Festive yet versatile pieces to wear all year round
Here’s my two cents’ worth on modern cheongsams – your outfit isn’t straight from the cookie cutter, you’re paying tribute to our traditions, and you can wear them more than once a year. In other words, they’re a great choice as your #OOTD this CNY, and here are 7 shops with gorgeous modern cheongsams retailing for less than $40 to get the most bang for your buck:
1. Love, Bonito
Love, Bonito’s flagship outlet at 313@Somerset. Source:Love, Bonito
Love, Bonito might be known for their chic workwear and elegant designs, but every year when Chinese New Year rolls around, fun and casual remakes of the traditional cheongsam becomes available too.
Source:Love, Bonito
Recently released under their Chinese New Year Collection 2019 is the Pomeranc Mandarin Collar Crop Top ($39.90), a quirky and breezy piece with bold orange prints and flattering butterfly sleeves that help to create the illusion of slimmer arms.
Source:Love, Bonito
Dig deeper and you’ll find the elegant Meshaka Keyhole Cheongsam Top ($36.90) in Red and Blush, but the true jackpot is the Mearyn Ruched Cheongsam Midi Jumpsuit ($26.90, U.P. $53.90), which has just the right amount of oriental details, style, and comfort – we all know how important it is to be able to sit on the ground with ease during this festive season!
Retail Outlets
Address: 313 Orchard Road, 313@Somerset #02-16/21, Singapore 238895
Opening Hours: 11AM – 10PM Daily
Address: 50 Jurong Gateway Rd, Jem #01-42/56/57, Singapore 608549
Opening Hours: 11AM – 10PM Daily
Website
2. The Stage Walk
The Racia Lace Cheongsam Dress in Grey. Source:The Stage Walk
If girly, flirty pieces are right up your alley, head to The Stage Walk for plenty of intricate lace and waist drop hems. Opt for the Lin Lace Mandarin Collar Top ($34.90) in either White or Navy for more options when you mix and match the pieces in your wardrobe, or snag the Racia Lace Cheongsam Dress ($38.90) in either Grey or Black for a fuss-free, pull-it-over-your-head alternative!
Source:The Stage Walk
For something that’s even less oriental, the Adema Gingham Cheongsam Dress ($38.90) is a sweet and safe piece that will remain in trend for a long time – there’s something timeless about gingham, and the dress comes in shades Pink and Baby Blue.
Retail Outlets
Address: 10 Tampines Central 1, Tampines 1 #02-35, Singapore 529536
Opening Hours: 11AM – 10PM Daily
Address: 200 Victoria Street, Bugis Junction #03-18A, Singapore 188021
Opening Hours: 10AM – 10PM Daily
Address: 9 Bishan Pl, Junction 8 #02-36/37, Singapore 579837
Opening Hours: 10AM – 10PM Daily
Website
3. Mabel Dress
Source:Mabel Dress
For those of you shopping on a tighter budget, Mabel Dress is the most affordable option on this list with most of their tops and dresses priced at around $20 – $30. With over 5000 listings for you to choose from and new arrivals added to the online store daily, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of cheongsam-inspired outfits to browse from either!
This dress comes in 4 different colours: dark blue, blue, beige, and green. Source:Mabel Dress
One personal favourite is the Stripes Waist Gathered Cheongsam ($23), which is a standard cheongsam top complete with a mandarin collar and knot buttons down the side. The twist here is that it’s paired with a cinched waist and a flowy, A-line midi skirt, which allows it to double up as a summer dress perfect for picnic dates or a trip down to Gardens by the Bay.
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4. Lily Pirates
Order Of The Phoenix Cheongsam Dress in Wine Red. Source:Lily Pirates
Stumbling upon Lily Pirates was like striking gold – besides boasting an impressive selection of modern cheongsams for sale, almost every piece had me do a double take because of how beautiful and cleverly-designed they were. I kid you not.
Now you see it, now you don’t. Source:Lily Pirates
While the Order Of The Phoenix Cheongsam Dress ($35) is easily identifiable as a modern cheongsam thanks to its phoenix embroidery and signature mandarin collar, the Principles Of Geometry Cheongsam Dress ($35.50) and Good Day Sunshine Cheongsam Dress ($35) are just some of the outfits that come with detachable collars, which are a simple yet ingenious way to ensure that the clothes fit every occasion, festive or not.
Source:Lily Pirates
5. The Closet Lover
Source:The Closet Lover
If florals are your weakness, get your CNY shopping done at The Closet Lover, a homegrown fashion brand that now ships worldwide and has retail outlets overseas. With the charming and feminine-centric brand often reinventing classic styles to create new and exciting pieces, it’s only natural that they have modern cheongsams for sale too, most of them in floral prints.
Source:The Closet Lover
While most are already sold out, the Grandeur Skater Qipao (U.P. $37.90) with vibrant floral prints, buttoned mandarin collar, and faux oriental button details and the regal-looking Golden Enchantment Skater Qipao (U.P. $56.90) are still available! Better yet, they’re currently on sale at 50% off.
Retail Outlets
Address: 200 Victoria Street, Bugis Junction #01-02, Singapore 188021
Opening Hours: 11AM – 9.30PM Daily
Address: 5 Raffles Place, Raffles Xchange #B1-57, Singapore 048618
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 10AM – 8.30PM | Sat: 11AM – 8.30PM | Sun: 11AM – 7.30PM
Address: 10 Tampines Central 1, Tampines 1 #01-49/50, Singapore 529536
Opening Hours: 11AM – 9.30PM Daily
Website
6. The Fleur Label
The Deloris Detachable Collar Dress in Midnight Blue. Source:The Fleur Label
Hustling executives, stock up on modern cheongsams that can fill-in as office wear at The Fleur Label, a local-based online retailer that curates and bring in comfortable and stylish designs suitable for both during and outside of work!
The dresses even come with functional side pockets! Source: The Fleur Label
Offering dresses that also come with detachable mandarin collars, you can choose from their Janette ($35.90), Delories ($34.90), and Tashia ($34.90) series, which come in staple solid colours, classic vintage gingham prints, and bold colour block designs respectively. As an added bonus, most of these dresses have functional side pockets – consider us sold.
Website
7. Arcade
Source:Arcade
For those of you who have a penchant for minimalism, don’t worry, it is possible to pay ode to the cheongsam while keeping things simple. Arcade’s Marsha Cheongsam Shift Dress ($39) is their take on the traditional garb, and it’s a very comfortable wardrobe staple with boxy sleeves that will never go out of style, complete with a dash of subtle oriental vibe in the form of a plain mandarin collar. Colours include Wine, Dusty Pink, and Navy – all well-suited for a sleek, casual look!
Retail Outlets
Address: Century Square #02-02, The Showcase, Singapore 529509
Opening Hours: 10AM – 10PM Daily
Address: NEX Mall #01-89/90, The Showcase, Singapore 556083
Opening Hours: 10.30AM – 10.30PM Daily
Website
