Among all the traditions to observe for Chinese New Year, dressing up in new clothing is an integral part to welcome the new year, and to also signify new beginnings. Everyone would dress up in brightly colored shirts, usually in red, to scare off evil spirits and bad fortune.
To step this tradition up a notch, many people would dress up in traditional Chinese outfits. The females would wear a qi pao (or cheongsam), which is a traditional Chinese dress. When the qi pao first came around, it was a loose article of clothing that hid most of a women’s body. Over time, it was tailored to be more form fitting to adapt with the modernization of the pattern.