Featured-In/Qipao Love: Part 16 ~ Dazed Vintage Queen no 155...Queens of Vintage & Walking in May EXCLUSIVE!

Hello darlings! Thank you so much for all the beautiful comments and kind support as well as congratulations this past week....you darlings are truly amazing! I cannot even begin to fully describe in words what it meant to me, and what a week I had. From the well received Walking in May EXCLUSIVE range of Cheongsam dresses (sold out) by The Lady General to my unique one-off 'Kyoto in Sunrise' Cheongsam and stepping into Sacramento's Share-in-Style project for the very first time (here). To top it all off....being crowed 'Vintage Queen number 155' by Queens of Vintage (here) has had me grinning non-stop! Just in case you are yet to stumble across it, the Queens of Vintage is a fabulous global vintage lifestyle blog that is run by a lovely vintage lover Miss Lena Weber, who also runs the Vintage Guide to London (here). It includes almost everything from vintage How-Tos, interviews, style and features which has included some fabulous vintage names....such as Fluer McGerr (from Diary of a Vintage Girl), Shona van Beers (from Heyday), Nora (from Nora Finds) and Jessica Cangiano (from Chronically Vintage)....so imagine the delightful surprise I had in being featured! On a more personal level it was a reason to celebrate my passion for vintage as well as the Qipao (Cheongsam), and reminded me how I began on my journey through blogging, so I was more than happy to be able to share my style with the vintage lovers around the globe.

[Link to the Queens of Vintage feature: www.queensofvintage.com/vintage-queen-155-may-london]

Look what this vintage girl found!

Can you spot the Greenwich Observatory?

Styling - May's How To Tips!
Besides being featured on the Queens of Vintage, I have also been featured on The Lady General's (online shop) blog, where Elaine explained the lovingly gruelling task of how 'Kyoto in Sunrise' was made to perfection (here). Now I have never claimed to be an expert when it comes to the Chinese dress, as even very experienced or well known Qipao tailors have claimed that you can never truly know everything about the Qipao (Cheongsam)....as even their vast experienced is narrowed down to a specific few out of the wide art they have learnt in their apprenticeships with master Qipao tailors. This is also why some part of the Qipao artistry could someday be lost; sad as it may seem moving times with different personal tastes or popular trends often have an influence on design as well as make. So the question really is; how do YOU make the Qipao wearable as well as stylishly beautiful for yourself? 

I agree that it is often easier said than done, but as I have made my passion for the Qipao (Cheongsam) into different vintage looks that have made me felt comfortable, happy and confident....I am even more certain that it is possible with a little thought. So here are few quick questions that might tip you into your personal style direction for the Cheongsam (Qipao):

• What helps you feel more confident? Think of the Qipao (Cheongsam) as your second layer of skin....beauty, like confidence is very much influenced by the internal. Whether you might be a natural foundation free thinker, modern moisturising Queen or strategic cutting age glamorous warrior, there will be some sort of preference that will help you fuel a look that you can gather confidence with.

• Which features do you want the Cheongsam (Qipao) to highlight on you? This will often give you clues on what cutting and fabric to choose. For example, at times I am not keen for the wiggle shape of highlighted shiny silk to make my bit of wobbly tummy into a feature, so a flared out full skirted modern Cheongsam works as a good alternative. 

Actually...the sheath-like sexy wiggle and the flared out full skirted dresses were almost the height of 1950s fashion, making the classic Qipao an easy dress as well as popular trend to wear at the time, but as far as I am aware the alternative flared out full circle flouncing hem was rarely seen with a mandarin collar. This is why I like this unique blend in the Walking in May exclusive Kyoto as well as Osaka range of Cheongsam dresses; a true blending of East and West but without losing each other's true nature....it works because the mandarin collar has been cut low with the ability to be a slim highlighting platform for the neck to look naturally elongate like a swan. Not having a fashion degree or any fashion credibility to claim of, perhaps I could be wrong, but I daresay that if the traditional 1930s high collar was put in place it would have confused the balance of the whole shape and be too much of a neon screaming feature that would shun the rest of the dress. After all in the words of Karl Legerfeld; "Fashion and music are the same, because music express its period too"......and this is how 'Kyoto in Sunrise' inspired me to create a 1950s look that I hope is fun, chic and practical for twirling on the dance floor even for a bit of Rock n' Roll.

Time to relax by the flower bed on the Thames.....

My braided hair (is really my own hair) but the flowers on my hair were sadly not real....though thebackground is!

Can you spot the famous London Shard across the River Thames? 

Canary Wharf fading into the distance....

I truly love Greenwich and what she has to offer....since the Fan Museum is in the same area, Caroline and I decided to roam around by the river near the great tea clipper Cutty Sark and in the gardens of the park which is where we took the rest of the photos. Speaking of photos....since the Walking in May EXCLUSIVE Kyoto ans Osaka Cheongsam range sold out after one single week, to THANK YOU darlings for your overwhelmingly kind support and love for the Cheongsam I would like to run a little style competition! The WINNER will have their photo (wearing the Walking in May exclusive Kyoto or Osaka Cheongsam) and a mini interview of 'why they love the Cheongsam (Qipao)' featured right here on Walking in May, as well as an award of a Singaporean $100 discount that can be used exclusively on The Lady General's store. To enter simply:

1. Submit a photo of yourself wearing one of the 'Walking in May Exclusive Kyoto or Osaka Cheongsam' dresses by the Lady General....it is about showcasing your style and creativity of what it means to you to be beautiful in a Cheongsam or Qipao.
2. Briefly answer the following question: Why do you love the Cheongsam (Qipao) and what inspires your style?
3. Please send your photo and answer with your name and contact details (email address) to; may[at]walkinginmay.com by Friday 18th July 2014.

Meanwhile I shall think of two more people to help me in the decision process to make it fair to everyone who will be entering. Hopefully the tips above will be useful....as style really is a very individual and personal thing, there is no good or wrong....it is about what you love and your passion for it. So send in your entries! On that very exciting note as I  eagerly wait to see your lovely photos (and please feel free to spread the word about the competition), I wish you darlings a very fabulous weekend!

Until the next time,

♥ May xx

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~Photos by Walking in May's Official Photographer:

Caroline Opacic Photography (Link)