Chinese New Year Events in Your Area

It’s only natural for us moms to get a little stressed during holidays. That’s because we’re more than just moms. We are a lot of things. Aside from being moms, we also happen to be the family’s household manager, executive chef, and EVENT PLANNER --all in one beautiful package!

Now with Chinese New Year being less than two weeks away, I’m sure some of us already made plans, because for the whole family to simply stay home during the Chinese New Year celebration would seem passe when there are Lion Dances, elaborate floats, fun parades, and special Chinese programs for everyone to enjoy, right?

Now if that doesn’t sound anything like what you had in mind, better start looking for Chinese New Year events in your area.

So start shopping for new clothes for the whole family. A new red coat for you, a tiger shirt for dad, girls Chinese dress and kung fu costumes for your kids and you’ll be ready to party!

Chinese New Year Traditions

Hello, friends! Thought I’d share some more stuff about Chinese New Year. Aside from knowing what to food to prepare, what Cheongsam or Kung Fu boy costume to get for your kids for the coming Chinese New Year, it also helps to delve deeper into the fascinating traditions surrounding Chinese New Year. Watch, learn and enjoy this nice video I got from Childbook.com :^)

We Got a New Look!

Ta dah! We just got a website makeover. Yep, like a mini facelift! LOL. This whole new look should go well with the many exciting things Elite Dresses has in store for you this year! So, what do you think of our new look? Girlier? I thought so. I’ve always been such a fan of pale blush pink and olivine! Don't mind the "Wet Paint" sign. Go on, explore the rest of the site. You know you want to :-)

And while you're looking around, please check out today’s super deal: Ao Dai, Girl's Vietnamese Red Traditional Dress and the other dresses on our clearance page. Get Cheongsams for girls and Kung Fu costumes for boys while they're still on sale!!! No more re-stocking on these items.

The long and braided ponytails of Chinese Men

Ever wonder what the long braided ponytail of the Chinese Men are for? These are the artificial braided ponytail you often see on Traditional Chinese Dress for Men.

				Boy's Chinese Blue Traditional Costume Pants Set
				List Price: $29.99 Our Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 You Save $20.00! Product Rating 4 stars (3 Ratings) Write a Review Read 3 Reviews
				Boy's Blue Traditional Chinese Pants Set with frog buttons (embroidered), mandarin collar, dragon brocade, golden edging, and includes a hat with a pigtail!

The hairstyle is called Queue or cue. This was imposed to be worn by all Chinese men during the Jin Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. They were ordered to shave their hairs just above the temple every 10 days and gather the remaining hair to a ponytail and braid it. The Chinese were made to wear the Queue by the Manchus who defeated the Ming Dynasty at the time and the hairstyle symbolizes the submission of the Chinese to the Manchu. Those who were caught not wearing it were executed.

When the Manchu were defeated and the Chinese got their country back (after revolutions), the Queue immediately lost its popularity. In fact it is also associated with a fallen government.
As it is part of the Chinese history, the Queue is often added to the hat of the Traditional Chinese costume for boys as seen on the photo above.

Boys' Halloween Costume Idea: Monkey King

Everybody loves Monkey King's (also called Sun Wukong) kooky, naughty and brave antics. He also has a lot of cool Kung Fu moves that boys may want to imitate for Halloween

Ask your little boy if he wants to be Monkey King on halloween. If he says yes, then it's time to pull out the creative mommy skills and put together a costume similar to monkey king's.

• You will need a boy's Chinese costume set.
• A red scarf for tying on the shoulders, knot at the neckline.
• If you can find an animal print scarf in your closet, wrap around your little boys hips like a skirt. (This is part of his "armor")
  
• Secure scarf at the waist with a plain sash or cloth belt.
• If you can get a monkey mask, that'd be great. If you are artistically inclined and are comfortable applying face makeup/ crayons , then make a monkey face on your little boy. For younger boys, I guess masks are more "fool proof" to use because the makeup can be erased away with a sleight of hand on the face.
• For the crown, you can make a band he can wear on his head.
• Look for a safe stick that he can used as Monkey King's magical rod (his magic staff is called "jungibang"). If you can get something soft and sturdy, the better. When boys congregate in one spot on halloween they can get carried away and use their weapons. So might as well look for something safe.

(If you're up to it, you can also add/ make coordinating wrist bands and shoulder pads to complete his Chinese armor set.)

Have fun on halloween!

Halloween Costume Idea: Chinese Vampire

Little girl in Chinese vampire costume

My dad liked watching action movies, including Kung Fu ones, so I can say I grew up watching an assortment of martial arts movies.

One thing in the Chinese movies that scared the heebie-jeebies out of me is the Chinese vampire. I don't know why but their hopping really scared me.

Chinese vampires are unsettled spirits that occupy the dead body. They go hop-hop-hop in a straight line. As you laugh yourself off at this, they go suck your life out. An antidote to quiet the hopping ghost is to paste a yellow paper written with the correct death mantra on its forehead. It senses living beings by breathing, so if you see one hopping in your path, hold your breath in so it will not sense you are there.

Anyhoo, the Chinese vampire is an interesting costume for Halloween. To pull this off as a halloween costume for your daughter:

• Pull out your little girl's Chinese cheung sam dress or pants set,
  
• color her face white or pale green,
  
• put a yellow paper with Chinese characters on her forehead
• have a toy-vampire teeth that she can wear if she wants,
• fake long nails are also okay to put on if she's a little bigger and won't scratch her face out
  
• give her her treat bag
  

and send her off hopping out the door. You can also try making a Qing Dynasty hat for her to wear if you like.

Tell her that Chinese vampires hop so she can hop for that extra effect. If she gets tired from hopping, you can tell her, yes, she is allowed to walk. (heehee, you know kids...)

Hope you all have fun this halloween!

Halloween costumes for boys!

Costume suggestions:

				Boy's Chinese Blue Traditional Costume Pants Set
				List Price: $29.99 Our Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $14.99 You Save $15.00! Product Rating 4 stars (3 Ratings) Write a Review Read 3 Reviews
				Boy's Blue Traditional Chinese Pants Set with frog buttons (embroidered), mandarin collar, dragon brocade, golden edging, and includes a hat with a pigtail!

				Boy's Chinese Black with with Kung Fu Symbol, Traditional Costume Pants Set
				List Price: $29.99 Our Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $9.99 You Save $20.00!
				Boy's Black Traditional Chinese Pants Set with frog buttons (embroidered), mandarin collar, dragon brocade, red edging on cap, and includes a hat with a pigtail!

				Boy's Chinese Dark Blue with with Kung Fu Symbol, Traditional Costume Pants Set
				List Price: $29.99 Our Price: $20.00 Sale Price: $9.99 You Save $20.00!
				Boy's Dark Blue Traditional Chinese Pants Set with frog buttons (embroidered), mandarin collar, dragon brocade, red edging on cap, and includes a hat with a pigtail!

Need Costume for the United Nations Celebration?

Elite Dresses can provide you with plenty of selections on Qi Pao (Chinese dresses), Ao Dai Cuoi (Vietnamese dresses) and other girl's dresses.

				Girl's Hot Pink Traditional QiPao Chinese Dress Costume
				List Price: $29.99 Our Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $14.99 You Save $15.00!
				Girl's beautiful hot Pink traditional Chinese dress (qi pao). Qi Pao was the traditional Chinese clothing worn during the Ching Dynasty (1644-1911 AD). This elegance Pink Chinese dress will transform your little girl to a beautiful and elegant Chinese

				Girl's Red Traditional Chinese QiPao Dress/Pants Set
				List Price: $29.99 Our Price: $19.99 You Save $10.00!
				Girl's beautiful red traditional Chinese dress pant set. This style was the traditional Chinese clothing worn during the Ching Dynasty (1644-1911 AD). This elegance red Chinese dress/pant set will transform your little girl to a beautiful and elegant Chinese princess!

				Vietnamese Girl's Red Ao Dai Cuoi with White Pants
				List Price: $34.99 Our Price: $24.99 You Save $10.00! Product Rating 5 stars (1 Rating) Write a Review Read 1 Review
				Size 1-16 available Girl Sizes Ao Dai with Red Top and White Pants Great for Holidays and other special occasions

				Girl's Vietnamese Purple Traditional Ao Dai Cuoi Dress Long Sleeve
				List Price: $34.99 Our Price: $24.99 You Save $10.00!
				Size 2-16 Girl's Available Purple Ao Dai features traditional knots, Purple satin collar, short sleeve satin cuff, and painted flower pattern with embroidered flowers. Great for weddings, celebrations, and other special occasions

				Girl's Vietnamese Pink Traditional Ao Dai Cuoi Dress
				List Price: $34.99 Our Price: $24.99 Sale Price: $19.99 You Save $15.00!
				Size 1-16 Girl's Available Ao Dai features traditional knots, pink satin collar, satin cuff, and painted flower patterns. Perfect for Vietnamese Holidays and other special occasions

				Girl's beautiful pink sleeveless formal dress
				List Price: $49.99 Our Price: $29.99 You Save $20.00! Product Rating 5 stars (1 Rating) Write a Review Read 1 Review
				The dress features pink satin top and pink chiffon skirt. Pink chiffon ribbon in back to create a beautiful bow.

				Boy's Chinese Black with with Kung Fu Symbol, Traditional Costume Pants Set
				List Price: $29.99 Our Price: $19.99 You Save $10.00! Product Rating 5 stars (1 Rating) Write a Review Read 1 Review
				Boy's Black Traditional Chinese Pants Set with frog buttons (embroidered), mandarin collar, dragon brocade, red edging on cap, and includes a hat with a pigtail! Priced to move to reduce similar inventory types.

				Girl's beautiful Black sleeveless formal dress
				List Price: $48.00 Our Price: $29.99 You Save $18.01!
				The dress features Black satin top and black chiffon skirts. Black chiffon ribbon in back to create a beautiful bow. Two layers of skirts: Black chiffon over Black satin.