Chinese Dresses in Beijing

[london82]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me an area in Beijing or a particular shop where I could find tailors to make me a semi-traditional chinese dress. I say semi-traditional as my figure couldn't be further away from a chinese tradtional girls figure so it's going to have to be adapted quite significantly to suit a different figure. Therefore I was hoping for a place that maybe has lots of pictures of different designs that are based on a traditional chinese dress but alot more flexible. I see lots of TV presenters in dresses that are quite substantially different from a traditional dresses so i have some idea of the features i want although could never draw them.

Unfortunately cost is a little bit of an issue so I really didn't want to go to Wanfujing for it. It's not important that they speak chinese.

Thanks alot

[xianu]

Years ago (maybe 1999?) a friend of mine got a qipao (chang shan/cheorg saam) tailor made for her at the Frienship Store, but so much has changed since then, I don't know if it even exists anymore. The same year I was in Taiwan getting my own wedding stuff made, and the quality of workmanship and cloth between what she got at the Freidnship Store and what I got in Taipei was a little better, and about 1/3 the price. about 15 years ago, I went to a "free market" to get clothes made (but I got a shoddy tailor, ruined a lot of cloth), that was in Haidian, right next to Beida, but I noticed some large mega store was there instead last summer,

[liuzhou]

It's not important that they speak chinese.

???

[Xiying]

The Friendship Store is purposely overpriced - don't go there unless you're trying by authentic Beijing 2008 Olympics goods.

You can try Yaxiu Market (雅秀市场) in the Sanlitun area (prices generally cheaper than Silk Market). They sell all kinds of clothing and have tailors who will make stuff for cheap if you bargain hard.

[london82]

hehe! sorry i meant English!!

That's really disappointing about the tailor ruining material in Haidian. I'll give Yashou a try.

Thanks for all the replys.