Hi everyone,
Zann, what a coincidence! You're Hakka! Speak it? Which province are your ancestors from? Mine's Tai Bu. Wow, I never knew there were so many Hakkas in my generation. Of cos, so few of us speak the dialect these days I can't find anyone of my generation to converse with in Hakka. I love speaking it esp with my parents while the fiance's around and cluelessly trying to catch what we're saying, and I'll just occasionally raise my eyebrow and give him glances in between to make him sweat a bit cos he's sure to think my Mom and I are talking about him hahaha
To his credit, he's picked up quite a bit of Hakka; even speaks it fluently enough for my cats to respond to him.
Anyway, I digress...RainnQQ, you're Hakka or your husband-to-be? I'm the wrong person to ask about any traditions, I'm trying to shut my ears nowadays when my mom starts rattling off the dozens of rituals and ceremonial items we have to adhere to, which I'd never heard of till now. My Mom gets the expert advice from all my aunties, I think. I'm just going to not worry about them till later. But she also mentioned that I should also be following my fiance's dialect's traditions with regards to the Guo Da Li and tea ceremony. <grrrrrrrrowl>
So, you might want to check out this thread by Hakka brides-
http://www.singaporebrides.com/forumboard/messages/3/5447.html
I was thrilled to stumble on it, but I haven't really read it yet- saving it for later when I have to do the ceremonial stuff.
Zann and Nuabaoz,
Thanks for the leads. Yup, have come across the other threads which mention Ted Collection which could be the one Zann's thinking about that's near Chinatown Point. That's too wayang and $$$ for me. Went to that Hana website too, the one at Arcade. I think that could be quite pricey, but then it's purportedly tailored by a Shanghainese Qipao master.
Will definitely check out Hannah (Mama & Misse) at IP. Mid-range should fit in my budget. I think I'll definitely need an expert to advise me on the cut, unlike Zann with her svelte figure, I got more, er, meat, so her tailor may be equally clueless as to how to make a qipao to flatter me and hide the bulges.
Hm, sounds like a great idea, getting sari silk. At least I'd avoid looking like a waitress by not using traditional chinese silk. Actually, I'd love some lace/ embroidered material like those formal cheongsams that Gong Li or Zhang Ziyi or Maggie Cheung were wearing in the Wong Kar Wai films...hm, must go research the movies again. Of course, I very much doubt I'll resemble any of these actresses even in an exact replica, so I shan't even try.
Heh heh, I'd love to incorporate some of the material used for my qipao into the fiance's outfit, but I'm afraid he's not an adventurous dresser. He's a polo shirt and jeans sort...don't expect him to stray from safe-and-classic even for the wedding. Not even for the underwear.
Hi Eve, I think you could give Zann's or Nuabaoz tailor a try, or have a peek at the few other cheongsam threads. NOT Ted or Amor Meus at Esplanade. That'll be over your budget. I remember there's this post with photos, by this bride who went to this tailor who works from home...I remember it's quite far from town. Go check the threads...
