NOSTALGIA AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The film "In the Mood for Love" successfully replicated the cultural appearance of Hong Kong in the 1960s through its unique visual style and costume design, especially the cheongsam. The cheongsams in the film are not only a choice of clothing, they are also a symbol of the times, reflecting the social background and cultural atmosphere of that era. In the film, Maggie Cheung plays Su Lizhen wearing multiple cheongsams, each of which is carefully designed to show the fashion sense of the 1960s.
These cheongsams are not just clothes, they are also narrative tools. By changing different cheongsams to advance the plot and depict the emotional changes of the characters, the color application and light and shadow effects of the film also enhance the nostalgic atmosphere and bring the audience back to that era. The use of cheongsams and the overall aesthetic design of the film together construct a nostalgic and romantic imagination space about Hong Kong in the 1960s. It not only shows the style of that era, but also reflects a universal emotion of nostalgia and identification with the past in the era of globalization.
It is not only a movie but also a beautiful tribute to the history of cheongsam. Cheongsam, as a kind of traditional Chinese clothing, originated from the daily clothing of Manchu women. It underwent major changes in the early 20th century, especially in the 1920s and 1930s, when cheongsam began to incorporate more fashion elements, becoming more close-fitting and elegant, reflecting the body curves of women. In "In the Mood for Love", the cheongsam worn by Maggie Cheung shows the daily clothing of Hong Kong women in the 1960s, and also reflects the social changes and the improvement of women's status in that era. The cheongsam in the movie, with its unique tailoring, rich colors and exquisite patterns, has become a symbol of the classical charm of oriental women and has led a cheongsam trend. The history of cheongsam is not only the history of clothing, but also a microcosm of China's modern and contemporary history, reflecting the changes in social culture and the integration of Chinese and Western cultures. From the initial loose robes to the later fitted cheongsam, and then to the retro cheongsam in "In the Mood for Love", each change is closely linked to the social background and the spirit of the times. The development process of cheongsam, like the story in "In the Mood for Love", is full of changes and nostalgic emotions.
The tailoring and style of the cheongsam retain the characteristics of the traditional cheongsam, but they are innovative in details, such as the unique design of the neckline closure, and sometimes the use of invisible buttons to make the clothing look smoother, simple and generous. At the same time, modern improvements have been made in details, such as the use of tailoring that is more suitable for the curve of the body, the use of modern fabrics, etc., so that the cheongsam is more in line with contemporary aesthetics.The designer has designed more than 30 sets of classic cheongsam styles for the film, each with a combination of Chinese and Western aesthetic elements. This design style not only reflects the respect and inheritance of the traditional cheongsam, but also integrates Western fashion elements, making the design of the cheongsam more colorful.The design of the cheongsam pays great attention to details, such as the decoration of the neckline, cuffs, skirt, etc., as well as the process of plate buckle, edge wrapping, etc. These details not only increase the beauty of the cheongsam, but also reflect the designer's intention.
Reflecting women's elegance and subtlety: The design of the cheongsam focuses on showing women's body curves, and at the same time, it shows women's elegance and subtlety through high collars, long sleeves and other design elements.Reflect the emotional changes of the character: the color and pattern of the cheongsam will change with the emotional changes of the character. When the heroine is in a good mood, she will wear a brightly colored cheongsam; when she is in a low mood, she will wear a darker cheongsam.Integration with the environment: The design of the cheongsam will take into account the matching with the movie scene, so that the character's clothing can be integrated with the surrounding environment to create a unique atmosphere. Show the characteristics of the times: The story of the film is set in Hong Kong in the 1960s, and the design of the cheongsam will also reflect the characteristics of that era, showing the fashion style and cultural atmosphere at that time.

In the movie Mood for Love, the colors of the cheongsam are rich and diverse, including yellow, black and white, red, green and blue. The choice of these colors not only shows the different moods of the character and the different stages of the relationship between the hero and heroine, but also cleverly implies the inner emotional changes of the characters. For example, yellow and black-and-white cheongsam appear when the hero and heroine are not familiar with each other, symbolizing the closed and alienated heart; with the gradual change of the relationship, colorful and patterned cheongsam styles appear more, implying that the hero and heroine gradually become familiar with each other and have subtle emotions. The red cheongsam represents desire, while the green and blue cheongsam respectively imply restraint and regret, as well as feelings of melancholy and loneliness.
All cheongsams In the Mood for Love were designed by Zhang Shuping, a fashion designer. who is an old partner with director Wang Jiawei. He not only participated in the costume design of "In the Mood for Love", but also was nominated for the 86th Academy Award for Best Costume Design for the filmThe Grandmaster in 2014 of the same director.