Miss Ao Dai Globe 2008 at Vietnam
- added June 27, 2008
- 0 responses
The áo dài is a Vietnamese national costume for women. In its current form, it is a tight-fitting silk dress worn over pantaloons. Together with a nón lá hat, it creates an ensemble that is instantly recognizable as Vietnamese. Áo dài is pronounced "ow yai" in the South, and "ow zai" in the North. Áo is derived from a Middle Chinese word meaning "padded coat" (襖).[1] In modern Vietnamese, áo refers to an item of clothing that covers from the neck down. Dài means "long."
The word áo dài was applied to various garments historically, including the five-paneled áo ngũ thân or "traditional áo dài," a 19th century aristocratic gown. Inspired by Paris fashions, Hanoi artist Nguyễn Cát Tường redesigned this gown as a dress in 1930.[2] In the 1950s, Saigon designers tightened the fit to produce the version worn by Vietnamese women today.[3] The communists, who have ruled all of Vietnam since 1975, generally disapproved of the dress and argued for utilitarian clothing.[4] In the 1990s, the áo dài regained popularity.[4]
In its most popular form, the dress fits tightly around the wearer's upper torso, emphasizing her bust and curves. Slits on the side extend above the waist and allow a glimpse of her midriff. Although the dress covers a woman's entire body, it is thought to be provocative, especially when made of thin material. Many high schools in the South require female students to wear it as part of a school uniform. The equivalent garment for men, called an áo gấm ("brocade robe"), is still worn on occasion, such as at a wedding.
The word áo dài was applied to various garments historically, including the five-paneled áo ngũ thân or "traditional áo dài," a 19th century aristocratic gown. Inspired by Paris fashions, Hanoi artist Nguyễn Cát Tường redesigned this gown as a dress in 1930.[2] In the 1950s, Saigon designers tightened the fit to produce the version worn by Vietnamese women today.[3] The communists, who have ruled all of Vietnam since 1975, generally disapproved of the dress and argued for utilitarian clothing.[4] In the 1990s, the áo dài regained popularity.[4]
In its most popular form, the dress fits tightly around the wearer's upper torso, emphasizing her bust and curves. Slits on the side extend above the waist and allow a glimpse of her midriff. Although the dress covers a woman's entire body, it is thought to be provocative, especially when made of thin material. Many high schools in the South require female students to wear it as part of a school uniform. The equivalent garment for men, called an áo gấm ("brocade robe"), is still worn on occasion, such as at a wedding.
-
-
-
-
- michiganannd
- 3 months ago
Login/Registration is required to add a response.
