Wednesday, May 5, 2010

shopping for a cheongsam - tong tong friendship store

im completely enamoured by cheongsams. i used to hate it when i was little. cos they were tight and scratchy. and you can't climb a tree in it!! but inspired by maggie cheung's gorgeous high-neck pieces in "in the mood for love", my cheongsam collection has been growing healthily!!

i particularly dig classic cheongsam cuts (ie not the type with a gaping hole in the chest or backless) with modern fabrics, or lace or anything but the usual brocade!! there is something fun and lighthearted about wearing a mash-up of styles. to date, my favorite is an white eyelet cheongsam that i wear as a day-dress on a picnic and also as a dinner dress! very versatile and a subtle nod to my heritage!!

one of my favorite stores for modern-inspired cheongsam pieces is tong tong friendship store! first introduced to me by my friend, deaf. (who by the way is the best girlfriend anyone can ask for. she got me hooked onto glee, thomson bahchormee and updates me on the latest IT nail colour. can't ask for much more) she first showed me a dress she styled for a shoot! and i was completely SOLD! i don't have the picture anymore but it was a grey lace cheongsam with pink tulle peeking out from the bottom, so me right??

here are some pictures ganked off the internet cos i always get so carried away shopping in there that i don't snap pictures! 


source: here

first brought mumsy there last week and she got herself a really neat cheongsam in merrimeko red poppy fabric! i left singapore in a rush so didn't get a chance to take a picture of her modelling the dress! :) imagination now, everybody! :)


the interior of the shop is awesome!! with retro tiles and speckled with vintage chinese memoriabilia! my mum squealed at the hot flask and little russian dolls. actually i think she squealed at most things she saw in that store. even at the super cute shopgirl who was so patient and generous when my mum was trying the dresses. you know? not the type that hawks over you or praises you incessantly even when the buttons are bursting from the sides!!


source: here

and mum's obsessed with their acrylic brooches ($38 - 48). she loved the "double happiness" one, the tiger, the child, the panda and the goldfishes. everything but the birdie one that i like.. but she was paying so i reluctantly let her pick. :( i have a feeling she is sneaking back when im out of town to buy all the other designs. that's my mum for you..


 source: here

for me, the best part is that the designer only makes limited pieces in each style and does not bring in old designs. (yes, i tried..) so its worth paying a little more cos when you own a tongtong cheongsam, you can be pretty sure that you won't see every tom, dick and sally wearing it for CNY next year! i like that! :) 

Tong Tong Friendship Store
100 Beach Road
#01-04/05
Shaw Towers, Singapore 189702
Tel: +65 6396 3887


13 comments:

  1. love the design! but damn it, they don't custom! i wanna wear one for my sister's wedding!

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  2. yeah they don't!! i was trying to bribe them to make me the pink tulle cheongsam for my wedding. but not meant to be!!!

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  3. nice!! got a qn though.. what is the price range?

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  4. Very nice. Ok.. I shall aim to fit in one of those by next yr!

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  5. i totally heart cheongsams!!
    thanks for sharing hunz! :)

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  6. wish you posted this while i was in singapore last week! would have loved to check out the store!

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  7. check them out!!! im sure you'll love them even more!! :)

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  8. short dresses from around $400, accessories from $38 onwards! :)

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  9. awww, shuck! i guess that means you'll have to come back again!! :)

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  10. prolly sooner than that, hottie mommy! :) congrats on the speedy weight-loss! :)

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  12. hahaha, this is too funny and true about cheongsam!


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