The cheong-sam in Chinese is called "flag robe," which means the flag people's robe. And tine flag people are how the middle land Hah people referred to Manchu people. Possibly influenced by "Men and women are equal" thought, women who traditionally wore two-piece dress also wanted to follow men's one-piece dress style.In 1921, a group of female high school students in Shanghai took the lead to wear long robes. At the beginning, the prevailing style was a kind of blue cotton cloth cheong-sam with loose clothes body, straight and flat outline and bell-mouthed sleeves. The robe was ankle-long with no edgings or lacework in collar, front garment piece and hem parts. The robe looked very serious and formal. This style of dress aroused great interests of city women and was the rage once it appeared on the streets. Later under constant influences of modern tide, the cheong-sam showed changes in length, waistline, collars and sleeves.
