Cheongsam , 1990s
Dress

This cheongsam belongs to Linda Yip, a fourth-generation Chinese genealogist and historian. Growing up, Linda was rejective of her Chinese identity and tried very hard to be white. The first time she wore a cheongsam was her grandmother’s wedding dress, but that experience was uncomfortable as she felt a sense of disconnection and inauthenticity. In her coming of age, Linda went on a world trip, giving up stability to pursue a new life. This trip was a milestone in her life, offering her a sense of freedom and the ability to make her own decisions. In Vietnam, Linda saw many Vietnamese women wearing their traditional dress, the Ao Dai, and proud to display their cultural identity. Linda then purchased her first tailor-made cheongsam in Vietnam. Linda’s negotiation of her cultural identity through clothing demonstrates that identity is a “production” that is never complete. It also shows clothing choices can be used to enact agency, expressing one’s relationship with their cultural heritage that is fluid and constantly changing throughout one’s lifetime.

Exhibited by:

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