Writing a book like Good Chinese Wife forced me to relive many difficult events in my past. So when I dug out my wedding qipao from the summer I was 24, I had mixed feelings.
On one hand, I’m happy I still have the dress. It was so difficult to find a red qipao that summer, even in the silk capital of Suzhou. On the other hand, I’m not sure I’ll ever wear it again. It was made pretty well, but some of the silk is worn thin on one shoulder. In any case, it still fits after all this time.
I also found this green faux fur coat I bought in Hong Kong 18 years ago to wear in frigid China when I used to spend Chinese New Years there. It still fits, too.
I’m definitely going to wear this one again!
Your qipao looks every bit as good on you now as it did then. Now that you’ve shown the dress to the world and told your story, maybe you’ll feel comfortable wearing it again in public.
Thank you so much, Nicki! You’re so right!
Your wedding dress is beautiful. And it’s kind of neat it still fits.
When I was reading Good Chinese Wife, I was impressed by how you were able to dig up and let go of a lot of the painful/awkward things that happened.
Thank you so much, Grace! I have half a mind to get the sleeves cut off, but wouldn’t want to risk ruining it. Decisions, decisions!
I’m so touched by your words. Putting all that distance between that life and my new one certainly helped!