Chinese, making the qipao a bit of a recursive piece of fashion. The qipao was originally a loose-fitting outfit combining a tunic and long skirt; the high-slit, body-hugging dress with which the name is now associated was invented in Shanghai in the 1920s. In English, the same garment is often called a ''cheongsam'', a loan-word derived from the Cantonese pronunciation of the Shanghainese name for the dress (which is ''zansae''), due to the large numbers of Shanghainese fleeing to Hong Kong during the communist revolution of 1949. The word ''cheongsam'' is actually gender neutral while qipao refers to a woman's dress; the male equivalent of the qipao is called changshan (长衫). The qipao was also influenced in cut and style by 1930s fashion style. Both of these are usually only worn for parties or formal events.

As a humorous side note, most Western video game style [[Fanservice fanservicey]] qipaos characters wear (The ones with the diamond CleavageWindow, the Qipao is [[DangerouslyShortSkirt so short it shows the upper thighs]] and the slit goes up to the undies) are in use in RealLife as sexy pajamas/lingerie or prostitute wear.

As a humorous side note, most Western video game style fanservicey qipaos characters wear (The ones with the diamond CleavageWindow, the Qipao is [[DangerouslyShortSkirt so short it shows the upper thighs]] and the slit goes up to the undies) are in use in RealLife as sexy pajamas/lingerie or prostitute wear.

As a humorous side note, most Western video game style fanservicey qipaos your characters are fighting in (You know the ones: The ones with the diamond CleavageWindow, the Qipao is [[DangerouslyShortSkirt so short it shows the upper thighs]] and the slit goes up to the undies) are in use in RealLife as sexy pajamas or prostitute wear.

The "sex appeal" of the qipao has many UnfortunateImplications due to Orientalism, YellowPeril stereotypes, ongoing racist stereotypes of Chinese people (such as hypersexualization of Chinese women) and fetishistic CultureEqualsCostume use by non-Chinese people. In Japan it it known as the "China dress" and the popularity of the dress in Japanese media stems back to [[Unfortunate Implications the Japanese occupation of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War]] when Chinese women still used the qipao as daily wear.

The "sex appeal" of the qipao has many UnfortunateImplications due to Orientalism, YellowPeril stereotypes, ongoing racist stereotypes of Chinese people (such as hypersexualization of Chinese women) and fetishistic CultureEqualsCostume use by non-Chinese people. In Japan it it known as the "China dress" and the popularity of the dress in Japanese media stems back to the Japanese occupation of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War when Chinese women still used the qipao as daily wear.

In popular culture, nothing spells "Chinese" like a ''qipao'', so if a native [[AnimeChineseGirl Chinese girl]] or a DragonLady shows up in a work (especially if it's a historical piece or a movie or animated short made back when Chinese women were stereotypically depicted as seductive, but dangerous), the chances are high that she'll be wearing one. The ''qipao'', or at least a dress cut like it, is also occasionally worn by non-Chinese women, as its tight fit and [[ShowSomeLeg slit up the side]] ramp up the sexiness of the character while still being relatively modest. Almost always used as {{Fanservice}}. However, some Chinese-Westerners disapprove of non-Chinese women wearing it unless they have specifically invited them to for a special occasion.

As a humorous side note, most Western video game style fanservicey qipaos your characters are fighting in (The ones with the diamond CleavageWindow, the Qipao is [[DangerouslyShortSkirt so short it shows the upper thighs]] and the slit goes up to the undies) are in use in RealLife as sexy pajamas or prostitute wear.