Reyna Chinese knot Cheongsam for Felicia

Wearing the made-to-measure Amplified Reyna Cheongsam is Felicia who has kindly let us have a photo of her taken during one of the fittings.

(If you have been to our Centrepoint shop for fitting, do you recognize these fuchsia bow sandals on her feet, we think it is a perfect match.)

We crafted entirely by hand, the collar, sleeves and shoulder in a reimagined Chinese frog button, in one tone brighter in each of the three colours present of the imperial blue Chinese silk brocade with green and pink florals. The hand-crafted shoulder piece is hollow, it allows the natural skin tone to shine through but an entirely different style from the lace. Instead, together we created cheongsam that is fun, but not casual; formal but youthful. A truly modern Singapore take on tradition.

Also seen custom made for Annie in a grungy combination of pink, turquoise and beige.

New Year, New Cheongsam, New Me - Part 1

Since the last Chinese New Year, we have been busy designing THE bridal cheongsam for many beautiful brides, matching the hairpieces to floral arrangements and meeting every friend on the brides' facebook account. Lets not forget, we are not only a bridal boutique, we make cheongsams for everybody( we even custom made matching dog cheongsam for a client ), as long as you like what we do and want to be part of it.

Meet our new range of modern cheongsams for this festive season.

Fun and practical is the key idea. An assortment of designs covering purposes from casual friday in the office to company dinner and dance events; from chinese new year visiting, to you best friend's wedding.

Lets look at the first 3.

Mini Halter Cheongsam in Red Silk Brocade with Chinese motifs.
Also in other prints and colours.


Denim Cheongsam in pink.
Also in other colours.


Cotton Mini Cheongsam in florals on black.
Also in other prints and colours.

Gotta get back to making more cheongsams now, will post the who-wears-what-when soon. Stay tuned.

Gold Chinese Silk Cheongsam with Gold Lace Overlay

For you who are familiar with Mazzario Cheongsam, you would know that Chinese Silk Brocade is one of our favorite fabrics to work with. Be it a classic Tea Dress with double trimming or the fashion-forward customer favourite Empire Halter Mini Cheongsam; the Talia Toga Cheongsam or the Mystic Corded Mini Cheongsam we constantly strive to revive the beautful traditional fabric to it's former glory.

 

Here comes the bride who just like almost every girl and even more so bride-to-be out there ( or here!), can't give up the love for the delicacy and glamour that lace fabric lends, even to a cheongsam.

Yet, a cheongsam carries with it the many burdens of its important role in Chinese period dramas and Wong Kar Wai's movie In The Mood For Love.




Of the greedy nature that we sometimes deny, we would not refuse combination of the two for this bridal cheongsam. Afterall, Singapore is all about fusion-everything. See for yourself how the golden lace overlay glimmers on the traditional cream coloured brocade with traditional florals. Fully lined in red just for that extra dose of Chinese auspiciousness, even on the inside.

Mystic Cheongsam With Hand Knotted Cords on Actual Wedding Day

Mystic Cheongsam has lived up to it's name since our first creation. The intricacy of the tedious handiwork of the cording as well as the visual impact has captivated the hearts of many modern edgy lady and bride to be alike.




Thank you Agnes for sending us your wonderful photos. The piece custom made for Agnes spots a different shape from the original to suit her figure. It has no side slits, and is tulip shaped to balance to winged tips of the cords.

If you have ever stared hard at your screen and tried to make out what the embossed pattern is made of, keep reading for the mystery to be revealed. Some of you who have visited us at our store at the Centrepoint might have caught us playing with large coils of straw-looking objects.



These are cords made from many very wide strips of Chinese silk brocade. They are them carefully twined to form the desired shapes—desirable shapes that accentuate desirable figure. They are then positioned and hand stitched to a completed cheongsam. The result is what you see, a captivating modern cheongsam that is unique and different from anything you have seen.

Annie and her 3 puppies' Festive Cheongsams

It's time to celebrate the festive time of Chinese New Year. Isn't this just great inspiration and a loud cheer to couple our aniticipation?

On her: Custom order pink Chinese brocade & black mandarin collar wrap dress
On them: Custom order matching pink Chinese brocade cheongsams

Mystic Cheongsam With Hand Knotted Cords

On Flickr, a cheongsam design that receives more hits than others; in store, gets touched and stared at with shocked expression most often, has to count the Mystic Cheongsam.

We have written about it in our previous blog post here, but been told that the photos do not do the actually dress justice. The compliments Mystic gets, makes all our sleepless nights and hunger pangs worth it. 

Here is a close up showing the details of the Cheongsam. You can even see the beautiful gold foil brocade we used for making the cords!

Looking for similar designs? Check out -
Amplified Chinese Knot Corded Cheongsam
Mystic Reinterpreted

Amplified Chinese Knot Corded Cheongsam—For Annie

The Chinese knot is not only utilitarian, but has also become an art form on its own. We have used it on The Mystic Cheongsam, making use of a small Chinese knot at the typical and traditional position and grew around the bustier and the waist, framing the bodice part of the cheongsam.

In this Amplified Cheongsam made for Annie, we have crafted the upper part of the cheongsam, including the sleeves and the collar entirely of Chinese knots.


Unlike Mystic Cheongsam which is symmetrical and orderly, the Amplified Cheongsam is a little messy, slightly unkempt, breaking all the stereotypes of a cheongsam. The meticulously corded and twined and stitched was shaped bit by bit on dress form, and hand stitched carefully to the full length Chinese brocade cheongsam shaped bustier with high slits.

Annie said she never expected Cheongsam Qipao could be modern and grungy like this. How else would you like we to change your Qipao Cheongsam stereotype?

Wedding Cheongsam Gown—for Jessica

Many modern Asian Chinese brides are torn between tradition customs and urban lifestyle preference. They often settle for a gown less than satisfactory giving in to either side. Always optimistic, we helped Jessica and her family's expectations meet half-way.

While simple and sleek silhouette is her ideal, she feared her mother prefers traditional (Read: Red & gold sleeved full length cheongsam). Here at Mazzario we would not let you walk away depressed and old-fashioned.

We suggested a bright red gold and red Chinese Brocade fabric to be made into a simple silhouette, with additional lace applique, both to add sparkles as well as to visually slim the torso. The lace up keyhole back has room for adjustments, and makes for a cute bow at the back. The mermaid flare starts centre front at a v-point, and moves up gradually to mid-thigh at the back, creating curves while slimming the thighs.

Colourful Cloud Cheongsam for Stacy

Tradition and fun are not words that usually comes together. They however, mix very well in The Colour Cloud Cheongsam custom made to Stacy's wedding. Adventurous Stacy wanted to have a traditional qipao or cheongsam from the start, because she can't think of a better time to check off her wish list, yet, she frowns at the idea of granny's wardrobe.





She took a daring plunge into the choice of a very colourful chinese brocade. We then decided to make full use of the wonder cloud prints. Combined with a traditional way of enclosure, collar to waist over the bust, but with a twist. We cut around the clouds at the opening and at the hemline, then layered them one upon another, and then painstakingly piped them using the tradition Chinese technique. The sleeves were also made in layers, to echo the idea of clouds, as well as slimming the arms.To finish, we used the only colour of the rainbow that does not already exist on the fabric together with shimmering gold for the cording details.



Look at Stacy. She's so excited she couldn't still her hands. P.S. Check out her shoes. We have not seen a better match.

Toga Mini Cheongsam - Talia

Deviating from the elements of a Qipao or a traditional cheongsam—Talia—Toga Mini Cheongsam is calling out to the unconventional modern lady looking for a unique. Part of Mazzario's New Ready-to-Wear Cheongsam Collection, Comes in 3 colour variations of marine blue, champagne, and gunmetal. Not unlike the Telepyleia Toga Cheongsam, an asymmetrical toga cheongsam is the perfect piece to accentuate the décolletage and toned arms of the athletic build.

Metallic coated lace insert at the collar and thighs introduces visual lead ons, elongating the silhouette for a slimmer look. The very tapered fit combined with the thigh high front slit subtilely exudes just enough sex appeal. The marine blue and black Chinese Brocade shimmers a little in ambient lighting without being over the top. The Talia Toga Mini Cheongsam is appropriate for most dinner and dance occasions, including your next candle-lit dinner date.

Ready-to-Wear Cheongsam Collection

Use of Venetian-style Lace, texturized monotone Chinese brocade, metallic checks, gunmetal knit, all these seemingly unrelated fabric styles Mazzario has put together in the new ready-to-wear collection.

Silhouettes are still slim, with with a new ease that is quite unlike the skin-tight-fit we have been doing for so long. A contemporary cheongsam piece in liquid metal comes ruched and wrapped, the heavily paneled bustier looks every bit corset but is comfortable with elasticity.

In a palette of blue, red, champagne, and black, grey, white, there is a cheongsam for even casual days.

Mystic Cheongsam—Reinterpretted

The intricate hand-cording on the Mystic Cheongsam in no time became Mazzario's signature work. Many have asked for it made into different versions of it, to suit different occasions and personalities. It has been used not only on Gold Foil Chinese Brocade for a wedding, but also combined with another signature of ours, the Empire Halter Mini Cheongsam.

The boldness of hand-cording detail has usually been applied to the high collared cheongsams to counterbalance the demure expression of a high collar cheongsam. This time, however, it is employed to introduce subtlety to the sexy low V-neck & V-back with mandarin collar. The meandering hand cording softens the edge of the harsh black brocade with just a dash of Chinese ethnicity called for in the inter-racial wedding it was commissioned for.

Wedding Cheongsam - Thelia

The client was clear about not having a white gown for her wedding. Unlike most Chinese parents, black was not discouraged, ironically they were adamant on having a bit of Chinese festivity in the bridal cheongsam gown.

Torn between the cool goth style the bride was after, and the festive element required by the parents, we wove the two together, and even threw in the number one Chinese-auspicious colour—Gold.

The frothiness of the shimmering black tulle skirt balances the tight fitting sexy red brocade bodice, furthermore, the tulle overlay at the empire level creates a more slimming illusion. Finally the whole gown is literally pulled together with the criss-cross shimmering gold waist band.

To complement the body-con gown is a tailored minimalist cut angular texturized mandarin collar jacket for covering the bride in her wedding cheongsam both in and out of the wedding venue, and to match her casual apparel thereafter.

Fall Cheongsam in Electrify

The Fall Cheongsam has been in our made to order collection for a while. It is the lesser known sister of the Petals Cheongsam. Upon numerous customer requests, we are finally making a very limited number in ready-to-wear. First in the series—Electrify.

Electrify is turquoise lace on iridescent Chinese brocade. One moment it looks harmoniously blue, another, it looks highly contrasting. Sometimes the lace floral into the brocade seamlessly, sometimes it looks like lace applique popping out of the traditional fabric.

Enough said, you have to see it for yourself. But this is not for everyone, only for the discerningly quirky.

Cheongsam and Nothing Less or More

A formal cheongsam for an international seminar is all that was on her mind when she came to us. An elegant lady of poise needs no further ornamental touch in our opinion, her grace finishes any cheongsam perfectly.

A traditional Chinese brocade fabric in iridescent white, shows a different colour in every angle, but all with pink tones to complement her cool-fair complexion. The only decorative element is a pink-toned semi-precious gemstone button at the collar to bring attention to her bright eyes.The cheongsam was cut full length, straight cut to convey the formality of the event. The cheongsam bares up to mid-back, just right to accentuate the small waistline, yet conservative as a Chinese ethnic dress in eyes of her foreign friends.

Variation on the Mandarin Collar

She knew she wanted a cheongsam with a special mandarin collar, yet it cannot emphasize the roundness of her cheeks (or so most women think of ourselves).

We created a simple ivory white Chinese Silk Brocade Bareback Mini Cheongsam, with a specially designed collar for this client. The collar is made up of three differently shaped layers in lace, individually trimmed in traditional cheongsam piping finish, the result is in varying opacity, finished with a generous dose of sequin sparkles.

The V shape effect not only elongates the neck and vaguely evokes the feeling of a bow-tie collar, much suited to the wine & dine function she was to attend.

New Empire Halter Cheongsam

top: New empire halter cheongsam in blue lace on pink; bottom: the empire halter cheongsam in last collection in silver brocade

Your favorite Empire Halter Cheongsam redux!

Many of you who love the design for it sexiness, its modenity. We have received many requests for it to be lengthened, or made in other fabrics. We heard you. The new design is not only longer, but fits better, comes with slight elasticity with more give.

More colours coming soon, stay tuned.

Cheongsam at Singapore Wedding

Esther alerted us on her blog post on a wedding in which she was a MC - wearing Mazzario's Bareback Silk Brocade Cheongsam.

She has masterfully paired it with a simple rose patterned earrings that are simple yet echoes the red undertone of the green silk brocade. Her choice of gold shoes also helps to visually elongate her legs. Thanks for sharing both your style and a wonderful day of your life with us Esther!

Cheongsam Picks For Singapore Weather

We have noticed white cheongsam's are popular not only with the brides lately. We think it must be the weather. Here are our 2 weather prove picks.

First, is a reinterpretation of your favorite Honey Cheongsam Dress, in white cherry blossom brocade, with self tie belt.

Second, also a reincarnation of the Honey Cheongsam Dress, now with tie back, previously featured in tropical pick and turquoise. The white version comes with a longer self-tie sash. You can request for a floor length sash for those who wants it all, a sexy mini with a sweeping train.

Molten Cheongsam

Ashley posted a gorgeous picture of herself in our black lace & satin petal silk brocade cheongsam, with detail shots and description.

This is also the cheongsam that kicked off the catwalk on the recent insing.com fashion show.

The Molten Cheongsam is especially flattering for the petite. We noticed petite ladies tend to gravitate towards very simple -read: plain- cheongsam, as it is thought to minus the clutter on the very small body. Yet a plain cheongsam too plain for Ashley who prefers much more fun.

Our solution for her is a High bare back, Twist front lace, satin, and Chinese brocade Mini. Yes, so many materials in one, be shocked, but only by the the elegant result.

Available in Colours and sizes. Also made to order.