Searching for the perfect dress for prom? If you’re looking to skip the usual sea of taffeta prom dresses and also show off your individuality and cultural heritage, consider wearing an asian dress like a qipao or cheongsam to your prom.

Why should you wear a qipao to prom?

The qipao dress is the perfect way to honor your heritage. The qipao originated nearly a century ago in Shanghai as a modern take on the Manchu dress, and remains one of the most iconic pieces of Chinese culture. Prom is a celebration of the adult you’ve become, and what better way to do that than to celebrate your Asian-American identity with pride. 

Not only is the qipao a great symbol of cultural pride, the qipao dress also has a very flattering fit. The original sheath style of a qipao was designed to accentuate a woman’s curves in all the right ways, and the side slits allow for easy mobility so you can take over the dance floor with your friends. 

Finally, wearing a qipao to prom is a bold choice that will definitely help you stand out from the rest of the high school crowd. Our bespoke qipao dresses allow you to further customize your prom dress so it is as unique as you. Each bespoke qipao dress is also custom sized to fit you better than a store-bought dress. 

Qipao Prom Dress Styles To Consider

The traditional styles

Our most popular traditional style for a qipao or cheongsam prom dress is our Gemma dress. This style is perfect if you’re looking for a bold fabric to help you stand out from the crowd. As a bonus, you get to select the brocade silk fabric and pankou knot style for your custom Gemma dress so you can truly make it yours. 

This style can also be reused for future occasions like Chinese New Year celebrations so you don’t have to worry about just wearing your prom dress once. You can check out all our traditional qipao and cheongsam styles here. 

The modern styles

If you’re looking for a dress that is a blend of both your Asian and American backgrounds, we have many modern prom dresses that still have iconic qipao elements like the mandarin collar and pankou knots. 

Our most popular modern qipao prom dress is our Marilyn dress–which comes in white and red. It’s our most comfortable dress with its stretchy fabric so you can feel confident in its hip-hugging silhouette.

The Marilyn dress comes in floor-length with a side slit to make sure you can dance to your heart’s content.  

If you are looking to make a grand entrance with a train, then consider getting a modern cheongsam prom dress like our Amal Dress instead. 

Don’t forget the accessories

If you’ve picked out your dress already, whether it’s a qipao or some other style, you can still celebrate your asian heritage by adding a Chinese hair accessory to complete your prom look. Our most popular hairpins are our Ruby hairpin and Pearl hairpin sets, which can help complete any prom look with just the right amount of elegance. 

See how other girls wore their qipao prom dress

East Meets Dress made me a beautiful cheongsam dress for my prom. They are very helpful and so easy to communicate with. I highly recommend purchasing a dress from them, my dress was beautifully made and exactly what I was looking for! - Tess

My prom was yesterday and I received sooo many compliments on my dress. People really appreciated my unique dress and the nod to my Chinese culture. I am so happy I found your company, and in the future I will be sure to order from you if I need a dress for special occasions!! - Evelyn P

I ordered a custom cheongsam for my prom & East Meets Dress really surpassed my expectations. They were so good with email correspondence and there was such a personal feel when communicating with them. The dress itself was stunning and now all my friends are asking where I got it from. I 10/10 recommend East Meets Dress for anyone who wants a beautiful cheongsam without the hassle of going to Chinatown and finding a shady shop to do it for you. Love these guys! :))

- Lisa L

More to Love

- Deciding between a few styles for your asian prom dress? Take our style quiz to discover the right qipao prom dress for you.

- Learn about the 5 Chinese elements of a traditional qipao.

- Plan out your accessories for your qipao prom dress with this article.