Behind the Seams

AN EXQUISITE RED-AND-BLACK CHEONGSAM HANGING IN DENISE HO’S WARDROBE ELICITS MEMORIES OF HER GRANDMOTHER. “MY IDEA OF HER IS BASED ON THINGS SHE USED TO OWN,” THE FASHION STYLIST SAYS, “AND THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES.” THE DRESS HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN FROM HER SISTER, JAIME KU, WHO WORE IT AT HER WEDDING, AND HO WILL DO THE SAME WHEN HER TIME COMES. THE DRESS FELL INTO HO’S LAP AFTER HER FATHER INSISTED THE SISTERS KEEP THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE OUTFIT. “I’VE WORN IT TO A LOT OF THEME PARTIES. ONE NEW YEAR’S EVE I WORE IT TO A YE SHANGHAI EVENING. WHEN PEOPLE SEE IT, THEY LOVE IT.” THE HANDMADE SILK VINTAGE DRESS IS MODERN ENOUGH FOR TODAY AND YET ALSO TRADITIONAL. “DRESSES LIKE THIS ARE HARD TO FIND NOWADAYS BECAUSE IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO BUY SUCH DELICATE MATERIALS ANYMORE,” SHE SAYS. “IT FEELS SO LUXURIOUS, WHICH SHOWS HOW SUPERIOR THE QUALITY OF CLOTHING WAS BACK THEN.”

“I LOVE THAT YOU CAN PASS DOWN CLOTHING TO FUTURE GENERATIONS,” SHE SAYS. “IN TERMS OF FASHION, PEOPLE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WITH WHAT THEY BUY AND SHOULD MAKE SURE THEY CAN KEEP IT FOREVER.” HO ISN’T TOO WORRIED ABOUT THE FRAYED THREADS AND HOPES TO PASS THE DRESS ON TO HER DAUGHTER ONE DAY. “AND TO THINK, WOMEN DURING THE 1970S WOULD WEAR DRESSES LIKE THIS EVERY DAY, EVEN WHEN THEY WENT OUT TO BUY THE GROCERIES AND WHEN THEY COOKED.”