Since it was opened as a commercial port in 1843, Shanghai, where both the Chinese and the westerners gathered, became one of the first cities that were exposed to western thoughts and fashion. Meanwhile, the clothing styles were undergoing underlying changes there. Later on, as more and more people went to Europe and Japan, western clothing styles were continuously introduced to Shanghai, which had been known as the market for western goods. As a result, the clothing industry became more and more prosperous and Shanghai became the center of women's fashions in China.
It is said that the cheongsam is the earliest fashion for women in Shanghai. Notably, the styles of the cheongsam changed every year. In the old days, those young ladies of note such as Zhou Xuan, Huang Zongying, Shangguan Yunzhu and Ruan Lingyu were dressed in cheongsams, performing under the scarlet screen and the bright mercury lamp of the Majestic Theatre on Jiangning Road and Shanghai Concert Hall, which lent much beauty, self-respect and glamour to Shanghai.
In particular, the cheongsams worn by Miss Hu Die were chased after by those young ladies of note in old Shanghai. Many of them followed her style. From the series of photos in which she was wearing the cheongsams, we can detect the popularity of cheongsams in Old Shanghai.
