Asian Dress #3 - Hanbok

Hello. numbah trois is the Korean Hanbok (pronounced "han-bo"), which probably hides the female form the most out of the five dresses I`m painting :(

Though cut from flat cloth, when worn the hanbok takes on a voluminous three-dimensional quality. With its simple form and generous fit, it is flexible enough to accommodate any body shape and comfortable to wear while sitting on the floor, as is usual in a Korean house. Its ample folds impart an air of elegance and refinement to the wearer. For all its simplicity, the way it is worn determines its shape and produces creases that can also become an aesthetic element.

The beauty of hanbok can also be felt in the harmony of straight and curved lines that shows a deep respect for nature.
(source)

Asian Dress #2 - Qipao / Cheongsam

The popular traditional Chinese dress, Qipao (aka cheongsam).

-Pronounced "chee-pow" / "chongsam"

-Influenced the style of the Vietnamese Áo dài

-Like the Áo dài, the Qipao has a male variant; it adds some pants (Sofie Fatale in Kill Bill vol. 1 wears a male Cheongsam)

-Chun-Li's classic outfit in the Street Fighter video game series is a modified Qipao for greater range of movement. Spinning Bird Kick!

What serves as a worthy testament to the beauty of the Qipao / Cheongsam is, however, it does not require the wearer to pep up the look with accessories like scarves and belts. Designed to show off the natural softness of the female form, it also creates the illusion of slender legs. The overall picture: practical, yet sexy.
(my-qipao.com)

Asian Dress #1 - Áo dài

As a little painting project, I've decided to paint 5 traditional asian dresses like the Vietnamese ao dai I have right here.
Dresses to follow: Qipao, Hanbok, Sari, and Yukata.

Some interesting tidbits from Wikipedia:

Pronounced 'ao yai' in the south, and 'ao zai' in the north

The costume has faced countless modifications throughout the centuries but its basic form consists of a long flowing gown with a slit on both sides, often with a high fitted collar, worn over long silk pants.

While its cousin the Qipao is a tight fitted dress (in its modern reincarnation), the Áo dài is a looser tunic, which even in its tight-fitting form is still left wide and flowing at the bottom. Furthermore, the slits of the Áo Dài extend above the waistline, revealing a slight glimpse of the sides of the midriff.

The most popular style of the Áo dài as we see it today is tight-fitting around the wearer's upper torso, emphasizing her bust and curves. For this reason, the Áo dài, while it covers the whole body, is said to be provocative, especially when it is made of thin or see-through fabric.

Have a nice day

A different shot of the stairs leading to French Fort Cove as seen on mah MiramichiKats blog. I made this one a wallpaper for my widescreen laptop to make me feel like the weather is always pleasant, like it was that weekend. It's back to rainy and cold this week.

[edit] It was actually rainy and cold for the first 2 days that week, then it was pretty nice weather. My wallpaper has changed.

A Catbird Seat

...specifically, something that looks like a diving board. No further questions.