Despite being a ‘jiak kentang’ kind of girl (much influenced by western culture), I have a love for the cheongsams. My first cheongsam was a hand-me-down from an aunt, actually a couple of hand-me-downs. I I fell in love with the cheongsam ever since. To me, a cheongsam showcases the subtle sexiness of a woman and of course, the most important reason is I look damn good in it!
After I saw the movie ‘In The Mood For Love’, I was like “OMG! The cheongsams are gorgeous!” I swore I would get a wardrobe of my own.
I checked out cheongsam shops and tailors. It’s either getting it off-the-rack or get it tailor-made. For off-the-rack, more than likely the cheongsam has to be altered since it’s so so important the dress fits well. The plus side is that off-the-rack cheongsams are usually cheaper than tailor-made ones. “Cloth.ier” (http://www.clothier.com.sg/) is an option for affordable cheongsams though you’ve to be rather selective because most of the prints either look dated or just not stylish. The shop provides alteration service at a price, but the measurements are taken by the sales girl and not the seamstress. It’s the same at ‘”Blum”, which offered beautifully designed modern cheongsams during this past Chinese New Year period.
The problem with sales girl taking alteration measurements is that the alteration usually don’t turn out well and require repeat revisions. I bought 3 cheongsams this past CNY and regretted using Blum’s alteration service. Not only were the alterations not done well but I had to send them to my regular alteration shop to redo and worst, the shoddy alterations done at Blum could not be undone. So moral of the story: don’t use the alteration service at the shop if there’s no in-house seamstress/tailor to take measurements.
“Tong Tong Friendship Store” (http://www.tongtong.sg/) is another shop that offers modern cheongsams. It doesn’t offer in-house alteration service but direct customers to two external providers. I went to one located at BHG Bugis. Honestly, the workmanship isn’t that good either and the cheongsam also required repeat revisions for it to fit me well.
As for tailor-made cheongsams, one of the best shops around is Kang’s Boutique. At that time Kang’s was located at Concourse, Beach Road, near my workplace. I used to stop and ogle at the window display of sumptuous-looking cheongsams. So when I was getting married, I decided I must get my wedding cheongsam made at Kang’s, and the tailor, Gary, is a master cheongsam maker. Since then, I’ve discovered two other shops: “Hana” and “Lady Xiang”. Like Kang’s Boutique, I fell in love with the dresses displayed at Hana (hanafashion.biz). These are pictures of the dresses available during the CNY period.
I had one cheongsam made at Hana, using a fabric I bought many years back in Beijing. The cost alone is S$800 and it doesn’t even include the piping nor buttons! But the workmanship is really good and all cheongsams are made by a master tailor in his 70s’. For those pre-made cheongsams featured above, the cost is doubled!
hi,
chanced upon your blog while searching for cheongsam alteration services online.
i love the red and black lace piece you have bought from blum!
a pity that i have already bought a simpler looking cheongsam to attend my friend’s wedding.
i am searching for good tailors to alter my off-the-shelf cheongsam coz it is too big for me. may i check with you which tailor you usually go to to alter cheongsams?
thanks in advance!
lovely dresses i congratulate you on such good taste!
Ah! That Japanese printed cheongsam is to die for – it looks great on you!
Thank you, but I didn’t get it though. Instead I decided to have a custom-made one from another cheongsam boutique at a fraction of the price.
I am looking to tailor a cheongsam..may I know which boutique you went to ?
Thanking you in advance for your advice
Hi Nancy,
I believe I have put down in my post that I had cheongsams made at Kang’s boutique, Hana and lady Xiang. Among the three, Lady Xiang is the cheapest at around S$450 including fabric and lining and embroidered buttons. Hana is the most expensive at S$800 for just workmanship and lining, and Kang’s in between.
Maria
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Lovely article on cheong sums! Could I find out which are your regular tailors/seamstress to get them altered at? Have got an off-the-rack cheong sum that needs taking in, can’t risk ruining it… Thanks!
Hi there,
If you have an expensive cheongsam, more than $500, you can go for Alteration Initiative (www.alteration.com.sg). Otherwise, I use Alter Pro, located at basement of Hong Leong building. Sorry I can’t remember the unit number. You can also try Clancy at #04-89 Far East Plaza, which does very good alteration for designer clothes, though I’m not sure if they have altered cheongsam. You can call them up to enquire. I only use a couple of alteration services, those I am confident they can do a good job.
Maria
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Thanks Maria! 😀 Will check them out…
Hi Maria, I just gotten a cheongsam from Blum and has left it for the in house alteration. Read from your post that the in house alteration is bad. I think I should ask them to hold the alteration and send for third party alteration!
Hi Anna,
Whenever any boutique offers alteration service but measurements are not taken by a seamstress, you should say no, even when alteration is free. From my experience, the alteration always turn out crap, and I end up sending the dress to professional alteration service, and pay a lot to fix the mistakes. I’ve also found out from experience that not everybody can alter cheongsams, and once you find a good one, stick to it.
So yes you should quickly get back your cheongsam and send to a reliable seamstress for alteration even though you have to pay for it.
Regards Maria
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Hello! So happy to see a reply from you! I picked up the dress today. Any particular seamstress u go to at alter pro? Thanks in advance.
Hi Anna,
At Alter Pro, it’s either one of the twin sisters (one is called Iris and other I’m afraid I forgot her name) will take measurements. One of them will be in the shop at any one day, usually not together. When they’re busy, one of their staff will do it, but either sister will have a final one-over. The address of Alter Pro is Hong Leong building, #B1-10,16 Raffles Quay. Contact number 90091323 for Iris.
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hi Maria, thank you very much! 😀
You are so cool! I don’t believe I have read something like
this before. So nice to find another person with a few unique
thoughts on this issue. Seriously.. thanks for starting this
up. This website is one thing that’s needed on the web, someone with a little originality!