Popular in the '30s and '40s, the Chinese women's dress called qipao today is recognized as typical formal dress for the Chinese women. But in designers' eyes, it also suits taller Western women.

As Heather Guo strolls down the streets of Manhattan in her burgundy qipao, passersby turn their heads to catch a glimpse, as if she was a character from a Wong Kar-wai film. Meticulously hand ...