Cover Where to shop modern cheongsams in Singapore (Photo: Good Addition)

Welcome the Year of the Horse in style with these modern takes on the traditional cheongsam

The traditional Chinese cheongsam has been around since the 1920s. It’s most often seen as a sleek, figure-hugging garment with side slits and a Mandarin collar. Originally popularised by high society women in Shanghai, the traditional cheongsam has evolved over the years to adapt to contemporary times, and boutiques now offer the garment in a range of modern materials and cuts.

With Chinese New Year a few weeks away, it’s time to start shopping for your celebratory outfits. A wide variety of stylish boutiques around Singapore offer pieces that go beyond your traditional red qi pao—think batik prints, modern silhouettes or jumpsuits. Below, we share some of the best boutiques to visit to welcome the Year of the Horse in style.

In case you missed it: Chinese New Year 2025: The most stylish Year of the Snake capsule collections

1. YeoMama Batik

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Above YeoMama Batik’s Chinese New Year 2026 Festive Collection (Photo: YeoMama Batik)

YeoMama Batik’s latest festive collection for Chinese New Year reimagines batik for modern festivities, featuring a wide range of prints, coordinated family looks, and two exclusive designs: Galloping Dreams, created for the Year of the Horse, and Golden Roar, inspired by lion dance motifs.

2. Good Addition

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Above S-Panel Cheongsam Green Tweed (Photo: Good Addition)
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Above Oval Open Back Cheongsam Rainbow Multi Tweed (Photo: Good Addition)

Homegrown brand Good Addition’s Modern Heritage Lunar New Year 2026 collection is a three-part series that celebrates timeless elegance in the form of modern silhouettes, craftsmanship and contemporary styling. 

The heart of the collection features nine mandarin-collared designs that draw from the ritualistic intimacy of a tea ceremony. By deploying a tactile mix of beaded embroidery, structural tweeds, and satin brocades, the label captures a sense of “heritage and grace” without the silhouette ever feeling dated. The final edit is particularly clever, softening the brand’s cult-favourite shapes into draped, airy silhouettes. Utilising a sophisticated blend of seersucker, lace trimmings, and cotton, these pieces move the cheongsam out of the “costume” category and firmly into a versatile, everyday wardrobe.

3. The Cheongsam Shoppe

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Above The Cheongsam Shoppe aims to make the cheongsam flattering for women of all shapes (Photo: The Cheongsam Shoppe)

The Cheongsam Shoppe specialises in ready-to-wear versatile designs and bespoke cheongsam pieces in modern prints and cuts. Its creations are crafted to flatter diverse body types while maintaining the garment’s iconic charm. 

4. Dear Samfu

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Above Little Sister Cheongsam Dress (Photo: Dear Samfu)

This homegrown brand offers sustainable and nostalgic pieces that draw inspiration from styles from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Its 2026 festive collection, House of Joy, features pieces like the Little Sister Cheongsam Dress. This sleeveless dress is inspired by the classic cheongsam silhouette but with a laidback spin. It features a flared tiered skirt for added comfort—perfect for long days of Chinese New Year visiting.

5. Joli Pretty

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Above Petale Sage Crop Top Set with Pants (Photo: Instagram / @joli.pretty)

Shop sustainably with Joli Pretty, the slow-fashion store offers a range of cheongsams in breathable cotton and batik. Those looking for modern silhouettes will delight in the chic cotton dresses (with pockets!) and jacquard tops from their Chinese New Year 2026 collection which comes in two drops: Blossom Edit and Bloom Edit.  

6. Lark & Peony

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Above Lark & Peony Chinese New Year 2025 collection (Photo: Instagram / @larkandpeony)

This local brand interprets modern Asian style into its pieces. Its latest Chinese New Year collection, The House Of Peony Blossoms, is like a poetic meditation on the quiet moments of the season. The narrative here is one of “quiet anticipation”, drawing inspiration from the stillness of a flower shop before dawn. This translates into a collection shaped by a genuine respect for heritage and craft, where the prints—specifically the lush peony motifs—feel organic rather than forced. The pieces are designed for the woman who wants her festive wardrobe to reflect a sense of poise and beauty as the season reveals itself.

 

7. Mandarin Peony

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Above Mandarin Peony is a purveyor of ready-to-wear cheongsams (Photo: Instagram / @mandarinpeony)

With its latest collection, City Romance, Mandarin Peony delivers a poignant love letter to the woman in motion. Drawing inspiration from the cinematic grit and glamour of Hong Kong’s nostalgic, neon-lit streets, the collection serves as a dialogue between timeless tailoring and the sharp, fast-paced energy of modern urban life.

The aesthetic is one of “soft power”, designed for a woman who remains beautifully composed while weaving through the skyscrapers and bustle of the city. The Fan Pants is a standout piece, as it comes in premium shimmer satin and features a high waist as well as pleated sides adorned with wrapped round buttons. Pair it with the fan favourite Golden Ginkgo Top, a bestseller since its debut that sells out often.

8. Dotted Line

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Above Dotted Line’s Nancy Cheongsam in Denim (Photo: Dotted Line)

If you love pieces with a pop of colour or outfits with unique prints, you’ll want to check out Dotted Line’s latest Chinese New Year 2026 collection. Its Becky Cheongsam is a timeless midi-length piece that features a halter neckline that emphasises the shoulders and a flared A-line skirt that offers a flattering, retro-inspired silhouette. Additionally, its Nancy Cheongsam is one the brand’s all-time bestsellers—a sleeveless piece that comes in Dotted Line’s signature slim silhouette, complete with subtle side slits.

9. Shanghai Tang

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Above Silk Print Dress (Photo: Instagram / @shanghaitang)

You can’t go wrong with qipaos from Hong Kong fashion luxury house Shanghai Tang for Chinese New Year. For a contemporary blend of Eastern and Western styles, look no further than the brand’s signature Tang qipao collection.

10. The Missing Piece

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Above The Missing Piece’s Drea Signature Jumpsuit (Photo: Instagram / @iwantthemissingpiece)

This homegrown brand’s interpretation of the Chinese dress is made with soft breathable fabric, perfect for the sweltering weather in Singapore. Pieces put the spotlight on comfort and elegance—for example, the Brigette Lace Cheongsam
is adorned with gorgeous floral cotton lace and complete with a flowy pleated chiffon frill hem as well as lace edging along the collar and arms. If you prefer a jumpsuit, shop its signatures. This season, its Signature Jumpsuit gets a festive update with a lush golden embroidery design that cascades across the shoulder and hip. It sports a classic mandarin collar and The Missing Piece’s signature cut outs.

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