Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The Style of China, the Mandarin Collar and Chinese Dress


The growth of the Mandarin Collar and Chinese Dress

China is flourishing at an exponential rate economically, and with this success has been the expansion of Chinese style and fashion. Through this progression, many Chinese have gone abroad to study or work; bringing their social norms and style along with them. Among these components of fashion and heritage, is the clothing and apparel that are culturally intertwined with Chinese culture. Two pieces of garments in particular have made an impact, the Chinese mandarin collar and the Chinese dress.

The Chinese dress is worn during formal and special occasions. These special occasions incorporate weddings, Chinese New Year, and engagements. In Chinese culture, special occasions are still linked with customs. Everything about the Chinese dress exemplifies culture with China, and that incorporates every component of the dress. The material is generally formed of a smooth silk; silk being located and formed in China. The colour selected for the Chinese dress is normally red, with red being a color of good fortune and luck in Chinese culture. Much like the color red, other colours chosen for the dress speak for an element and meaning in Chinese customs. The length of the Chinese dress varies, being above or below the knee. This dress can be discovered all around the world, and is particularly noticeable in places of high concentration of Chinese like Los Angeles and the west coast of the United States. But more traditional attire that's made itself around the globe is not only limited to Chinese population, but also mens well.

The banded collar is a popular shirt that's made its journey worldwide. The popularity of the mandarin collar has remained popular, and saw a spike in popularity during Mao Ze Tung's control of China; when a tailor made a suite that incorporated the Banded collar. The banded collar is worn formally and informally, and is often considered a substitute for polo shirts or casual business wear In Asia. The real difference between this shirt and another business casual wear is the collar, the collar typically goes a couple centimeters and does not fold down. The benefits of this extra few centimeters have allowed the Banded collar to branch out into other areas of apparel; among these regions is under armor for the US army. This under armor is useful to reduce chaffing when carrying weapons or heavy supplies.

The mandarin collar along with the Chinese dress have made an imprint in Chinese society, and as the development and expansion of China takes place, so will the adoption and adaptation of these two pieces of outfits. Just like many other Asian culturally related items that have expanded globally (e.g. Monk Bags, Buddha statue), Chinese fashion and dresses may become a household item.

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