Hideko Takamine in Plain Kimono

In Mikio Naruse's "When a Woman Ascends the Stairs" (1960), Hideko Takamine plays a role of Keiko, who is called "Mama", a high end hostess in Ginza. Keiko refers to herself and every aspect of her life as a performance, a kind of advertisement to sell her clients, selling an image of  luxury, class, and even moral probity. “My rent is 30,000 yen, a lot for one person,” she admits. “But for us Ginza hostesses, an apartment is a fashionable accessory, just like expensive clothes and perfume. Keiko herself is symbolized by her much-discussed plain, but expensive kimonos, for which the actress Hideko Takamine herself is credited.

Maggie Cheung in Chongsam

Wong Kar-wai's "In the mood for love"(2000), starring Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung, garnered widespread critical acclaim, depicting sensuality through music, noir light, and intimate space. The film being set in Hong Kong 1962, the exoticism was highlighted by Maggie Cheung's Chinese dress, cheongsam (or qipao in Mandarin Chinese, also known in English as a mandarin gown). The stylish and often tight-fitting cheongsam or qipao (chipao) that is most often associated with today was created in the 1920s in Shanghai and was made fashionable by socialites and upperclass women. With her tall slender body with crane’s neck, Cheung makes the cheongsam elegant, modern, sophisticated and conservative without even trying.

William Chang, who is credited with art direction, film editing, costume and make-up design, essentially makes the movie a fashion editorial in motion. Sticking to the way history played, he used a mixture of Chinese and Western prints on unconventional material alternatives to the traditional brocade silk. Think floral on cotton sateen, or mod geometric patterns on linen. Every cheongsam simply popped out of noir-style art direction.

Monica Vitti in Bateau neck dress

In Michelangelo Antonioni's L'eclisse (The Eclipse, 1962),  MonicaVitti appeared in a series of bateau neck two-piece-dresses. They were light-weighted silk like material, which would fit her loosely yet elegantly. They all had cute accents on the bottom-right side of her shirts such as bows and brooches. Wide-cut bateau neckline and her fluffy wheat-blonde hair that's cut in neck length are great match with her her icy-cool gaze.