Like we had previously discussed during our week on Denmark,
describing a potential narrative and maintaining a function with a particular
object, both assist in national aesthetic. As we further delve into Vietnam
this week, I utilized the same perspective from our Denmark readings to the ao
dai. The ao dai is a two piece ensemble where long loose-fitting pants is
paired with a tunic styled gown with slits from the waist down on both sides. In Robin Treen and Kieu Linh Caroline Valverde’s
catalog, “Ao Dai: A Modern Design Coming of Age,” Treen and Professor Valverde dissect
the ao dai’s progression from pre-war Vietnam to today. Although the
traditional ao dai dates back five hundred years, the modern edition has played
with new colors, neckline variations, and fabric changes from the last fifty
years. The ao dai has also been a symbol of historic progression of the
Vietnamese people once being worn on special occasions like weddings to
everyday wear. This garment is an amalgamation of Vietnamese history surviving
wars and spreading amongst the diasporas to survive on the body. What is
interesting about this is how the Vietnamese still keep traditional wear but is
fine with making alterations. In thinking about our anthology project for the
Philippines, traditional and modern wear never have been mixed. Could this be a
potential strategy for the Philippines in garnering more national aesthetic?
Works Cited:
Valverde, Kieu Linh Caroline,
and Treen, Robin. Áo Dài: A Modern Design Coming of Age. San José, CA: San Jose Museum of Quilts &
Textiles, 2006. Print.
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