Ao Dai is the traditional costume of Vietnamese women, and is also a unique outfit known to international friends for its design that is both discreet and standard, while also highlighting the seductive curves of women.
The classic ao dai is characterized by a tight top, two long skirts that cover the legs, a stand-up collar, seamed sleeves, wide-leg pants and long heels.
Let’s take a look at ELLE’s beautiful and uniquely renovated ao dai models below.
1. Collarless Ao Dai
Collarless ao dai appeared in the early 1960s, when Mrs. Tran Le Xuan, wife of Mr. Ngo Dinh Nhu, designed a boat neck ao dai.
Instead of high, standing, stiff, tight collars that hug the neck, modern ao dai seem to be more `breathable` with boat necks, heart collars, betel leaf collars… showing off the sexy collarbone and
Ao dai without collar
2. Short-sleeved long-sleeved shirt
Traditional ao dai often has long sleeves and hugs the arms, with raglan attached to the body.
Short sleeve long shirt
3. Puff-sleeve long shirt
Puff-sleeved ao dai has only become popular in recent years, but it actually appeared in 1939 under the name `Le Mur ao dai` created by artist Cat Tuong.
Long puff sleeve shirt
4. Sleeveless Ao Dai
Sleeveless Ao Dai is not really popular yet, but its uniqueness and charm are beyond dispute.
Sleeveless ao dai
5. Short ao dai
The short hem of the ao dai is perhaps the most prominent and recognizable innovative feature of the modern ao dai.
Still has the traditional design, but the shorter hem helps people of modest height become more elegant, while also making it easier to be creative with many different materials.
Short ao dai
6. Ao Dai has a smooth, wide shape
Gone are the days when ao dai had to be tightly fitted around the waist to accentuate attractive curves.
Ao dai has a smooth, wide shape
7. See-through material
In the past, ao dai was often sewn with thick and discreet materials such as velvet, silk, brocade, cotton… which more or less gave women a feeling of `frustration`, especially on hot days.
See-through material
See more:
Ellewiki: Ao Dai past and present
Hue and the ao dai story – Hoai Cam blog
Designer Anh Thu: Ao dai has given me many things